If you listen carefully, you can hear it echoing from the smallest sand lot to the multi-million-dollar stadium. From Bangor, Maine, to San Diego, Calif. From majors and minors, to peewees and seniors. It’s as all-American as Mom and apple pie, yet international, too. Some do it for millions of dollars while others do it strictly for the fun of it. What are we talking about?
“Play ball!” the umpire bellows.
Yes, it is baseball season again and record crowds are filling stadiums to see their favorite major and minor league teams play. Other smaller crowds are sitting on blankets or bleachers to watch their sons and daughters in hometown leagues.
What makes our national pastime so great? Is it the thrill of cheering crowds? It is the fun of being with friends and families? Is it the hot dogs, soft drinks and the cotton candy? Is it the outstanding talent of pitchers, catchers, fielders and batters?
There’s a story about a group of retired baseball players who got together for a reunion. As they exchanged stories, both true and not so true, a question emerged: “What position is most important to the success of a team?” Of course, each of them spoke in favor of their own former position and there was considerable debate.
Finally, an old fellow with a twinkle in his eye and an excellent career batting record spoke up and said, “We are all the most important position because we are all batters. Without batters you can’t score. If you can’t score, you can’t win.” A roar of approval filled the room as the retired players acknowledged the truth of the statement. Pitchers, catchers and fielders are all important to the overall plan but someone needs to step up to the plate and score a run to win the ball game.
This concept applies to charitable giving as well. We may wonder which charity is most important – which one does the most good. These are questions often asked by donors. When we “go to bat” with our money for a charity of our choice, we are doing the most important job. Without batters like you and me, our charities can’t win!
America and the world have experienced some severe tragedies in the past couple of years. Tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes, cyclones, mining disasters, roadside bombs, terrorist acts, wars and rumors of wars – all have made daily headlines. Thousands of people have lost their lives and thousands more who are injured and grief-stricken remain in the wake of these natural and human-made disasters. The resulting needs have sharply increased the demand for donors like you and me to “step up to the plate.” At Deafness Research Foundation (DRF), we are so proud of the donors who have provided some aid in these worldwide disaster situations. You saw the need and you acted.
In many of my visits to your homes and places of business, I have noted a bit of discomfort as donors admitted, “This year my charity went to disaster relief.” No one should feel uncomfortable about providing disaster relief! We at DRF recognize that urgent needs do arise and we encourage you to support causes as your conscience dictates. You are good people giving needed funds to good charities for specific emergencies. We commend you for doing so and thank you for your continued loyalty to our ongoing cause, finding cures to hearing and balance disorders.
The next time you think of baseball or see a game in person or on television, I hope our national pastime reminds you of another thing that makes this country great – the willingness of its citizens to go to bat for people in need. Remember too the need for solutions for people with hearing and balance disorders. Unlike the one-time, urgent nature of a tsunami or a Katrina, people with hearing or balance disorders suffer a daily trauma, and to those people and their loved ones, it is a major tragedy.
Thank you for picking up your bat (checkbook) and “stepping up to the plate” for those with hearing and balance problems.
Now, “Play ball!”
