Members of the Los Angeles Angels Baseball® franchise officially closed out their season on Monday by participating in a putting contest with children involved with Make-A-Wish®. Current roster and alumni players, plus the team chairman and the voice of the Angels, teamed up with the deserving kids at the practice putting green at Journey at Pechanga golf course in Temecula late this morning. The teams made up of Angels catcher Hank Conger, infielder Grant Green, former Angels pitcher Clyde Wright, former second baseman Bobby Grich, voice of the Angels on Fox Sports West, Victor Rojas and Angels Baseball Chairman, Dennis Kuhl played against each other and for participating, the kids won trophies and golf apparel provided by Pechanga, plus luxury suite tickets with food and drinks provided at a 2014 Angels game and a chance to watch pre-game batting practice from the field. The children with the top score won a signed Angels Baseball jersey. The main goal of the event was to raise awareness for Make-A-Wish and the services it provides to the entire Southern California community.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Angels Baseball and to Pechanga for this partnership,” said Stephanie McCormick, President and CEO of Make-A-Wish. “Wishes forever change the lives of the children – taking them away, just for a moment, from the pain and stress of the needles, chemotherapy, and hospitals, and giving them an experience that will impact them and their families forever. You can never underestimate the power of a smile from a wish child. It’s life transforming.”
“All children deserve a chance to be recognized for their outstanding abilities and Angels Baseball is happy to partner with Pechanga and give these awesome kids a fun day they will hopefully remember for a long time,” said Dennis Kuhl, Angels Baseball Chairman.
In addition to the Angels taking time out of their off season to meet and play golf with deserving youngsters, Pechanga also has a long upheld tradition of providing critical resources for the children and families of its community. The Make-A-Wish Orange County Inland Empire chapter benefitted directly from the resort’s annual charity golf tournament with a contribution of $50,000 last month.
“Our Tribe has a rich history of supporting charitable organizations and causes that provide much-needed resources, services and programs to children and families in our community and beyond. We are proud to partner with Make-A-Wish and are appreciative of the work they do to encourage and give hope to children throughout our region,” said Patrick Murphy, President of the Pechanga Development Corporation Board of Directors.
Including the organization once again in the putting contest with Angels Baseball continues to raise awareness for the continued need for support. All of Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire’s funds raised stay within the region to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medial conditions in the Orange County and Inland Empire region.
About Make-A-Wish
Make-A-Wish grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Founded in 1980 when a group of caring volunteers helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, Make-A-Wish is one of the world’s leading children’s charities, with 62 chapters in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and nearly 25,000 volunteers, Make-A-Wish grants a wish every 38 minutes and has granted more than 200,000 wishes in the United States since its inception. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire, visit www.ocie.wish.org and discover how you can share the power of a wish®
