NewsStudents given royal treatment at Citi Field
Group from United Neighborhood Houses hosted Thursday
By Tim Britton / MLB.com
06/25/09 6:06 PM ET
NEW YORK -- The Mets, Citi Field Kids and the Jackie Robinson Foundation combined to host a group of approximately 200 middle school and high school students on Thursday afternoon, providing a tour of the Jackie Robinson Rotunda and speakers before the game.The students, involved with United Neighborhood Houses, were given tours by Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholars, who receive funding for their education and participate in leadership-development programs.
The scholars will be teamed with the students to further the foundation's mission of mentoring and developing young talent.
"Anytime you can help the younger generation -- just to impart knowledge, answer questions -- is important," said Melissa Jackson, one of nine Jackie Robinson Scholars that led the tours. "In my own life, I've had so many influences, so if I can help in even the smallest way, it's significant."
Thursday marked the third of six such days at Citi Field this season, all of which begin with a tour of the Jackie Robinson Rotunda. The Rotunda is complete with mosaic photographs of the Dodgers' legend and salutes his nine ideals: commitment, justice, excellence, citizenship, integrity, teamwork, courage, persistence and determination.
The Rotunda is capped by Robinson's famous credo: "A life is not important except in its impact on other lives."
"It's a lot bigger than I thought. It's really amazing," said 18-year-old Jocelyn Gan. "I knew [Robinson] had a big impact and that there were a lot of books written about him, but I never truly realized how big it was."
The Rotunda is the perfect place for the Jackie Robinson Foundation, started in 1973, to spread its message.
"It not only pays tribute to Jackie, but also puts forth his tremendous ideals he embodied and lived by," said Della Britton, president and CEO of the Jackie Robinson Foundation. "To be able to bring our students to this space, and for them in turn to inspire others in this space really makes sense."
After taking a tour of the rotunda, the students were treated to appearances by the Mets' J.J. Putz, WFAN's Craig Carton and a speech by Brittany Williams -- a Jackie Robinson Scholar entering her senior year at the University of Virginia.
"It really signifies what the foundation means in really giving back to the community, being a role model for all the kids here, teaching them and showing them that college is definitely attainable and you can go far," Williams said. "I hope they'll understand that the world is their oyster."
While Putz was on stage, he selected Jose Recinos from the Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement House to throw out the game's ceremonial first pitch. Recinos, 14, just graduated from I.S. 126 in Astoria and recently presented a project on neighborhood environmental factors at SUNY Binghamton.
"I was surprised," Recinos said of throwing out the first pitch. "It was like a dream come true. I didn't know it was going to happen."
His sister, Senayda, had a different reaction.
"I was a little jealous," Senayda said.
Although the pitch was a little high for catcher Omir Santos, the day ended well, with beautiful weather and, of course, the Mets' 3-2 victory over the Cardinals.
"This is a perfect day," Britton said.
Tim Britton is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
