Yankees HOPE Week
Encyclopedia
Yankees HOPE Week is an annual program run by the New York Yankees
that celebrates "individuals, families, or organizations worthy of support". Every Yankees player participates in the program with the "goal [of] personally connect[ing] with individuals in the settings of their greatest personal accomplishments." It was started in 2009 "with the purpose of performing acts of goodwill to provide encouragement to more than just the recipient of the gesture." It takes place every year in the summer.
veteran of the 82nd Airborne Division who lost use of his arms and legs to Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS). The veteran and his wife and son were invited to watch batting practice from the field before the game. They were surprised by a party in a suite in Yankee Stadium
with several players and their friends and family.
Several Yankees surprised two men who overcame learning and developmental diseases at their place of work at a law firm
in New York, where they are mail room employees. Other Yankees visited a sixth-grade Little League
r who has cerebral palsy
but helps coach his team. After the July 24th game, the Yankees hosted a nighttime carnival for people from Camp Sundown, which is for those who suffer from Xeroderma Pigmentosum
, a rare disease in which the body cannot repair cells damaged by UV light; sufferers have to avoid exposure to sunlight. The kids arrived at the game after sundown, but because of a rain delay, the game had not started, so they saw the game and did the event with the Yankees until sunrise.
visited Jane Lang, a blind woman who attends about 30 Yankees game a season, at her home and invited her to meet the players at that evening's game. A man from Sierra Leone
, who has provided for his family since he was eight, immigrated to the U.S., and received a scholarship to go to college
threw out the ceremonial first pitch
before a game, while a 13 year old quadruple amputee was thrown a pool party with several Yankees.
with children from Tuesday's Children, an organization that supports children who lost parents on September 11th. Several Yankees (including Derek Jeter
, Jorge Posada
, and CC Sabathia) took survivors of the 2010 Haiti earthquake
on a tour of New York City
and met Archbishop
Timothy Dolan
. Other Yankees went to a Broadway
performance by a 27 year old who survived five brain aneurysms.
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
that celebrates "individuals, families, or organizations worthy of support". Every Yankees player participates in the program with the "goal [of] personally connect[ing] with individuals in the settings of their greatest personal accomplishments." It was started in 2009 "with the purpose of performing acts of goodwill to provide encouragement to more than just the recipient of the gesture." It takes place every year in the summer.
History
HOPE Week was started in 2009. The Yankees said "this event is unique in that every player on the roster, along with Manager Joe Girardi, will participate."2009
In 2009, the program, which ran from July 20–24, honored a United States ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
veteran of the 82nd Airborne Division who lost use of his arms and legs to Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS). The veteran and his wife and son were invited to watch batting practice from the field before the game. They were surprised by a party in a suite in Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City, New York. It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. The stadium hosted 6,581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85-year history. It was also the former home of the New York...
with several players and their friends and family.
Several Yankees surprised two men who overcame learning and developmental diseases at their place of work at a law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
in New York, where they are mail room employees. Other Yankees visited a sixth-grade Little League
Little League
Little League Baseball and Softball is a non-profit organization in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, United States which organizes local youth baseball and softball leagues throughout the U.S...
r who has cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non-contagious motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development, chiefly in the various areas of body movement....
but helps coach his team. After the July 24th game, the Yankees hosted a nighttime carnival for people from Camp Sundown, which is for those who suffer from Xeroderma Pigmentosum
Xeroderma pigmentosum
Xeroderma pigmentosum, or XP, is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder of DNA repair in which the ability to repair damage caused by ultraviolet light is deficient. In extreme cases, all exposure to sunlight must be forbidden, no matter how small. Multiple basal cell carcinomas and other skin...
, a rare disease in which the body cannot repair cells damaged by UV light; sufferers have to avoid exposure to sunlight. The kids arrived at the game after sundown, but because of a rain delay, the game had not started, so they saw the game and did the event with the Yankees until sunrise.
2010
The 2010 program ran from August 16–20. Manager Joe GirardiJoe Girardi
Joseph Elliott Girardi is a former Major League Baseball catcher and current manager of the New York Yankees. During a 15-year playing career, he played from 1989–2003 for the Chicago Cubs, the Colorado Rockies, the New York Yankees, and St. Louis Cardinals...
visited Jane Lang, a blind woman who attends about 30 Yankees game a season, at her home and invited her to meet the players at that evening's game. A man from Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
, who has provided for his family since he was eight, immigrated to the U.S., and received a scholarship to go to college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
threw out the ceremonial first pitch
Ceremonial first pitch
The ceremonial first ball is a longstanding ritual of American baseball in which a guest of honor throws a ball to mark the end of pregame festivities and the start of the game. Originally, the guest threw a ball from his/her place in the grandstand to the pitcher or catcher of the home team...
before a game, while a 13 year old quadruple amputee was thrown a pool party with several Yankees.
2011
In 2011, the Yankees held a barbecueBarbecue
Barbecue or barbeque , used chiefly in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia is a method and apparatus for cooking meat, poultry and occasionally fish with the heat and hot smoke of a fire, smoking wood, or hot coals of...
with children from Tuesday's Children, an organization that supports children who lost parents on September 11th. Several Yankees (including Derek Jeter
Derek Jeter
Derek Sanderson Jeter is an American baseball shortstop who has played 17 years in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees. A twelve-time All-Star and five-time World Series champion, Jeter's clubhouse presence, on-field leadership, hitting ability, and baserunning have made him a central...
, Jorge Posada
Jorge Posada
Jorge Rafael Posada Villeta is a Major League Baseball player who is currently a free agent and has played his entire career for the New York Yankees. He served as the Yankees primary catcher for most of his career, though following off-season knee surgery, he was moved to designated hitter for...
, and CC Sabathia) took survivors of the 2010 Haiti earthquake
2010 Haiti earthquake
The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks...
on a tour of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and met Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
Timothy Dolan
Timothy Dolan
Timothy Michael Dolan is an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He is the tenth and current Archbishop of New York, having previously served as Archbishop of Milwaukee and Auxiliary Bishop of St. Louis ....
. Other Yankees went to a Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
performance by a 27 year old who survived five brain aneurysms.