Royals working for Hispanic Heritage Month
Players, wives pitching in to aid worthy causes at Kauffman Stadium
DETROIT -- The Royals already have held their big Hispanic event of the season, Viva Los Royals on May 5, but their players will be busy during Hispanic Heritage Month, which begins on Sunday.
All-Star catcher Salvador Perez, from Venezuela, is sponsoring the distribution of 10,000 Child ID Kids, which allow parents to record the physical characteristics and fingerprints of their children in the event of an emergency. The kits provide authorities vital information in the case of a missing child.
The free kits will be distributed at the Royals-Indians game on Tuesday night as fans leave Kauffman Stadium.
On Wednesday night, shortstop Alcides Escobar, from Venezuela, and pitcher Luis Mendoza, from Mexico, are the Baseball Tomorrow Fund ambassadors for the ninth annual Baseball Equipment Drive. It will benefit Cristo Rey Kansas City High School.
Escobar's wife, Francys, and Mendoza's wife, Monica, will join Cristo Rey volunteers outside the Diamond Club to collect new and gently-used equipment as well as cash donations in exchange for autographed baseballs and photo cards from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday.
Also, on Tuesday night, the Royals will honor the team's nominee, to be announced, for the Roberto Clemente Award. The award, named for the Puerto Rican Hall of Fame player and humanitarian, is for a player who best represents the game of baseball through sportsmanship, community service and contributions to his team. Fans and a selection committee will determine the national winner.
Throughout the year the Royals help several Hispanic groups with tickets, resources or financial donations, including the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Guadalupe Centers, Alta Vista High School, Cristo Rey KC High School, El Centro and Amigos of the Marlo Cuevas Center.