(LOS ANGELES, Ca) Stand Up To Cancer® (SU2C) is offering one lucky bidder the rare opportunity to throw out a ceremonial first pitch before a game of the 2021 World Series as part of the Bid 2 End Cancer auction series. The ceremonial first pitch at the Fall Classic typically is an exclusive honor often reserved for Presidents, Olympians and celebrities, but this year will feature a generous fan who makes a significant contribution in the fight against cancer.

The coveted First Pitch auction package offers a VIP experience from start to finish, including four tickets to the World Series game selected by MLB for this opportunity. The winning bidder and three guests will get the VIP treatment with first-class airfare, ground transportation and hotel rooms all provided (terms and restrictions apply). They’ll also have the opportunity to be a part of a VIP meet-and-greet arranged by MLB. The First Pitch auction opens on October 1 at 10:00 p.m. CDT and closes on October 26 at 10:30 p.m. CDT.

Bid 2 End Cancer features extraordinary keepsakes courtesy of MLB and MLB Clubs, such as signed, game-worn jerseys from some of baseball’s biggest names, other autographed memorabilia and more.

Proceeds raised from this auction will support Stand Up To Cancer’s innovative cancer research programs. Stand Up To Cancer, with the support of MLB and other collaborators, is making strides in   developing new, more effective treatments so all cancer patients can become long-term survivors.

“Stand Up To Cancer is excited to collaborate with Major League Baseball on this once in a lifetime opportunity to throw a ceremonial first pitch at this year’s World Series,” said SU2C Co-Founder Rusty Robertson. “MLB as our founding donor has always shared our ‘out of the box thinking’ when it comes to eradicating cancer and engaging the public. From our iconic placard moment to their gift to throw out the first pitch, MLB has been an extraordinary partner in the fight against cancer.”

Noah Garden, Chief Revenue Officer, Major League Baseball, said: “Major League Baseball is proud to be an original and longstanding partner of Stand Up To Cancer, an organization whose groundbreaking research is literally saving lives. The Stand Up Moments at our Jewel Events are some of the best highlights of our seasons, and we are thrilled to add this new component to our Fall Classic.  We know the generosity of baseball fans is going to show out in a big way through this auction. We look forward to providing a memorable experience to the winning bidder and their loved ones.”

“Heritage Auctions has been enormously proud to partner with Stand Up to Cancer and Major League Baseball to raise money for cancer research,” said Heritage Sports founder and president Chris Ivy. “This collaboration has allowed us to bring top-tier sports collectibles to fans around the world, and we’re beyond thrilled that we can cap this momentous event with the unrivaled opportunity to throw out the first pitch at a World Series game.”

Bid 2 End Cancer is being administered by Heritage Auctions. For additional information and to register to receive updates, please visit StandUpToCancer.org/Auction.

Jacob Stallings, Nominated for Prestigious Roberto Clemente Award, Pledges to Donate to Compassion’s ‘Fill the Stadium’ Initiative

PITTSBURGH, PA — Every year, Major League Baseball (MLB) grants the Roberto Clemente Award to the player who “best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual’s contribution to his team,” as voted on by baseball fans and members of the media. The award is one of the most esteemed awards in MLB. This year, the Pittsburgh Pirates are represented by catcher Jacob Stallings, who has helped numbers of fans throughout the recent pandemic with virtual events as well as his work with the Boys and Girls Club of Manatee County.

 

Every year, the winner of the award chooses a charity of his choice that will receive a donation, and for Stallings, the choice was clear. Naming Compassion International and its Fill the Stadium (FtS, fillthestadium.com) initiative as his charity, Stallings solidified his dedication to helping children in need. Fill the Stadium is providing essential food, medical care and support to 70,000 children and their families who are in need.

 

Compassion’s CEO Santiago “Jimmy” Mellado is resolved to achieve Fill the Stadium’s goal of helping 70,000 children in crisis, or enough to fill a stadium. The team has raised over $31 million so far, reaching more than 62,000 kids and their families, but they must “fill the stadium”—and reach all 70,000 kids at grave risk of hunger, or worse.

 

CEO Mellado explains, “We are committed to caring for 70,000 children who were not sponsored due to the pandemic, which is enough children to fill an average NFL football stadium. At Compassion, we believe the empty stadiums last season were a sobering reminder of those who still need essential food, health care, and support as this crisis continues.”

 

In the COVID-19 era, “We have all experienced the reality of empty stadiums,” says the Fill the Stadium team. “The average NFL stadium holds 70,000 seats. We need to reach that many kids. This effort desperately needs a caring, prayerful, and thoughtful community to join together in this critical relief.”

 

Those holding co-leadership roles in this charitable team effort are Alyssa Naeher, a member of the U.S. Olympic Women’s Soccer Team (which won a Bronze Medal in Tokyo); Nick Foles, professional football MVP quarterback; Adam Engel of the Chicago White Sox; Sam Burns, PGA TOUR golfer; Nick Ahmed of the Arizona Diamondbacks; Jordy Nelson, former professional wide receiver; Devin and Jason McCourty, NFL defensive backs; Nate Solder of the New York Giants; Jaccob Slavin of the Carolina Hurricanes; Brock Huard, FOX sports broadcaster and former professional quarterback; and many others. Steve Stenstrom, president of Pro Athletes Outreach, is also playing a lead role in the effort.

 

To learn more about this effort, visit the Fill the Stadium website, as well as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

 

Founded in 1952, Compassion International is a Christian child development organization that works to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name. Compassion revolutionized the fight against global poverty by working exclusively with the Church to lift children out of spiritual, economic, social, and physical poverty. Compassion partners with more than 8,000 churches in 25 countries to deliver its holistic child development program to over 2 million babies, children, and young adults. Its child sponsorship program has been validated through independent, empirical research.