was time to start a foundation and give back to the com- munity. “Sam was the driving force back then and really wanted to make sure we recognized the importance of giving back to the community, and got the wheels rolling for the foundation.” “Community has always been very important to the Goldeyes,” said Collier. “You can’t just take from the com- munity; you need to show that you’re giving back as well.” Since 1995, the Winnipeg Goldeyes Field of Dreams
Foundation has contributed more than $2 million to chil- dren’s charities in Manitoba. “We are so grateful to the Winnipeg Goldeyes Field of
Dreams Foundation for supporting children in Manitoba with disabilities,” said Kyla Wiebe, gift planning manager for Society for Manitobans With Disabilities Foundation Inc. “Teir grants have helped children hear, move, and participate in childhood in ways they could not before. How amazing is that? Teir support helps children hear their parents tell them that they love them.” Earlier this year, the Cerebral Palsy Association of Manitoba, in conjunction with Te Winnipeg Goldeyes Field of Dreams Foundation, donated an adapted bicycle to 12-year-old Elham Albakar, who has a diagnosis of ce- rebral palsy. Elham and her family (five siblings and their parents) escaped war conditions in their home of Aleppo, Syria in December of 2015. Tis past winter, Elham at- tended school for the first time in her life, where she had the opportunity to ride an adapted three-wheel bicycle customized by Winnipeg-based Freedom Concepts. “Just to see her smile and her actually pedalling that bi-
cycle on her own, you know, it’s truly amazing,” said Evan Paterson of Freedom Concepts. “For me, that never wears off. It’s just as exciting each and every time.” “Tis is literally the best part of my job,” added Collier.
“We like to give for specific items such as special iPads, special bikes, or specific projects because we know the im- pact will be felt immediately.” All about community
Te word community is defined as “a feeling of fellow- ship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.” Since forming in 1994, the Goldeyes organization has lived by this definition by consistently making their presence known at different community events throughout Winnipeg. Collier stated this is some- thing very important when the coaching staff recruits players. “When Goldeyes manager Rick Forney puts a team to-
gether, he is not only looking for good baseball players, but more importantly he’s looking for great people.” “Over the years we’ve done a really good job of getting those good guys who are willing to do the extra com- munity events not because they have to, but because they want to,” added Collier. “Tey realize that by doing these things they’ll help bring more people to the ballpark and
thehubwinnipeg.com
Thanks to generous donations, the Winnipeg Gold- eyes Field of Dreams Foundation is able to do things like donating an adapted bicycle to 12-year-old Elham Alkabar who is afflicted with cerebral palsy.
it’s just their way of giving back to the community as well.”
Te majority of funds raised throughout the season
come from the nightly 50/50 raffles, but there are many more fundraising events that contribute to the founda- tion.
One of the most popular events is the annual “Grazing in the Outfield” dinner, which takes place August 10th. Guests get to sit at a table in centre field at Shaw Park while renowned local chef Ben Kramer prepares a multi- course menu. Former major leaguer Andre Dawson is the guest speaker at the event this year and all proceeds from the dinner go to the Field of Dreams Foundation. Goldeyes fans attending the games play a huge part in the success of the foundation. Testing out their pitching skills at the TCBY Radar Pitching booth, donating to the Manitoba Pork Piggy Bank, or purchasing a “Path of Dreams” personalized sidewalk brick at Shaw Park are just some of the ways fans have given to the foundation. “Te foundation’s continuing ability to support chil-
dren’s charities in Manitoba in such an impactful way is a tribute to those loyal Goldeyes fans and corporate spon- sors who, through their own philanthropy, make all of this possible,” said Tony Fletcher, President of the Winnipeg Goldeyes Field of Dreams Foundation. At the end of the day, Collier said there’s one big reason the organization has been so successful. “Tere’s a reason we’ve been around for what is now our 24th year and it’s because of the amazing community that supports the Goldeyes.”
Summer 2017 • 19
All photos courtesy of the Winnipeg Goldeyes Field of Dreams Foundation.
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