Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date:Wednesday, May 16, 2001
Release #154-01

Contact: Sunny Mindel/ Lynn Rasic
(212) 788-2958
  Jack Deacy/ Jennifer Falk (ACS)
(212) 341-0999


MAYOR GIULIANI AND ACS COMMISSIONER SCOPPETTA THANK
THE NEW YORK METS AND JPMORGAN CHASE FOR
SUPPORTING BASEBALL IS FOR KIDS PROGRAM

175,000 Tickets Donated To Area Youth Organizations


Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Administration for Children's Services (ACS) Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta today thanked The New York Mets and JPMorgan Chase for donating 175,000 Mets tickets to local area youth organizations. Ten thousand of the tickets will go to foster children under the supervision of ACS. This donation marks the fourth season of JPMorgan Chase's Baseball is for Kids program.

"Thanks to JPMorgan Chase and The New York Mets, for the fourth year in a row, thousands of City children will have the opportunity to enjoy major league baseball," Mayor Giuliani said. "This program, Baseball is for Kids, is a great example of how corporate partnerships can benefit our City's children. These tickets, 10,000 of which will be donated to the Administration for Children's Services, will allow children to watch their Mets baseball heroes in action and enjoy the excitement of being at a major league baseball game. On behalf of the thousands of children who will benefit from this program, I would like to thank JPMorgan Chase and The New York Mets for their continued support."

The Mayor was joined by New York Mets President Fred Wilpon and J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. Senior Vice President David Nolan for today's announcement at Shea Stadium. New York Mets third baseman Robin Ventura and pitcher Turk Wendell treated more than 50 children from Futures in Education Foundation, to a post-conference baseball clinic on the diamond at Shea Stadium.

Mr. Nolan said, "JPMorgan Chase is dedicated to making a difference in communities throughout the New York metropolitan area, and the JPMorgan Chase Baseball is for Kids program provides us with a chance to build relationships with thousands of New York City youth. Most of us remember going to our first professional baseball game, and through this program JPMorgan Chase is thrilled to provide the opportunity for many of these kids to attend their first major league baseball game and to help create their first baseball memories."

Mr. Wilpon said, "By hosting the JPMorgan Chase Baseball is for Kids program for the fourth consecutive year and again increasing their commitment of tickets to the youth of New York City, JPMorgan Chase once again has demonstrated its leadership role as a positive influence in the lives of many less fortunate children. The Mets thank and commend them for their generosity."

ACS Commissioner Scoppetta said, "I'm delighted that JPMorgan Chase is continuing its Baseball is For Kids program and has shared this generous donation of 10,000 tickets with us. The thrill of a baseball game is one of the things that make childhood such a magical time. This gift will make it possible for thousands of foster care youths to experience the joy of a day at the ballpark. For many of them, it may even be their first major league ball game. Our heartfelt thanks to JPMorgan Chase for taking our kids out to the ballgame and making their dreams come true."

All 175,000 tickets have been allocated. JPMorgan Chase distributed a large portion of the tickets to public schools, parochial schools in low-income communities and numerous youth groups recommended by JPMorgan Chase's Community Development Group in New York City, Long Island, Westchester and Connecticut. Additionally, JPMorgan Chase gave 10,000 tickets to New York City foster children, to be distributed through ACS.


www.nyc.gov