09/07/2010 3:54 PM ET
Rickie Weeks Named Brewers Nominee for the 2010 Roberto Clemente Award Presented by Chevrolet
Major League Baseball and Chevrolet, the official vehicle of Major League Baseball, today announced that Rickie Weeks was named the Brewers 2010 nominee for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet. Weeks is one of the 30 Club nominees who are finalists for the national award, which is given annually to the Major League Baseball player who combines a dedication to giving back to the community with outstanding skills on the baseball field. Tomorrow will mark the ninth annual Roberto Clemente Day, which was established by Major League Baseball to honor Clemente's legacy and to officially recognize local Club nominees of the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet.
The Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet recognizes players who best represent the game of baseball through sportsmanship, community involvement and positive contributions to their Clubs. The award is named for the 12-time All-Star and Hall of Famer who died in a plane crash on New Year's Eve 1972 while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. The award pays tribute to Clemente's achievements and character by recognizing talented current players who truly understand the value of helping others.
Weeks is involved in numerous charitable programs. He provides his time and financial support to the Beckum-Stapleton Little League and hosted a bowl-a-thon for the group earlier this year. He is also a supporter of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee, where he provides a van each year for the organization's transportation needs. In addition, he served as the Honorary Chair for the American Diabetes Association's Black Tie Gala, helping raise over $100,000. Rickie's financial support extends to the Rickie's Rookies Program, which provides 500 tickets to a Brewers game and t-shirts each season to various Little League programs throughout Wisconsin. Additionally, he organized the Rickie Weeks Scholarship Fund and has donated $10,000 in scholarship funds for local students.
Prior to tomorrow night's Brewers game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Weeks will participate in a pre-game ceremony to present a check to his hometown charity, God's House Ministries/V.Weeks Outreach and Development with a donation made possible by Chevrolet. As one of 30 Club nominees for the 2010 Roberto Clemente Award, fans can vote for Rickie at www.chevy.com/clemente to be selected as the overall winner from all 30 MLB teams. Fan voting and a special selection committee will determine the national winner, which will be announced at the World Series.
The distinguished list of national Roberto Clemente Award recipients includes 13 members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Fans are encouraged to participate in the process of selecting the national award recipient by visiting www.chevy.com/clemente, powered by MLB.com and created specifically for the Roberto Clemente Award platform, from September 7 to October 8 to vote for one of the 30 Club nominees. Participating fans will be automatically registered for a chance to win a trip to the 2010 World Series, where the national winner of the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet will be announced.
The winner of the fan poll will receive one vote among those cast by the selection panel, which includes Vera Clemente, wife of the late Hall of Famer; Commissioner Selig; MLB Network analyst and former Roberto Clemente Award winner Harold Reynolds; MLB Network analyst, TBS broadcaster and former Roberto Clemente Award winner John Smoltz; Hall of Famer and ESPN broadcaster Joe Morgan; former All-Star catcher and FOX broadcaster Tim McCarver; and MLB.com senior correspondent Hal Bodley.
MLB celebrates Roberto Clemente Day as part of the broader "MLB Going Beyond" platform, which strives to integrate community service and the importance of giving back.
The Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet recognizes players who best represent the game of baseball through sportsmanship, community involvement and positive contributions to their Clubs. The award is named for the 12-time All-Star and Hall of Famer who died in a plane crash on New Year's Eve 1972 while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. The award pays tribute to Clemente's achievements and character by recognizing talented current players who truly understand the value of helping others.
Weeks is involved in numerous charitable programs. He provides his time and financial support to the Beckum-Stapleton Little League and hosted a bowl-a-thon for the group earlier this year. He is also a supporter of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee, where he provides a van each year for the organization's transportation needs. In addition, he served as the Honorary Chair for the American Diabetes Association's Black Tie Gala, helping raise over $100,000. Rickie's financial support extends to the Rickie's Rookies Program, which provides 500 tickets to a Brewers game and t-shirts each season to various Little League programs throughout Wisconsin. Additionally, he organized the Rickie Weeks Scholarship Fund and has donated $10,000 in scholarship funds for local students.
Prior to tomorrow night's Brewers game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Weeks will participate in a pre-game ceremony to present a check to his hometown charity, God's House Ministries/V.Weeks Outreach and Development with a donation made possible by Chevrolet. As one of 30 Club nominees for the 2010 Roberto Clemente Award, fans can vote for Rickie at www.chevy.com/clemente to be selected as the overall winner from all 30 MLB teams. Fan voting and a special selection committee will determine the national winner, which will be announced at the World Series.
The distinguished list of national Roberto Clemente Award recipients includes 13 members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Fans are encouraged to participate in the process of selecting the national award recipient by visiting www.chevy.com/clemente, powered by MLB.com and created specifically for the Roberto Clemente Award platform, from September 7 to October 8 to vote for one of the 30 Club nominees. Participating fans will be automatically registered for a chance to win a trip to the 2010 World Series, where the national winner of the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet will be announced.
The winner of the fan poll will receive one vote among those cast by the selection panel, which includes Vera Clemente, wife of the late Hall of Famer; Commissioner Selig; MLB Network analyst and former Roberto Clemente Award winner Harold Reynolds; MLB Network analyst, TBS broadcaster and former Roberto Clemente Award winner John Smoltz; Hall of Famer and ESPN broadcaster Joe Morgan; former All-Star catcher and FOX broadcaster Tim McCarver; and MLB.com senior correspondent Hal Bodley.
MLB celebrates Roberto Clemente Day as part of the broader "MLB Going Beyond" platform, which strives to integrate community service and the importance of giving back.
