The Minnesota Twins players and front office staff will take part in the organization's second annual Hope Week, an entire week dedicated to giving back to the community. During each day of Hope Week, different Twins players will lead groups of teammates in participating in various volunteer activities. These activities will often be a surprise to the recipients. Hope Week is an effort by the ballclub to reach into the community and make a difference in peoples' lives.
Sunday, June 10 -Justin Morneau's Casino Night for Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
Justin Morneau's luxurious, Las Vegas-style fundraiser was the kick off to the first annual Minnesota Twins Hope Week. Twins players and their wives mixed with Arthritis supporters for food, photos and a little mock casino gambling. The event raised more than $120,000 for juvenile arthritis. International Market Square was the setting for this classy event that also included live and silent auctions.
This is the third annual Casino Night, which Justin started to raise funds and awareness for Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. Justin's niece Maddie suffers from the disease and Justin hopes to help other kids to deal with the disease, and eventually find a cure.
Monday, June 11 - Hang with the Majors
The Hang with the Majors allowed Twins players to show off their bartending skills and help our families of our armed forces heroes. Twins players went to work serving and bartending at Toby Keith's I love This Bar in St. Louis Park to raise money for the Minnesota Military Families Association. Patrons and military families were waited on and sold beverages by many of the players.
Players' tips and other donations from autographs and a silent auction will go to benefit families of deployed soldiers.
A Brush with Kindness
Twins front office staff completed their first ever Habitat for Humanity volunteer event by helping local homeowners to fix up their homes. More than thirty Twins employees - and TC Bear - scraped, primed and painted two homes in North Minneapolis. These homes were affected by last year's tornado and need help to look new again.
Tuesday, June 12 - Ron Gardenhire's visit to the VA Hospital
On Day 3 of the Minnesota Twins Hope Week, Ron Gardenhire visited a group that he holds a very special interest in. Gardenhire, alumni, players, and TC Bear all traveled to the Minneapolis VA Hospital to mingle with veterans. Because Gardenhire's father was in the military, he continually visits veterans to let them know how much they are appreciated.
Veterans had the opportunity to get autographs, take pictures, and sit down and chat with Gardenhire, Twins players Drew Butera and PJ Walters, former Twins Tim Laudner and Kent Hrbek, as well as TC Bear. The group then made their way to individual rooms in the spinal cord injury wing and were able to have some extended conversations with veterans.
Wednesday, June 13 - Led by Joe Mauer, Twins players will meet a group of children who are currently at Gillette Children's Hospital and will take patients out for a pizza lunch.
Thursday, June 14 - Led by Carl Pavano, Twins players will take kids from various disadvantaged youth groups to Lake Harriet in Minneapolis to go fishing. They will be accompanied by a professional fisherman who will help teach the children to fish.
Friday, June 15 - Twins players will lead "Field Day for the Kids" at Target Field for children from People Serving People, CommonBond, and Mary's Place. The children will be invited on the field to interact with all of the Minnesota Twins players and coaches. Stations will be set up for various baseball activities, and the kids will also be able to play "MLB: The Show" on the giant 5800 square foot video board.
Saturday, June 16 - Twins players and their wives will stuff toy-filled birthday gift bags for Cheerful Givers. The bags will later be dropped off at food shelves and home shelters to allow parents living in poverty to give their children a birthday gift.
HOPE WEEK 2011
Sunday, June 12
Justin Morneau's Casino Night for Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
Justin Morneau's luxurious, Las Vegas-style fundraiser was the kick off to the first annual Minnesota Twins Hope Week. Twins players and their wives mixed with Arthritis supporters to enjoy some food, photos and a little mock casino gambling. International Market Square was the setting for this classy event that also included live and silent auctions.
This is the third annual Casino Night, which Justin started to raise funds and awareness for Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. Justin's niece Maddie suffers from the disease and Justin hopes to help other kids to deal with the disease, and eventually find a cure.
Monday, June 13
Pros vs. Kids Wiffle Ball
Michael Cuddyer has always championed the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities. However, his Hope Week event pitted him against kids from the Jerry Gamble Club on the Northside of Minneapolis.....in an intense game of wiffle ball.
Al Newman, Ben Revere, Juan Berenguer, Rene Rivera, Michael Cuddyer, Drew Butera and Jason Kubel took on the kids in a game at North Commons park. The park, the Gamble Club and the kids were all in the heart of the area affected by the May tornado that swept through the Norhside of Minneapolis.
The kids got a great chance to play, mingle with their Twins heroes and they also got to share a lunch from Subway with them.
Tuesday, June 14
Carew and Oliva visit Amplatz Children's Hospital
Hall of Famer Rod Carew, Twins Legend Tony Oliva and Mascot TC spent their mornings spreading some cheer at the University of Minnesota's Amplatz Children's hospital. The trio visited the long-term care facility, meeting several children and families along the way. As usual, Twins Mascot TC got into a bit of mischief, which the kids thoroughly enjoyed.
Kids throughout Amplatz Children's Hospital, a new facility that opened in April of 2011, received autographs, hugs and photos with the Twins legends on the 3rd day of Twins Hope Week.
Wednesday, June 15
Veteran's Affairs Hospital Visit
Ron Gardenhire spends his days teaching men to battle on the ball field, but Wednesday Gardenhire stepped out to meet those who battled for our country. Ron Gardenhire, Roy Smalley, Tim Laudner, Rene Rivera, Ben Revere, Jim Hoey and Matt Tolbert took time to greet the people that have given their lives to allow America to be a place where people have the freedom to gather peacefully and watch baseball being played.
While some coaches met with mobile veterans in a large group setting, others visited the immobile spinal care patients. As they shook hands and shared stories, it was clear that a deep sense of respect was present in both parties for one another.
Thursday, June 16
Hang with the Majors
The Hang with the Majors event brought a new meaning to double-header for many Twins players. The Twins won a hard-fought 1-0 victory against the White Sox in the afternoon and then went to work serving and bartending at Toby Keith's I love This Bar in St. Louis Park. A joint effort of the Twins Community Fund and the Twins Wives Organization, "Hang with the Majors" raised money for the Minnesota Military Family Foundation. Twins players waited on and mixed drinks for military families and restaurant patrons.
All player tips and donations from autographs benefit families of deployed soldiers.
Friday, June 17
Fishing with the Kids
Instead of throwing 90+ mph fastballs, Carl Pavano and Matt Capps spent the day with fellow teammates fishing with kids from Tix for Tots at Lake Harriet in Minneapolis.
The Minnesota DNR also came down to give a quick demonstration on tying hooks, setting bait, and staying safe out on the lake. The kids must have really taken the DNR's advice because they out-fished all of the players by a landslide!
After all of the fish in the lake were caught, everyone walked over to the park for a picnic provided by Subway and the kids were lucky enough to get a couple of autographs at the end.
Saturday, June 18
Field Day with the Minnesota Twins
A week of community events at various sites across the metro culminated in Twins players inviting more than 100 homeless youth to Target Field for a fun-filled afternoon. Residents of People Serving People, CommonBond Communities, Sharing and Caring Hands, and St. Joseph's Home for Children joined the entire Twins team on the outfield grass to play wiffle ball, kickball, Frisbee and more.
After the games were over, Twins players joined the youth for lunch. It was a great day of fun and fitness that was enjoyed by all.
