Players Trust brings goodwill across the country

The Players Trust completed a busy week on the road Friday with a baseball clinic for physically and developmentally challenged kids in Baltimore.

Orioles players Zach Britton, Ryan Flaherty, Bud Norris and Chris Parmelee took part in the City Clinics program, hosting kids from the League of Dreams and the Kennedy Krieger Institute School. The clinic was held at Kennedy Kreiger High School.

The Trust's City Clinics program is part of a grassroots campaign developed by - and featuring -- current Major Leaguers to promote baseball to underserved kids from 6 to 16 years old. Children participating in the free clinics receive hands-on instruction from current and former pros in areas such as baserunning, pitching, hitting, throwing and fielding.

The League of Dreams is a nonprofit sports league for children with disabilities ages 5 to 22. Its mission is to provide sports training, team camaraderie and competitive sporting opportunities for athletes with disabilities. The Kennedy Krieger Institute offers a wide range of educational programs and services to support the inclusion of children with special needs.

On Tuesday, Orioles players greeted and signed autographs for approximately 50 kids from the Cool Kids Campaign who visited Orioles Park as part of the Players Trust's Buses for Baseball program. The Cool Kids Campaign is devoted to improving the quality of life for pediatric oncology patients and their families by focusing on the academic, social and emotional needs associated with a cancer diagnosis.

Jon Jay and his Cardinals teammates also hosted a Buses for Baseball event on Tuesday, welcoming 50 children from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri, which was founded in 1914 as one of the national group's charter agencies.

Also on Tuesday at Lawrence Fields in Chicago, Dexter Fowler, Justin Grimm and Addison Russell spent part of the day hosting a City Clinics event for kids from the Union League Boys & Girls Club.

"The MLBPA City Clinic was awesome," Fowler said. "It gave us Major Leaguers a chance to get to interact and help some very grateful kids in the inner city of Chicago. I'm hoping next year it will grow to be even bigger."

"It was wonderful seeing all the kids interact and follow along and having fun is a beautiful thing!" said Russell, the Cubs' rookie shortstop. "I had a blast with all the children I came across today.

"It truly was a blessing to be part of the event, and hopefully it will make an impact and drive the kids to be the best people they can be."

There was also a Buses for Baseball event hosted by Mets players at Citi Field on Wednesday .

On Thursday, the Buses for Baseball program hosted another of its 15 events in 2015, this one in Oakland, where A's players Billy Burns, Billy Butler and teammates hosted Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay.

From coast to coast and points in between, this week Major Leaguers helped brighten the day for hundreds of kids across the country. Together they helped bring the motto of the Players Trust to life: Care.Act.Inspire.

For more information about the Players Trust and the programs mentioned here, please visit www.PlayersTrust.org.