NewsSchmitz named 'Everyday All-Star'
Fundraiser chosen from among White Sox finalistsBy Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com
06/29/09 7:48 PM ET
After thousands of nominees from across the United States and Canada were narrowed to 90 finalists, Major League Baseball and People Magazine have announced the 30 winners of the "All-Stars Among Us" campaign, which spotlights people who have gone above and beyond to serve their communities. The Chicago White Sox's "All-Star" is Joe Schmitz of Morris, Ill., who was chosen by fans across the nation for engaging young people around the world in initiatives ranging from increasing access to education to fighting poverty. Schmitz transforms his passion for baseball into generosity. He is the founder of Operation St. Nick, an organization that has donated over $1 million to 3,700 families in Morris, Ill. With fundraising bus trips to Chicago White Sox games and an impressive baseball collection, Joe helps families in need every day. Schmitz and the rest of the winners will be honored during the pregame ceremony at the 2009 MLB All-Star Game in St. Louis on July 14 on FOX, at which President Barack Obama will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. One club representative also will be featured in People Magazine. Nearly three quarters of a million votes were cast by fans across the nation in the All-Stars Among Us campaign to select the 30 "All-Stars Among Us" winners -- one per Major League team -- out of the pool of 90 finalists who are serving as leaders within their communities. The other finalists for the White Sox were: • Kelwin Harris: The Chicago resident grew up in a rough area, but now he runs Beloved Community, which provides mentoring and tutoring to help young people in the same community he grew up in. • Patty Ilg: The Elmhurst, Ill., resident created Great Lakes Lab Rescue and has run the program for 13 years. Her organization has saved hundreds of Labrador Retrievers from shelters and places them in homes. Meanwhile, vote for your favorite players with the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint Online Ballot at MLB.com and all 30 sites.The 80th Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and Sportsnet HD and televised around the world by Major League Baseball International, with pregame ceremonies beginning at 7 p.m. CT. ESPN Radio will provide exclusive national radio coverage, while MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage.
Barry M. Bloom is a national reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
