Seattle Mariners winner announced as part of MLB, Target and Time Inc.'s 'People' "All-Star Teachers" Program
Kevin Zelko of Seattle, Will Be Recognized in a Special Pre-Game Ceremony with a Performance from Idina Menzel at the 2014 MLB All-Star Game
Major League Baseball, Target Corp (NYSE: TGT) and PEOPLE today announced the 30 winners in the "Target Presents PEOPLE All-Star Teachers" campaign, which celebrates remarkable current and retired teachers who make an impact on the lives of their students and communities. Kevin Zelko, who teaches at Kimball Elementary in south Seattle, has been selected by fans to represent the Seattle Mariners.
Zelko has taught Special Education for elementary school students for more than 11 years. Zelko is also a great Mariners fan and has even worked as a beer vendor at Safeco Field. In 2011, Zelko received the Symetra "Heroes in the Classroom" award for his dedication to the field of Special Education.
Zelko, who will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Thursday's Mariners game against the Minnesota Twins, will join one winner representing each of the 30 MLB Clubs at All-Star Week activities and will be recognized during the pre-game ceremony at the 2014 MLB All-Star Game, Tuesday, July 15. Pre-game ceremonies beginning at 4:30 p.m. PDT on FOX from Target Field in Minneapolis. As part of the pre-game ceremony, Tony Award-winner Idina Menzel will perform the classic song "Forever Young" by 11-time Grammy Award winner Bob Dylan, who is a Minnesota native.
Fans nationwide cast their votes at AllStarTeachers.com to select 30 winners from a pool of 90 finalists. Additionally, Eric Stonestreet, a Dodgers fan who plays a teacher on Modern Family; Matthew Morrison, a Mets fan who plays a teacher on FOX's Glee; and AJ Calloway of Extra TV, a Yankees fan whose mom is a retired principal and sister is a current principal, served alongside New York Yankees Carlos Beltran and Los Angeles Dodgers Adrian Gonzalez as "All-Star Teachers" Ambassadors to support the program.
Target presents "PEOPLE All-Star Teachers" is just one part of Target, MLB and PEOPLE's effort to celebrate teachers and raise awareness about the importance of education this baseball season. MLB Legends have attended 14 Target education-focused events in MLB communities throughout the first half of the season including Hall of Famer Ernie Banks, Vinny Castilla, Ron Cey, Cliff Floyd, Luis Gonzalez, Tim Laudner, Gary Matthews, Tony Oliva, Harold Reynolds, Michael Young, Edgar Martinez, Tim Wakefield, Mickey Lolich, Willie Horton, Chad Tracy and John Smoltz. Guests and fans can visit AllStarTeachers.com and ABullsEyeView.com/Baseball for updates and behind-the-scenes access to campaign activities leading up to the All-Star Game.