ST. PETERSBURG -- Adam Jones was honored Tuesday as the Orioles' Roberto Clemente Award nominee for 2016. The prestigious award recognizes the player from each Major League club who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.
"It's pretty cool," Jones said. "I don't do this stuff for awards and stuff, I do it to help out kids. And try to make an impact where I can make an impact."
On Sept. 15, prior to the 7:05 p.m. ET game against the Rays at Camden Yards, the club will present Jones with the Roberto Clemente Award during an on-field ceremony.
Jones, a former Boys & Girls Club member, has teamed up with the Orioles to help to renovate three Boys & Girls Clubs in Baltimore over the past three years including, most recently, the Webster Kendrick Boys & Girls Clubs through a $75,000 donation.
Jones annually supports the Jackie Robinson Foundation's scholarship program, giving deserving teens an opportunity to pursue their dreams of attending college. He also serves as an Honorary Chair of the Y in Central Maryland's "Send a Kid to Camp" campaign, a program that raises necessary funds to provide a safe, productive summer for children from struggling families throughout central Maryland.
To expand access to youth baseball, Jones has donated to the Orioles' Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities program and regularly participates in the Baltimore City Youth Clinic to teach children and teenagers the fundamentals of the game. Each year, he also donates to the OriolesREACH Gameday Experience program, giving underprivileged youth an opportunity to attend an Orioles game.
Jones has received several prestigious awards for his ongoing commitment to community service. In 2016, he was once again named the Orioles' recipient of the Heart & Hustle Award by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association, an award he has won three times. In the past year, he was presented with the 2015 Players Choice Award as the Marvin Miller Man of the Year and with the prestigious Governor's Service Award in Maryland.
Beginning on Roberto Clemente Day, fans are encouraged to participate in the new process of selecting the winner of the Roberto Clemente Award by posting any nominee's voting hashtags to MLB's official social media accounts, @MLB on Twitter and Facebook.com/MLB. Jones' hashtag is #VoteAdam.