News

(Bridgeport, Conn. – June 11, 2014) – On the night of June 26th at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard, the Bridgeport Bluefish and Where Angels Play Foundation are teaming up to honor the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy.

The date for this event was selected to represent the six teachers that passed away on that December 14, 2012 day and for the 26 total people that lost their lives. The Bridgeport Bluefish will be designating 26 seats along the first base side, with six of those seats will be wrapped in white for the six teachers that passed away on that day and 20 seats will be wrapped in blue for the students who passed away. A portion of the pre-ordered tickets for the game on June 26th will be donated to Where Angels Play Foundation using the code 26Angels.

Where Angels Play’s mission statement is “Inspired by the senseless violence in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy and in an effort to restore the storm ravaged east coast after Hurricane Sandy, we endeavor to create 26 liv-ing memorials to all children who have been victims of violence while creating safe, fun places for children to be chil-dren. May these playgrounds and those yet to be built provide a symbol of hope, recovery and a return to normalcy. A gift to our youth in an effort to enhance and sustain their precious childhood.”

For the duration of the 2014 season, the Bluefish and the Where Angels Play Foundation will be donating the Sandy Hook designated 26 seats to underprivileged children in the Fairfield and New Haven Counties. “We are extremely grateful to the Bridgeport Bluefish and the community of Bridgeport for teaming up with us as we continue this blessed project” said MaryKate Lavin, Executive Director of the Where Angels Play Foundation.

“One of the most important aspects of the Bridgeport Bluefish organization is to give back to the community,” said Bridgeport Bluefish General Manager Ken Shepard. ”We still think about those who lost their lives on that day and every little chance we have as a community to help out to those affected, we want to be there to do our part. We appreciate the support of the Where Angels Play Foundation that they have given and we look forward to working with them on this special night.”  

If organizations that work with unprivileged children or low-funded budgets that would like to request these seats for a 2014 Bridgeport Bluefish home game, please email community@bridgeportbluefish.com.

The Sandy Ground Project is extraordinarily grateful to Toni Giordano of Giordano Contracting, LLC for the energy and devotion she is putting towards the planning and the building of all 26 playgrounds. Toni first met many of the fire fighters from the NJFMBA, New Jersey Firemen’s Mutual Benevolent Association, when they joined forces in 2006 to build playgrounds in Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina.  The Newtown tragedy brought them together again. Toni’s knowledge, insight, talent and sensitivity to each family’s requests are reflected in the 23 built playgrounds and will continue to be so as this project continues.