Manager Clint Hurdle and Pirates players to visit Dilworth Elementary School as part of Clemente Day Celebrations
Pirates players will deliver school supplies to children of Dilworth Elementary as part of a two-day celebration that also Includes presentation of the organization’s Roberto Clemente Award
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced today that they will again visit a local elementary school as part of Roberto Clemente Day celebrations when Pirates’ players will hand-deliver school supplies to and meet with the children at Dilworth Elementary School, a Pittsburgh Public School, on Wednesday, September 19 beginning at 10:00 a.m. Last year, the Pirates visited the children of Pittsburgh Faison Pre K-8 Elementary School, Primary Campus, in Homewood. This initiative is part of the Clemente Day events, which celebrate the life and community service legacy of Pirates Hall-of-Famer Roberto Clemente.
During the Pirates’ visit to Dilworth Elementary, the children will attend an assembly from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. where they will have the opportunity to hear Pirates President Frank Coonelly, manager Clint Hurdle, as well as meet many of the Pirates’ players and coaches.
Following the assembly, Pirates’ players will help to distribute $25,000 in school supplies and equipment purchased by Pirates Charities for Dilworth students. The supplies include 30 iPads to assist the school’s teachers in facilitating an arts-integrated digital portfolio project at all grade levels, Clemente children’s books, portable basketball hoops, basketballs, jump ropes and more.
On Tuesday, September 18 during a special pregame ceremony, the 2012 Roberto Clemente Award will be presented to the Pirates’ Major League player who combines outstanding skills on the baseball field with devoted work in the community. In addition to the award, the winner will be presented with a framed, vintage replica Roberto Clemente jersey for his work. As part of an MLB-wide initiative, the Pirates nominee will join 29 other players, one from every club, and will be eligible to win the 2012 Major League Baseball Clemente Award. This overall award will be given during the 2012 World Series.
The Pirates will also recognize one player from each of their minor league affiliates as the recipients of the organization’s fourth annual Pirates Community Commitment Program (PCCP) awards. This program encourages players throughout the Pirates’ system to emulate Clemente’s legacy of community service.
More than 13,000 hours of community service have been performed by Pirates players throughout the organization since the program was implemented in 2008. Each player has completed a minimum of 10 hours of community service in their respective affiliate’s community during this season.
The players receiving the PCCP awards include:
- Jeff Clement, Indianapolis Indians (AAA)
- Tim Alderson, Altoona Curve (AA)
- Casey Sadler, Bradenton Marauders (High-A)
- Zach Von Rosenberg, West Virginia Power (Low-A)
- Luis Heredia, State College Spikes (Short Season-A)
- Jhonatan Herrand, Gulf Coast League Pirates (Rookie League)
- Arquimedes Lorenzo, Dominican Sumer League Pirates Team 1
- Jose Salazar, Dominican Summer League Pirates Team 2
- Gavi Nivar, Community Service Award of Excellence
Nivar is a four-time PCCP award winner and has donated more than 250 hours of community service over those four years between the Pirates Dominican Summer League, Gulf Coast League and State College Spikes teams.