A's Bullpen Staff, A's Community Fund Create "A's Relief" Program

The Oakland Athletics bullpen staff and the A's Community Fund have teamed together to create the "A's Relief" program, it was announced today. The program, which will honor its first award recipient today, will recognize unsung individuals and non-profit organizations who provide relief in the community.

"As a bullpen, we realize how much our unit can bring relief to the team," A's reliever Jerry Blevins said, on behalf of the bullpen staff. "We want to bring that same relief to those individuals and groups in the community who share our common goal of helping those around us."

Every month throughout the season, the A's Community Fund and bullpen staff will honor the "A's Reliever of the Month." The winners will be honored in a special pre-game ceremony, receive game tickets, meal vouchers and meet members of the A's bullpen after watching batting practice from the field. In addition, a donation will be made by the Community Fund and A's relievers to a charity of the recipient's choice.

Today, A's Relief named Lorrain Taylor its first Reliever of the Month award winner. Taylor is the founder of "1,000 Mothers to Prevent Violence," which eases the detrimental and traumatic impact on homicide and violet crime victim survivors in the Bay Area. Taylor's twin sons, Albade and Obadiah, were both lost to gun violence.

In future months, A's fans will have the opportunity to nominate the Reliever of the Month. In the coming weeks, visit www.oaklandathletics.com/community for more information about A's Relief.