ROBERTO CLEMENTE DAY

Roberto Clemente Day

Roberto Clemente Day was established by Major League Baseball to honor the life and legacy of Pirates great, Hall of Famer and 15-time All-Star who died in a plane crash on New Year's Eve 1972 while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. Each year, teams across the league honor his memory by giving back to their communities.

CLEMENTE DAY OF SERVICE

To honor the life and legacy of Roberto Clemente, the Pittsburgh Pirates front office staff, players and coaches volunteered throughout the city of Pittsburgh for the Pirates annual Clemente Day of Service presented by Fanatics.

To grow the game of baseball, Pirates volunteers were joined by staff from Duquesne Light Company and SportsNet Pittsburgh to renovate three fields home to hundreds of Northside RBI athletes. Pirates President, Travis Williams, helped with the field renovation projects before heading over to Pittsburgh's Strip District for a drive through food distribution in partnership with the Veterans Leadership Program. Here, volunteers assembled bags of produce and non-perishable foods that were given to over 150 veterans and their families.

Pirates players and coaches provided instruction to cancer patients during their morning workout at the Allegheny Health Network Exercise Oncology Center. After the session, patients and AHN staff were treated to nutritious post-class snacks and Pirates goodies. Volunteers also wrote notes of encouragement which were attached to 100 Pirates hats then delivered to patients across the region who are receiving care through the AHN Cancer Institute, specifically patients enrolled in AHN's new wig program.

Volunteers from the Pirates and Sheetz were hard at work at the Women's Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh reorganizing and replenishing the donation center, preparing meals for residents, and even provided breakfast and baked goods for the staff and volunteers who support WCS residents and clients.

To celebrate the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month, volunteers from Fanatics joined the Pirates at the Latino Community Center. There, volunteers restocked the center's food pantry, assembled furniture and set up new toys and games in the early childhood classroom, and built 200 snack packs for any of their kids facing food insecurity.

Meanwhile at PNC Park, volunteers wrote notes and letters to World War II veterans, which will be delivered to veterans visiting The National WWII Museum with the help of the Gary Sinise Foundation's Soaring Valor Mail Call program.

Throughout the day, nearly 150 front office and corporate partner volunteers and 35 players and coaches took part in this day of service, giving back to the Pittsburgh community.

Clemente Day of Service Photo Gallery

CLEMENTE AWARD

For the third consecutive season, David Bednar is the Pirates nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Capital One. The Roberto Clemente Award is bestowed annually to the player who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.