WHEN AND WHERE: TODAY – Monday, August 18 in the Champions Club at Target Field
- 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Twins pitcher Pablo López and 15 local students pack 49 back-to-school classroom supply kits for teachers; time includes a pizza lunch provided by Papa Johns.
- 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.: Teachers pick up their supply kits; López to assist in distribution
WHO: The following individuals will be available for comment:
- Twins pitcher Pablo López
- Participating students and teachers
WHAT: With many classroom budgets strapped and teachers often needing to purchase their own materials, Minnesota Twins starting pitcher and education advocate Pablo López is doing his part to ensure local teachers have access to the supplies needed for a successful new school year. López, along with 15 local students, will spend this morning packing supply kits to be distributed this afternoon to 49 Twin Cities-area elementary school teachers – a number chosen to honor Pablo’s Twins uniform number.
These Pablo-provided back-to-school kits each have a total value of $425 and will include $135 in gift cards; 48 crayons and two glue sticks; a pair of scissors, a stapler and an electric pencil sharpener; 100 sheets of construction paper; a dozen pads of Post-It notes; 12 permanent and dry erase markers, felt tip pens, and blue, black and red pens; 24 pencils; three classroom puzzles and a set of dice; four boxes of snack items; boxes of facial tissue and hand sanitizing wipes; and a Twins storage bin on wheels. Additionally, each teacher will receive a “Pablo Day” red López jersey and four free tickets to a future Twins home game.
The 49 teachers receiving these kits were each thoughtfully selected with assistance from Athletes Committed to Educating Students (ACES) and Black Men Teach. The educators are all K-4, Special Education or English Language Learners (ELL) teachers at schools in Minneapolis or St. Paul.
Inspiring the next generation to embrace service to others – a value López himself embodies – Pablo has invited 15 local students to join him in packing the teacher supply kits. In honor of Pablo’s Venezuelan heritage, the 15 students are all from Baila Venezuela, a Venezuelan dance group located in Minneapolis. López himself will gift each participating student with a back-to-school Twins backpack containing a notebook, lanyard, water bottle, folders, a “Pablo Day” yellow López jersey, four free tickets to a future Twins home game, and a $100 gift card to Target.