Astros Foundation hosted first Picnic in the Park; sold-out Father's Day event featured 2013 Astros players
Charitable Fundraiser Took Place in Outfield of Minute Maid Park
HOUSTON, TX -- Following this afternoon's Astros victory over the White Sox, the entire 2013 Astros roster of players participated in Houston's first Picnic in the Park, a charitable fundraiser benefiting The Astros Foundation and its baseball programs for at-risk youth. In addition to the players, Owner and Chairman Jim Crane, President Reid Ryan, General Manager Jeff Luhnow and Manager Bo Porter were in attendance. The first-time event, which was sold out, took place on the field with more than 700 in attendance.
Fans enjoyed an hour-long autograph session with the players, a cookout picnic in the outfield of Minute Maid Park, children's activities, musical entertainment and an auction. Each Picnic patron also received a picnic blanket.
Children and teens from the Astros Urban Youth Academy also attended Picnic in the Park as guests of the Astros. The UYA is funded and run by the Astros Foundation and provides free baseball and softball instruction, life skills training and academic support to Houston youth, with a focus on serving inner city and at-risk children and teens.
Picnic in the Park was sponsored by Capitol One, TJX, ARAMARK/Houston Astros Hospitality Group, CenterPoint Energy, Amerisource, AT&T, Automated Voice and Data Solutions, 47 Brand Apparel, Corrosion Resistant Alloys, Sara and Bill Morgan, the Crane Foundation, Phoenicia Specialty Foods, Blue Bell, Weaver, Silver Eagle Distributors, Kiolbassa Provision Co, Thomas Reprographics, C&E Baseball.
ABOUT THE ASTROS FOUNDATION:
The Astros Foundation is the official team charity of the Houston Astros. Led by Astros Owner and Chairman Jim Crane and his partners, the Astros Foundation seeks to harness the passion of baseball fans in our region to support our cornerstone charitable youth baseball and softball programs serving at-risk children and teens of Greater Houston. Those initiatives include the Astros Community Leaders program, the Astros Urban Youth Academy and the Astros RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) league. The Executive Director of the Astros Foundation is Astros Sr. VP of Community Relations Meg Vaillancourt. For more information about the Foundation, please visit www.astros.com/foundation or email [email protected].