Jonny Gomes to Receive Dave Stewart Community Service Award Saturday
Stewart to Present Gomes with Award Prior to Saturday’s Game
OAKLAND, Calif. – Oakland A’s outfielder/designated hitter Jonny Gomes has been named the recipient of the 2012 Dave Stewart Community Service Award, which is given annually to an A’s player in recognition of charitable contributions throughout Northern California and across the nation.
Stewart will present Gomes with the award prior to Saturday’s 1:05 p.m. game against the Seattle Mariners in a special on-field ceremony at 12:53 p.m.
Gomes, a native of Petaluma, was an avid supporter of the Petaluma National Little Leaguers throughout the team’s epic journey to the Little League World Series. In addition to cheering on the team and wearing the yellow West shirt and cap in the A’s clubhouse, Gomes helped raise money through a media campaign to cover families’ transportation and lodging costs at the World Series in South Williamsport. He also encouraged fans to make donations online through Petaluma Little League’s website and rewarded close to 500 donors with an autographed photo card. Along with the A’s, he hosted the Little Leaguers for a special batting practice experience and honored the team in a pre-game ceremony. Additionally, Gomes gave each Little Leaguer a new pair of Nike cleats and Phiten titanium necklace, and made a guest appearance at their celebration dinner in Petaluma.
Gomes also supported TroopsDirect, the Wounded Warrior Project, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Alternative Family Services and David Benzer Torture Cancer Foundation, and made numerous donations of autographed items to local charities’ silent auctions this season. In October, he plans to participate as a guest coach at Camp for Cure, a charity baseball clinic held in Petaluma each year that raises funds to aid in the research and treatment of cancer, lupus and diabetes.
The Dave Stewart Community Service Award originated in 1996 in honor of Stewart’s many years of community service in the Bay Area. Throughout the years, Stewart has been involved in many non-profit organizations including the Oakland Boys & Girls Club and Team-Up for Youth, a program that supports healthy development for young people living in low income communities through after-school sports and physical activity programs.
Previous Dave Stewart Community Service Award Winners:
1996 Ernie Young
1997 Scott Spiezio
1998 Tom Candiotti
1999 Art Howe
2000 Jason Giambi
2001 Terrence Long
2002 Tim Hudson
2003 Scott Hatteberg
2004 Eric Chavez
2005 Barry Zito
2006 Mark Kotsay
2007 Mark Ellis
2008 Dana Eveland
2009 Dallas Braden
Kurt Suzuki
2010 Craig Breslow
2011 Josh Willingham
2012 Jonny Gomes