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“Home Runs That Help” is the community outreach initiative of the POWER SHOWCASE All-World/All-American Baseball Classic. The “Home Runs that Help” campaign has two components. Each POWER SHOWCASE participant’s responsibility is to reach out to their community and contact their local Children’s Hospital. They will partner with a local baseball fan that is suffering from a life-threatening medical condition, disability or special need and can even raise financial contributions for their cause. Once that person has been identified a visit is facilitated and a life-long relationship is cultivated, and forged. All of the home runs hit by the participant are dedicated to that special individual. |
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10th POWER SHOWCASE HUMANITARIAN AWARD GINO VIZZI (GA) P4 FOUNDATION An Inspiration to Everyone. ![]() |
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11th PSC HUMANITARIAN AWARD KELLUM CLARK (MS) “Kellum and KK Clark chose Carter Cline and his family (Meagan – Mom, Brandon – Dad and Baker – Lil Bro) as their “Home Runs that Help” partners. Brandon is a gifted educator and Meagan is a nurse in our community of Brandon, MS. Carter was born in 2010 with a rare birth condition called O.E.I.S. (Cloacal Exstrophy). It effects 1 in 400,000 live births and is considered by the experts at Johns Hopkins to be the most complex birth disorder to be compatible with life. The condition caused Carter to be born with many of his organs on the outside of his body. Carter has already had over 30 surgeries since birth. Carter also lives with Spina Bifida. He is very blessed to be able to walk. Carter will undergo several more surgeries as he gets older to continue to repair his bladder and organ issues as well as other issues as they arise. When Kellum and KK started learning about the “Home Runs that Help” opportunity their immediate choice for a partner was the Cline family as they are a sweet gift to our Community of Brandon.”
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11th PSC HUMANITARIAN AWARD ANTHONY JARVIS (WV) Anthony partnered with Xavier Jacobs for Home Runs that Help. Xavier has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and is in a wheel chair. He is a smart, friendly, and active young man. He is a 2016 Graduate of Ripley High School and plans on attending college this fall. He is the son of Cathy and Victor and brother to Remy and Broedy. Over the years he and his family have spent enormous amounts of time helping the school and youth teams in our area. Xavier was an aspiring baseball player before this disease appealed. |
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11th PSC HUMANITARIAN AWARD NOAH DETTMAN (CA) Noah partnered with Boston’s Children Hospital for Home Runs that Help |
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The first home run ball hit by the POWER SHOWCASE participant is signed, labeled with the distance the ball actually traveled and later presented to the partner. A meeting is scheduled and both are photographed prior to the POWER SHOWCASE event. The photo will then be shown on the Jumbo-tron at Marlins Park when the participant is being announced and walking up to the plate before he hits. In addition, the announcer mentions the partners name as well as some prominent information. The event will be broadcast and streamed live world-wide on the POWER SHOWCASE website.
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Spalding is donating gold baseballs. On your 15th out – if you hit a home run with the gold money ball, you’ll multiply your donations by five. Kindly make sure that the individuals helping/sponsoring with your specific partners cause are 100% aware of the gold ball and its value. Example: (Sponsor) John Smith is donating $100 per home run and (player) David has 10 home runs through 14 outs = $1,000. Now, David hits the gold money ball for a home run on the 15th out and brings the total to $5,000. POWER SHOWCASE provides the Platform for your son to reach out into your local community, taking the initiative to raise money for his partner’s individual cause. Spalding does not provide any financial donation (just the gold balls). |
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CA – Lucas Halstead with his Home Runs that Help partner, Hunter Kilbourn.
Hunter is a 4th grade student at Morello Park Elem. in Martinez, CA, who was brutally attacked by two pit bulls on Aug. 11, 2013, and has undergone many reconstructive surgeries, with many more to come in the future.
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NY – NICK TEDESCO 9th Annual HOME RUNS THAT HELP HUMANITARIAN AWARD Nick partnered with John Graham & Miracle League of Long Island for Home Runs that Help |
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John Graham– a 7-year old boy who has been a member of the Long Island Miracle Baseball League for several years. Nick chose to work with and sponsor the Miracle League Of Long Island raising over $6000 because he also believes that everyone deserves the chance to play baseball! |
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FL Nicholas Villanti 9th Annual Home Runs that Help Humanitarian Award Winner Nicholas partnered with Molly Little for Home Runs that Help |
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I want to thank you because this Power Showcase has turned out to be so much more than baseball. I’d like to share with you how the Home Runs That Help piece of this experience has already changed the life of my son, 12 year old Nicholas Villanti. In June of 2014, six year old Molly Little, was diagnosed with a terminal brain stem tumor called DIPG, Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma. Without a miracle, this Christmas will be her last. When Nicholas learned about Home Runs That Help, without hesitation, he chose to support Molly and her family. Molly has 2 sisters, ages 4 and 7. Her father is in the military and is stationed at MacDill Air Force base in Tampa. Nicholas is on track to well surpass his $5000 goal. Channel 13 WTVT, Bay News 9 and other media sources have been contacting us and are tracking his progress. |
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In the last few months Nicholas has been a part of many different events. He was a special guest at a local elementary school, Stower’s Elementary Knockin’ Out Cancer mom/son dance as well as the Flavor Run 5K event in Sarasota, FL. Nicholas was also a special guest at a 3rd Annual Holiday Event in Brandon, Fl. He was asked to be the charity of the month at the St. Pete Pier Food Truck Rally this coming weekend and has set up a spaghetti fundraiser on January 13th at the church where Molly attends. Matt Joyce of the Tampa Bay Rays learned of his efforts and autographed a tshirt for auction/raffle and also autographed one for Nicholas to give to Molly. Nicholas has collected cash and checks from individuals and also has a crowd funding site for credit card donations.. http://www.gofundme.com/ This experience has been life changing for Nicholas and for our whole family. It has allowed us to see how kindness multiplies. A 12 year olds efforts has created a ripple effect like I never imagined. Nicholas has not only been rallying community efforts to help raise awareness for DIPG and raise money for the family to offset medical expenses, but he has also inspired his classmates to help too. Many of the children (and teachers) in Nicholas’ school can be seen wearing bright green “Pray For Molly” bracelets. Many of Nicholas” classmates have helped with fundraisers and call me from time to time asking when the next one is so they too can help. Nicholas is considering starting an organization in Molly’s Honor, that is focused on “kids helping kids”.. His hope is that he can inspire many more children to pay it forward, show thanks for what they have been blessed with and value the importance of blessing others. So again, thank you for teaching our kids that life isn’t just about baseball. It’s about how can we as human beings not only leave a mark on the baseball field but also in people’s hearts by doing good for others. The reward in doing so has already come back to us ten fold. |
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Central H.S. catcher’s big hit wins a little boy’s heart By Brendan Murray bmurray@liherald.com The family of 6-year-old Valley Stream resident Daniel Vecchione, Jr. gathered around a small iPad screen in a doctor’s office in New York City in late December. They were tuning in to the International Power Showcase in Miami to watch Vito Friscia, senior and captain of the Central High School baseball team, compete in Daniel’s name. Daniel suffers from congenital hepatic phybrosis, a serious genetic kidney disease that caused the young boy to undergo kidney and liver transplants just days before his fourth birthday. He and Friscia had become friends over a year ago, when Friscia’s mother, a teacher at Shaw Avenue Elementary School, had Daniel in her kindergarten class. The pair bonded over a mutual love of baseball and a friendship was born. Friscia was invited to compete in the Showcase, which included the best high school sluggers from across the country and around the world, after committing to play baseball at Division I Hofstra University and attracting attention from major league scouts.
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“They hold a home-run derby each year for the best hitters from all over,” Friscia said. “They ask participants to raise money for a cause that means a lot to them. As soon as I found out, Daniel’s name sprang right to my mind.” He decided to compete to raise money for the American Kidney Fund in Daniel’s name. The boy’s father, Daniel Vecchione, Sr., said he was moved by Friscia’s gesture. “I think it really is just such a great friendship for the both of them,” he said. “When he said he thought of my son right away I was really impressed and very excited…They really have a close bond.” Friscia traveled to Miami to compete in the home-run derby, held at Marlins Park, home to major-league baseball franchise the Miami Marlins. When Friscia stepped to the plate, he said he felt his heart thump. “I definitely had some butterflies at first,” he said. “But I just tried to clear my mind and do what comes naturally. Eventually I found a pitch that was right in my sweet spot, and I gave it my best swing, and put a drive into it.” Friscia put so much into the swing that the pitch left the ballpark entirely, clearing the outfield wall, the bleachers and eventually landing on the street outside the park after traveling nearly 500 feet high. He would knock eight other pitches over the wall during the competition and won the contest, earning a $1,000 donation in Daniel’s name to the American Kidney Fund. The Vecchione family followed the competition online even as Daniel met with his doctor. |
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“We turned on the competition right before Vito came to the plate,” said Daniel’s father. “We saw him hit that long home run. We were so excited, and when he ended up winning, well, Daniel hasn’t stopped talking about it for weeks.” The Valley Stream Board of Trustees honored Friscia for the win at their Feb. 9 meeting. At the ceremony, he showed off the ball that left Marlins Park before giving it to his biggest fan. “It’s all been very surreal,” Friscia said. “I was really glad to be able to do something to make Daniel and his family smile. They certainly would deserve it after all they’ve been through.” After the meeting, Daniel proudly displayed the ball with a big grin. “Vito really is a great kid and he’s been so good to my family,” Daniel’s father said. “It was so great to see him win, and giving Daniel his ball is going to make his day for a long, long time.” “My friend Vito won!” Daniel exclaimed. “I was really happy when he hit the home run…he’s my favorite baseball player. |
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KY – Ethan Wood participated in the 9th Annual POWER SHOWCASE over Christmas break.
Ethan teamed with Working The Puzzle For Autism and raised $1,533 for the charity.
Ethan was inspired to choose this charity in support of his sister Layla who was diagnosed in 2013 with Aspergers.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone that gave to this very deserving organization.
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Canada Matt Carscadden partnered with Kyle & Georgetown Special Olympics for Home Runs that Help Thanks again to all those that donated to this great cause. We raised $2,165.00 that will go towards the Georgetown Waves swim team and other programs that Special Olympics Georgetown will initiate. |
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NY Michael Petze has partnered with Anthony for Home Runs that Help |
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Brandon Wulff: Home Runs That Help It was a surreal feeling for Brandon Wulff to look up at the big jumbo screen and watch to see his friend Juan’s picture appear there. Competing in the 9th Annual POWER SHOWCASE at Marlins Park in Miami, the Nevada senior was hoping that he would see Juan’s image so he could use that for more encouragement. He also hoped Juan was watching back home in Las Vegas.
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Juan is a nine-year old battling leukemia, and Wulff had partnered with him for the Home Runs That Help benefit of the POWER SHOWCASE. Home Runs That Help is the community outreach initiative of the POWER SHOWCASE All World/All American Baseball Classic. Each showcase participant is responsible to reach out to their community and contact their local Children’s Hospital, teaming with a local baseball fan that is suffering from a life-threatening medical condition, disability or special need. All the home runs hit by that participant are dedicated to that special individual. Wulff and most other showcase participants also work to earn money for support. Players raise funds through pledges for each home run they hit, and Wulff was able to raise nearly $200 per long-ball. Sponsor partner Spalding also supplies a gold baseball for the final out of each at bat. If the player is able to hit it for a home run it multiplies the sponsor’s pledges/donations by five. Although Brandon put a good charge into his gold baseball, it just fell short of leaving the outfield at Marlins Park. The senior from Bishop Gorman High School also came just short of advancing to the championship round, finishing in fourth with seven home runs. But he could not help but appreciate all he did accomplish, and what it meant for Juan. “I was really hoping to win the whole thing for him,” Wulff admitted. “I got into a little bit of a groove but it just didn’t last long enough I guess. I’m not going to get upset because I did what I wanted to do, which was put on a good showing and earn a lot of money for Juan back in Vegas.” Wulff did walk away with some personal hardware as well. After hitting five home runs in a row, he won the award for the Most Consecutive Home Runs of the showcase. Written by Rick Duteau |
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CA – LUCAS HALSTED partnered with Hunter Kilbourn for Home Runs that Help
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IL – TRENT JOHNSON 2014 HOME RUNS THAT HELP HUMANITARIAN AWARDTrent has partnered with Brady Weaver for Home Runs that Help |
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FL – DESMOND LINDSAY 2014 HOME RUNS THAT HELP HUMANITARIAN AWARD Desmond has partnered with Taylor Emmons Scholarship Fund for Home Runs that HelpThe Taylor Emmons Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to enable socio-economically diverse students to receive an independent, college preparatory education at The Out-of-Door Academy in Sarasota, Florida. In 2011 Mr. Lindsay was honored to receive the first scholarship awarded from the Taylor Emmons Scholarship Fund. |
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Desmond Lindsay presented his first fundraising check to Mike and Katie Emmons on Thursday, February 13th at the Taylor Emmons Memorial Baseball Field at 6:30 p.m., followed by the Kick-Off of the Out-of-Door Academy 2014 Baseball Home Opener with our Varsity Thunder taking on the Lakewood Ranch Mustangs. David Mahler, Head of School, congratulated and thanked Desmond for all of his work in the classroom, on the baseball field, and to the Taylor Emmons Scholarship Fund. Desmond worked with “Home Runs That Help,” a community outreach initiative of the POWER SHOWCASE All-World/All-American Baseball Classic. Members of the Out-of-Door family along with the greater community supported Desmond in the 2014 Power Showcase Home Run Derby which benefited the Taylor Emmons Scholarship Fund. He presented a check for $16,500 to the Emmons Family on February 13th.Desmond was also awarded the 2014 Home Runs That Help Humanitarian Award. The entire Out-of-Door community is so proud of Desmond for all of his hard work. Thank you to everyone who came out to support Taylor Emmons Day. | ||||||
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IL – Evan has partnered with Kate Mitchell for Home Runs that Help fight Kate and Evan raised a total of $8214 to help find a treatment for nemaline myopathy. |
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PA – JEXTIN PUGH 2012 HOME RUNS THAT HELP HUMANITARIAN AWARD Jextin’s benefit was awesome tonight! We raised close to $4000.00 for the families!. The weather got a little tricky with some rain at first but it cleared out just when the event started. It was cold though! The bands were great, food was awesome, and the people had fun! We had a lot of shirt and cause bracelets left over we are going to sell them at the baseball building. We are also going to do some orders for people who couldn’t make it. They could actually make a couple more thousand in t-shirt sales. That’s how many shirts were donated.I actually got so involved with these two families that we are going to continue to help them. Jextin was invited to the Type 1 diabetes walk in May and they want him to cut the ribbon to start the walk this year. We are also going to help Dec. 1 with a bizarre they are having at the Altoona Curve Stadium in our area.I am so glad you have this program it was a great learning experience for Jextin! He said he would do again in a heartbeat!!Shannon Pugh |
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CA – CASEY WORDEN has partnered with Dusty Brandom for Home Runs that Help Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Casey sent out a flyer prior to the tournament. He really had an outstanding response, from commitments of $10-$100 per home run. Making it to the final round for Casey was not only extremely exciting in itself but also helped to raise a couple thousand more dollars for his cause! In total Casey raised over $7500.00 for Coalition Duchenne!!!Casey’s Flyer: |
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FL -PETER CROCITTO has partnered with Macey Gaskins for Home Runs that HelpLocal High School Baseball Player Raises $6,000.00 for Young Diabetic Fan to Train Lifesaving Service Dog Donated by Her ChurchMartin County, FL—Feb. 18—Peter Crocitto III, a baseball player at South Fork High School, recently combined his passion for the game with his desire to help a special, young local fan suffering from diabetes. Macey Gaskins is 10-years-old and was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at just 13 months old. When Peter learned that Macey’s family has not had a full night’s sleep since her diagnosis, he knew he needed to do something. Her parents must check her blood sugar levels while Macey sleeps to prevent her from falling into a diabetic coma. Realizing that money was the only thing standing in the way of Macey receiving a trained lifesaving Diabetic Alert Dog (D.A.D.), Peter set out to raise the $6,000.00 needed to train the dog that was purchased for her. “I have always loved the game of baseball and I know the benefits and opportunities it has provided me not only as an athlete, but also as a student,” said Crocitto. “Recently, I also learned how I can use the sport to better the life of a child who is suffering and whose pain I can help minimize just by doing what I love and dedicating it to Macey,” he added. Peter partnered with “Home Runs That Help”, a community outreach initiative of the POWER SHOWCASE All-World/All-American Baseball Classic that was held at Marlin Stadium. “Home Runs that Help” campaign has two components. Each POWER SHOWCASE participant’s responsibility is to reach out to their community and contact their local Children’s Hospital to partner with a local baseball fan that is suffering from a life-threatening medical condition, disability or special need. A visit is then facilitated and a life-long relationship is forged and cultivated. All of the home runs hit by the participant are dedicated to that special individual. The first home run ball hit by the POWER SHOWCASE participant is signed, labeled with the distance the ball actually traveled and later presented to the partner. With Macey in his heart and on his mind, Peter hit eight home runs at the POWER SHOWCASE Home Run Derby at Marlins Park raising $6,000.00. Last week, Peter presented Macey and her family with his signed baseball and gloves and the $6,000.00 raised through his efforts and generous donations, which fully paid for the service dog’s necessary training. Peter said that Macey now has Nikki, a friend and partner, and he shared his thanks with all of the individuals who helped to make this happen. Nikki is nearly complete with her obedience training and is set to begin six weeks to six months of D.A.D. training. She will be trained to recognize and immediately alert on the scent of Macey’s low and high blood sugar levels. “Knowing this could potentially save Macey’s life and provide her family some much needed rest and relief is more rewarding than any home run I could hit,” Crocitto said. |
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PA – Jextin Pugh has partnered with Johnny Fleck and Zachary Treese for Home Runs that Help
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TN – LOGAN BLACKFAN has partnered with Leondra Wilson-Strong for Home Runs that Help
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NJ – COREY LERCHE,17 HITS A HOMERUN FOR GO4THEGOAL PEDIATRIC CANCER FOUNDATION May 9,2012–Merchantville,NJ: |
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As the Northern New Jersey home run leader, Corey came up with a “home run” of a fundraising idea. Now, every time a Saint Joe’s baseball player hits a home run, spectators flock to the donation buckets at the field to contribute to G4G as a tribute to Sean. So inspired by Corey’s passion for helping kids with cancer, local businesses and families have pledged money for every home run hit by a Saint Joe’s player. Collectively, the team has raised nearly $5,000. And Corey has certainly done his part. He is leading Northern New Jersey in home runs. Corey added, “While doing something that I love to do, I’m able to raise money to help kids with pediatric cancer accomplish what they want to do. I never realized how many people were willing to support me in helping raise this money. Everyone wants to help.” |