Midwest Flooding, Red Cross, and Joel Hanrahan

June 25, 2008

As I mentioned in the last “That’s Chat’s Nats,” I was in Illinois and Wisconsin (close to the Iowa border) last week, arriving right on the heels of the crest of the northern midwest flooding. Many roads including highly used interstate highways were still closed when I arrived. Since there is no internet up at my dad’s golf place, I was reliant on CNN for flood coverage, in addition to what I saw with my own eyes, which while not the worst-hit areas, was pretty bad. CNN would go from the levees breaking, video of houses collapsing into rushing waters, to a news story about how the American Red Cross is out of money. Nationals relief pitcher Joel Hanrahan hopes to help with both. See press release below:

The Washington Nationals and pitcher Joel Hanrahan, a native of Norwalk, Iowa, have partnered with the American Red Cross for a fundraising campaign which includes an online auction on nationals.com to benefit the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. The fund helps the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, such as the tornadoes and floods in the Central United States. The auction will feature 13 sports memorabilia and/or experience packages and last for one week, Thursday, June 26 through Thursday, July 3. Auction items include the Ultimate Nats Fan Experience: four Presidents Club tickets, batting practice passes and autographed baseballs, batting practice meet and greet with Nationals pitcher Joel Hanrahan and other Nationals players, scoreboard welcome and ballpark tour. Additional items for auction include a round of golf for two with a Nationals player; pitching rubber signed by Nationals Hall of Fame Broadcaster Don Sutton and Orioles Hall of Fame Broadcaster Jim Palmer; and game-used items such as a baseball from the Washington Nationals vs. New York Yankees game at RFK Memorial Stadium on June 6, 2006. A complete list of items may be found on nationals.com beginning on Thursday, June 26.

“The damage to the Central United States has been devastating,” said Nationals pitcher Joel Hanrahan. “I am proud to partner with the American Red Cross to help victims of these and other disasters.” Hanrahan also recorded a public service announcement for the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

Nationals fans attending the remaining games this homestand who are interested in donating to disaster relief efforts may do so during this evening’s game vs. the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and during the upcoming weekend series against the Baltimore Orioles, June 27 through 29. American Red Cross volunteers will be located at the Nationals Community Table, located in Center Field Plaza this evening as well as at Center Field, Home Plate and Third Base Gates for the weekend series against the Orioles.

About The American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides nearly half of the nation’s blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization √¢‚Ǩ‚Äú not a government agency √¢‚Ǩ‚Äú and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at www.redcrosschat.org.

Posted in MLB, Players, Washington Nationals