For Immediate Release
For More Information:
Dalmarys Matos (203) 576-7201
dalmarys.matos@bridgeportct.gov
-Press Release-
Mayor Ganim Supports Youth and Healthy Kids Day #PlayBall!
Mayor Ganim joined the Bridgeport All Star Camp and Parks & Recreation campers to encourage Youth Sports & Activities
Bridgeport, CT- Mayor Ganim visited the fields at Seaside Park today and played ball with youth from the Bridgeport All Star Camp involving School Resource Officers (SRO) as well as the Parks & Recreation campers for Healthy Kids Day. This is in conjunction with Major League Baseball’s “PLAY BALL SUMMER”. Mayor Ganim is a member of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the #PlayBall initiative that encourages active and healthy lifestyles for youth in all communities. Mayors across the country are supporting similar activities to engage citizens, families, and city departments.
“The ‘PLAY BALL SUMMER’ is all about spurring our young people to get active while having fun,” said Mayor Ganim. “The PlayBall initiative motivates our community to come together to create enjoyable activities, like the Bridgeport All Stars Baseball Camp and Healthy Kids Day. We have a great team of volunteers who use their time and resources as organizers and coaches for these programs. There must have been around 1,500 kids at the park today. It was inspiring to see children, and it was also inspiring to see so many volunteers, mentors, and coordinators doing this for our youth.”
The Bridgeport All Star Baseball Camp was founded five years ago by Camp Director Tyrone Kingwood. The camp originally began as a baseball camp but has now evolved to include a basketball camp. The camps are offered free of charge and take place Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for eight weeks during the summer. Both programs draw local youth but also youth from neighboring towns like Stratford, Ansonia, and Trumbull. Those interested in learning baseball skills meet at Seaside, while basketball campers convene at Bassick High School. The camps are run by 8 volunteers and on duty School Resource Officers (SRO). Through the efforts of the SRO’s participating youth are now fed breakfast and lunch through the Bridgeport Nutrition Center and water and snacks are provided by donations acquired from the SRO’s on their off time.
The annual Healthy Kids Day involves the Parks and Recreation campers and community volunteers. This event was created to expose Bridgeport youth to variety of sports and activities, from the traditional baseball and basketball games, to lacrosse and martial arts.
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