Barry Zito announces 'Strikeouts For Troops' to help our wounded U.S. Military (Oakland A's pitcher)

Strikeout for Troops ^ | April 5th, 2005 | Kathy Jacobson

[ajolympian2004]

BARRY ZITO ANNOUNCES STRIKEOUTS FOR TROOPS TO HELP OUR WOUNDED U.S. MILITARY
Oakland A's Pitcher Pledges Funds Through Season - Encourages Other Major League Baseball Pitchers to Provide Comforts of Home

BALTIMORE, MD. April 5, 2005 Barry Zito, opening day starter for the Oakland Athletics against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards, today announced the establishment of Strikeouts For Troops. The program provides funds for comforts of home and assists with family travel and housing expenses for U.S. Military being treated at Walter Reed Army Hospital, Bethesda Naval Hospital, and other military hospitals.

The 2002 Cy Young Award Winner, Zito will contribute $100.00 to Strikeouts For Troops for every batter he strikes out during the 2005 season. He is inviting all other Major League Baseball pitchers to match his pledge as well.

Many of our war wounded are recovering in hospitals far from home and family and Strikeouts For Troops will help them to know we support and believe in them. We hope to make their stay in the hospital more comfortable, and show we all are grateful for their courage and sacrifice, said Zito. These are the true heroes in uniform!

This effort will be funded by contributions to the Strikeouts for Troops Fund at The Community Foundation For the National

Capital Region. (www.cfncr.org). Freedom Alliance, a national non-profit organization, tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the tax code, headquartered in Dulles, Virginia, will be the initial primary recipient of the funds.

Freedom Alliance will assist in the delivery of resources to the troops, so they may purchase clothing (some arrive with only the clothes on their back), meals, entertainment and other comforts of home, while they are recuperating from injuries. In addition, the program funds may be used to help with travel and lodging expenses of family members so they may visit and spend more time with their loved ones.

We are very honored to have the support of Barry Zito and we look forward to both his performance on the field and as he meets and thanks our brave service members for what they have given to us fighting for freedom in Afghanistan and Iraq, said Tom Kilgannon, president, Freedom Alliance.

The program website www.StrikeoutsForTroops.org will regularly track Zito's progress as well as that of other pitchers who may get involved and the corresponding dollar amounts pledged. A companion program for other position players is also being considered.

http://www.strikeoutsfortroops.org/

[ajolympian2004]

Message from Barry Zito

Hello and welcome to Strikeouts For Troops! This cause is very important and I hope you'll join me in supporting our U.S. troops.

For the 2005 Major League Baseball season, I have chosen to help our brave men and women of the military who have been wounded in battle. Many are recovering in Walter Reed Army Hospital and in Bethesda Naval Medical Center from injuries they received during service in Afghanistan and Iraq.

If we all pull together, we can help to make recovery time a little easier by providing such comforts of home as clothing (many of the troops only arrive with the clothes on their back), meals, and entertainment. I'd also like to assist with travel and lodging expenses for their families, so they can spend as much time with their loved ones as possible. All of us cherish the love and support when we are on the mend.

So here's my pledge. For every batter I strikeout this season, I'll donate $100.00 to Strikeouts For Troops to help our war wounded get back on the road to a healthy life. I am also inviting all other Major League Baseball pitchers to match my pledge as well.

During the off-season, I became acquainted with Freedom Alliance, a national 501c3 of the tax code non-profit organization that will assist in the delivery of resources directly to our injured soldiers and their families. They do good work! This effort will be funded by contributions to the "Strikeouts For Troops Fund" at The Community Foundation For the National Capital Region. (www.cfncr.org)

As Americans, we all play for the same team and I encourage fans of baseball and of our troops, to support the Strikeouts For Troops program by clicking on the contribute section of this website. Please stop by often to see how much we all are doing to help our real heroes in uniform!

Thank you very much. See you at the ballpark.

[hoagy62]

Now, THIS is what the game of baseball should be all about!

[jlasoon]

My respect for this outstanding pitcher has just gone through the roof, let's see how many pitchers or players for that matter follow in his foot steps.

[ajolympian2004]

Barry Zito was interviewed on Fox News' Hannity & Colmes (Tues. April 6th) about this new 'Strikeouts for Troops' effort.

[ajolympian2004]

I've already contacted all the local Denver area sports reporters on TV & radio and local newspaper sports departments via email with this info. I also sent and email to Mike and Mike in the morning on ESPN Radio and to the Dan Patrick Show on ESPN radio as well.

For all the local Rockies beat reporters I requested that they pass this info along to the Colorado Rockies pitching staff... although for us it might be better if our pitchers donate $100 per run scored or homerun hit at Coors Field. ;)

[ajolympian2004]

I was just at the Sean Hannity hannity.com website and it appears that Barry Zito will be a guest on Sean's radio show today. (Apr. 6th, Wed.)

[Route101]

God's speed!....

[DainBramage]

The Texas Rangers batters will be happy to assist as usual.

[nutmeg]

FoxFan ping!

Oakland A's Pitcher Barry Zito was interviewed on Fox News' Hannity & Colmes (Tuesday 4/5/05) about this new 'Strikeouts for Troops' effort. Zito will be a guest today (4/6/05) on Sean Hannity's radio show.

Thanks for the heads up on this, ajolympian2004!

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my FoxFan list. *Warning: This can be a high-volume ping list at times.

[ilgipper]

That is fantastic! I have a newfound respect for Zito, and hope others join in.

Hopefully, if my team can get Wood and Prior in the game soon, they will join in with Zito. Kerry would is a good Texan and I would think he would be happy to join in. With his typical number of K's a lot of money will be donated.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[rabidralph]

But who will we root for when Zito faces a batter who may be involved in Homeruns for Troops?

[rabidralph]

The Oakland Raiders should get involved and form Penalties for Troops and donate money for each penalty they get each game.

[Awestruck]

This guy is my daughter's favorite baseball player.. now I know why...

[dfwgator]

I heard Chan Ho Park has offered to donate $1000 for every home run he gives up.

[Awestruck]

"The Oakland Raiders should get involved and form Penalties for Troops and donate money for each penalty they get each game."


LOL! virtual high five..hehehe..

[ajolympian2004]

But who will we root for when Zito faces a batter who may be involved in Homeruns for Troops?

Now that sparks an idea... find an offensive statistic that is relatively equivalent to the total number of strikeouts by all pitchers during a full season and have a little competition between the pitchers and hitters, all for a great cause.

[DainBramage]

I heard the rangers office sent out a memo to players who might be taking steroids. It said they would be given immunity if all steroids were given to Chan Ho Park.

[Huck]

Great idea.

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

Finally, some good baseball news! Maybe my beloved Mets can donate some money for every game they lose this year. 0-4 to start the season - yikes!