On August 27, the Pirates hosted Cancer Support Game to acknowledge cancer organizations in our community and honor the patients and survivors whose lives have been touched by this disease. To support the continued fight against cancer in our region, Pirates Charities was proud to highlight our season-long cancer support partners: Glimmer of Hope, Susan G. Komen, Pancreatic Cancer Network, ZERO – The End of Prostate Cancer, and Lending Hearts. To kick off our game, the Pirates invited our friend, Aiden Bartley with Lending Hearts to throw out the first pitch and Owen Kruszewski with Lending Hearts to yell “Play Ball!”. Additionally, Pirates Charities hosted 18 pediatric cancer patients to join us for a special meet and greet with Pirates Pitcher David Bednar where they each received a personalized jersey autographed by Bednar in addition to having the chance to ask him questions about his favorite food, color, superhero, and more.
CANCER SUPPORT
CANCER SUPPORT GAME RECAPS
To support the continued fight in our region against breast cancer and the continued improvement of patient care, Pirates Charities was proud to honor two very worthy non-profit organizations during the Pirates Breast Cancer Support game on May 7. Both The Susan G. Komen Foundation and A Glimmer of Hope Foundation offer support to those in their battle against breast cancer, and Pirates Charities is proud to continue to partner with them. In honor of the partnership with these organizations, Chelsey Davidson, breast cancer warrior, was the Pirates Honorary Bat Girl on this day, throwing out the first pitch for the game.
On June 11, the Pirates hosted a Prostate Cancer Awareness Game to help spread awareness and acknowledge organizations in our community working hard to find a cure for the disease. To support the continued fight against prostate cancer in our region, Pirates Charities was proud to highlight ZERO – The End of Prostate Cancer and assist the work they are doing locally for all men. In honor of our collaboration with ZERO, the Pirates were thrilled to have Pat Forsburg, a prostate cancer patient, throw out the first pitch for the game and invited his granddaughter, Eliza to kick off the game saying "Play Ball!"
LENDING HEARTS
Pirates Charities is honored to team up with Lending Hearts to host pediatric cancer patients and their families for a very special day at the ballpark. From spending time with their favorite Pirates players to getting their very own personalized jersey and sitting behind home plate, we are thrilled to host each child as our VIP guest of the day. Our hope is that these moments give our special guests and their families the chance to share a special day together making memories and feeling loved and supported by their Pittsburgh Pirates.
LENDING HEARTS CLINIC
The Pirates and Pirates Charities were honored to host Lending Hearts and the patients they serve for a baseball clinic on the field on July 14 at PNC Park. Patients and their siblings had the opportunity to hone in on their baseball skills and make lifetime memories while rotating through stations on the field and receiving instruction from Pirates players and coaching staff including pitchers David Bednar and Vince Velasquez. From learning how to swing and catch to making friends and building connections with others who have also been touched by cancer, this time spent at the ballpark truly showed the power baseball has in bringing people together.
LENDING HEARTS VISITS
With help from the Lending Hearts team, Pirates Charites hosted 3-year-old Kayden, who is currently battling Leukemia, for a day of fun with Pirates pitcher David Bednar. Kayden received a special tour of the clubhouse from David, even getting the chance to try on his hat at his locker. Kayden then had the chance to spend time with Pirates Manager Derek Shelton where he played some basketball and got his jersey autographed. Before first pitch, Kayden got PNC Park ready for a great game of baseball by yelling “Play Ball” with in-game host Joe Klimchak. Kayden, sporting his very own personalized jersey, then watched the game with his family from the Home Plate Club.
With help from the Lending Hearts team, Pirates Charites hosted Jimmy, who has been fighting an inoperable brain tumor his entire life, for a very special day at PNC Park with Ke’Bryan Hayes. Jimmy was given a full tour of the clubhouse and batting cages by Ke’Bryan and was then taken out to the field to check out the dugout and play catch on the field. Along with signing baseballs for the family, Ke’Bryan also surprised Jimmy with a bat adorning a special message and autograph. We were honored to have Jimmy kick off the game by saying “Play Ball”, and afterwards, Jimmy and his family were able to enjoy the game and watch behind home plate!
With help from the Lending Hearts team, Pirates Charites hosted Sophia, a young girl currently undergoing treatment for a rare form of leukemia. Sophia was invited to be an honorary member of the Pirates 2022 team photo. Following the team photo, she signed baseballs for Bryan Reynolds and David Bednar and had the chance to played catch with Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller where they swapped stories and shared favorite school subjects, colors, and foods. Additionally, Sophia received a special visit from the Pirate Parrot. Sophia and her family were then able to enjoy dinner and the game from the Home Plate Club.
PITCH FOR HOPE
In partnership with A Glimmer of Hope, the Pirates and Pirates Charities hosted the annual Pitch for Hope women’s baseball clinic on June 3 at PNC Park. Clinic participants rotated through stations on the field and received instruction from Pirates players and coaching staff including Rob Zastryzny, JT Brubaker, Derek Shelton, Mike Rabelo, Oscar Marin, and their significant others. Participants then were treated to a brunch at the ballpark where they enjoyed specialty products from Aveda and Kendra Scott, participated in a special raffle featuring autographed items, and spent quality time bonding and supporting one another in their journeys that have all been impacted by breast cancer. All proceeds from the event benefit A Glimmer of Hope and the great work that they do in our community to fight against breast cancer.