This story was excerpted from Mandy Bell's Guardians Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
Guardians starter Cal Quantrill is looking to make just as much of an impact off the field as he is on the field, and his wife, Eastin, gives him an incredible program to promote.
Eastin began volunteering with an organization called Letters to Foster Children during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. It’s an initiative that, as the name describes, allows people to send letters to the 400,000-plus children in foster care systems around the country to help brighten their days -- something that means even more to Eastin, as she gained three incredible cousins from the foster care system growing up. Because of that passion for the initiative, Eastin has quickly become the executive director of the program chapters in Phoenix and Cleveland.
Quantrill is now bringing his wife’s work to his own office. The Guardians hurler (along with his wife) met with Cleveland’s gameday staff prior to first pitch against the Reds Tuesday afternoon to explain the program and ask for as many volunteers as possible to write letters to foster children. He’s taken to his social media accounts to ask fans to do the same.
“I think that even just as simple as writing a letter, it’s not asking very much,” Quantrill said. “But if it brightens up one kid’s day, I’d call it a win.”
Quantrill is asking fans to send their letters to Guardians Fan services or drop their letters off at the ballpark the next time they come downtown for a game. And if you’re wondering what you should include in your note, Eastin gave an incredible example:
“Just keep going,” she said. “I can’t imagine what you’re going through. But at the same time, you’re going to get through it. You’re stronger than you ever think you are, and you’ll get yourself through it. And people out there do care about you even if they’re not right in the room with you. Somebody out there took the time to write this letter and make sure you know that your life matters.”