“Thank you Mr. Roger” – Stock picking projects with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Sarasota, Florida and Anne Arundel County, Maryland – May 2019
In late October 2015 working with Unit Director Nate Brown of the Roy McBean Boys and Girls Clubs of Sarasota we put together a stock picking project for teen members which also included staff members. The kids did better than the staff as explained below. Nate has a good sense of humor which was reflected in the video included here. In December 2016, working with with the Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Anne Arundel County Maryland, Lisa Mondoro, we initiated an expanded and significantly improved stock picking program for Junior Staff and selected teen members.” reflecting the experience gained in Sarasota. I think anyone interested in working with Boys and Girls Club kids will find below the answers provided to these two questions of interest: 1. WHAT SCHOOL SUBJECT DO YOU LIKE THE MOST /...
Read MoreBadges for Baseball Sarasota
Badges for Baseball is a core program of the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, (CRSF). It began in 2009 and has served over 100,000 youth in twenty different states and twenty seven different communities. Created by the CRSF it partners with local law enforcement agencies and trains police volunteers to use Foundation programs like Quickball and Healthy Choices Healthy Children as a vehicle to positively influence their relationship with youth and visa-versa. The Sarasota Police Department began its program in the spring of 2014. Once a week six volunteer officers come to the Roy McBean Boys and Girls Club. What they do there will vary but a common theme is to engage the kids via new activities or simply discussion. An example of the former was a bocci ball program introduced by 25 year law enforcement veteran Sgt. Eric Bolden...
Read MoreRachel’s Challenge
Cody Hodges, Rachel’s Challenge, Presenter; Dr. Rachel Shelley, Principal, Booker High School December 3, 2014 proved quite a special day for some Sarasota kids and adults and the organizations that made it happen: the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation (CRSF); the Sarasota Police Department; and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Sarasota. As a result of a $5000 grant from the Sarasota Police Department using drug forfeiture funds CRSF was able to bring Rachel’s Challenge to Sarasota. At its core, Rachel’s Challenge is about how children and adults alike can live their lives to make the world better for themselves and others. Rachel Scott was the first person killed in the Columbine High School massacre- there were 13 killed in April 1999. In the aftermath of her murder Rachel’s father and step-mother established Rachel’s Challenge, a national non-profit organization that has brought...
Read MoreA Trip to Cooperstown with Cal Ripken, Jr. – July 2014
This year marks the 75th year of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and the weekend of July 25th, 2014 most certainly memorable for the inductees: Frank “Big Hurt” Thomas, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Bobby Cox, Tony La Russa, and Joe Torre. Very memorable for me too as Cal Ripken, Jr. invited me to join him knowing that the only way this could work was if he “carried my bags”. I had recently come off colon surgery and was under serious orders from the surgeon and my wife Elaine to lift nothing. Cal did this with good humor and grace. As one can imagine, this weekend at Cooperstown was a great experience at every level- whether simply walking through town while Cal rode his bike 25 miles around the lake, having lunch on Saturday at the Blue Mingo or...
Read MoreCal Ripken, Sr. Foundation – August 2014
CAL RIPKEN, SR. FOUNDATION (CRSF) Cal, Vi, and Bill Ripken opening a CRSF turf field at the Aberdeen Boys and Girls Club, August 11, 2014. This field was named after Vi Ripken to honor her long time volunteer work at this club on behalf of youth. It was the 25th CRSF turf field to opened in disadvantaged neighborhoods across the United States. Many more will follow. The Foundation was started by Cal and Bill to honor the memory and legacy of their father. Both are heavily involved. CAL RIPKEN, JR.’S Hall of Fame Induction speech before an estimated 85,000 people (Cal and Tony Glynn were inducted) reflects well a lesser known side of Cal- he is thoughtful, caring, highly analytical, and focuses both on the big picture and the relevant details. His speech is quite unique in HOF...
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