Yankees Provide HOPE to Others for HOPE Week 2015

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Last month, the Yankees took part in its seventh annual HOPE Week initiative. HOPE (Helping Others Persevere & Excel) started in 2009 with the belief that acts of goodwill provide hope and encouragement to more than just the recipient of the gesture.

During the five-day celebration, the club turns its spotlight of different individuals and groups each day. Joined by players and other Yankees staff, this year’s honorees embodied the spirit of HOPE in several facets–and the Yankees had to honor them justly.

The week started with our honor to host Chris Singleton, his siblings and college coach (who was also Brett Gardner’s college coach). Chris lost his mother two months ago in the awful Charleston church shooting this summer. Chris’ message of love triumphing in the face of extreme hate inspired the entire club. Nothing could have started HOPE Week off better than hosting Chris and the incredible people in his life.

On Tuesday, the team visited Ridgefield, CT to support the Prospector Theater, a theater that staffs inspiring individuals with special needs looking to gain workplace experience. We joined Chatham, NJ’s Southern Boulevard Elementary on Wednesday to support the school’s kids helping kids initiative to help others in need. Thursday’s stop brought the club to New City, NY and the Hunterdon Huskies Contender Cheerleaders–a community of special needs women that bring the best out of every person they touch. We concluded the week with Frank Squeo’s Baking Memories 4 Kids, where the Yanks joined other volunteers to bake cookies to raise funds for families in need.

This year’s HOPE Week saw stars from the WWE, including Make-A-Wish mainstay John Cena, join us along the way. It was great having support from the WWE during this incredible week. We already can’t wait for 2016 and the other outreach programs the organization will endeavor upon in the meantime.

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