Pirates Charities CARE-a-van tour to end Friday in Pittsburgh
Pirates players, coaches and front office staff to take part in events around the city
The 2013 Pirates Charities CARE-a-van, presented by Highmark, will come to a conclusion tomorrow, Friday, December 13 as all three groups will spend the day making a difference around the city of Pittsburgh. Throughout the day, the CARE-a-van will take part in a holiday party and check presentation at The Children's Institute of Pittsburgh; participate in a holiday shopping event at Pressley Ridge; and assist with a rehab project with Habitat for Humanity. All CARE-a-van events are closed to the general public.
Pirates and Pirates Charities Chairman Bob Nutting, President Frank Coonelly, Manager Clint Hurdle, players Josh Harrison, Jeff Locke, Tony Sanchez and Tony Watson, along with Coach Rick Sofield and broadcaster Greg Brown will visit The Children's Institute of Pittsburgh from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
A donation of $40,000 will be presented to support the Institute's Prader-Willi Syndrome Program.
The Pirates contingent will be joined by Shawn McClintock, Senior Vice President and General Manager of ROOT Sports and Lindsay Berdell, Director, Promotions and Marketing, Trib Total Media, in the special check presentation.
Brown will emcee the event that will include speakers such as Nutting, Hurdle and David Miles, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Children's Institute.
The proceeds donated were raised throughout the 2013 season thru the "Wins for Kids" program. In 2011 Clint Hurdle and his wife, Karla, created the "Wins for Kids" program with Pirates Charities to support the Prader-Willi Syndrome Unit of the Children's Institute.
The work that's done to this unit is not only important to those with Prader-Willi in the Pittsburgh community, but to those with Prader-Willi around the world, as The Children's Institute is the only hospital-based site on the globe offering treatment for patients with Prader-Willi Syndrome.
Pirates players Jose Tabata, Charlie Morton, Gaby Sanchez and Justin Wilson along with Coach Euclides Rojas and broadcaster Tim Neverett will visit Pressley Ridge from 10 a.m. to noon (530 Marshall Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15214).
The Pirates contingent, in partnership with Aramark, will take part in a holiday shopping event at the organization's on-site store. During the event, the students will have the opportunity to do their holiday shopping with the Pirates CARE-a-van as well as have their items gift wrapped and signed by the Pirates Celebrities.
Pressley Ridge offers a range of residential services for children and youth with mental health and delinquency issues. The ultimate goal of residential services is to help children and their families learn the skills that will enable them to return home to their communities successfully.
Pirates players Jaff Decker, Jared Hughes and Bryan Morris will join 2013 National League MVP Andrew McCutchen, Coach Jeff Banister and broadcaster Bob Walk will visit a Habitat for Humanity rehab project from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. (221 Clifton Street, Sharpsburg, PA 15215).
The Pirates contingent will join front office employees in assisting in a build for a local family of seven. Front Office employees will spend the day helping with the project as the CARE-a-van group will visit, assist and provide a Welcome Home gift basket.
The goal of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Pittsburgh is the elimination of substandard housing in Allegheny County and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat for Humanity of Greater Pittsburgh brings people together to build and rehabilitate homes, supporting communities, and spreading hope.
About Pirates CARE-a-van
This year, the three-day Pirates Charities CARE-a-van will feature Pirates players, coaches and broadcasters traveling throughout the region to make an impact in the surrounding communities. The Pirates celebrities and Pirates Charities will partner with local non-profits to assist with projects and services as well as visit with schools and organizations in and around the greater Pittsburgh area. At each visit the Pirates groups will donate their time and talents to help make a difference in each community visited.
About Pirates Charities
Pirates Charities, the philanthropic arm of the Pittsburgh Pirates, is a 501(c)(3) organization that focuses on three core areas of youth health, fitness and education. Each year, Pirates Charities and the Pirates partner with more than 3,000 organizations and programs committed to improving the lives of children and adults. Pirates Charities has created successful signature programs including Pirates Fields for Kids, Wins for Kids, Pitch for Hope as well as others supporting cancer research and families and youth in our community. To learn more about Pirates positive impact in the community, visit pirates.com/community.