With its yearly “D-backs Give Back to Education Week,” the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation is kicking off the new academic year with a program aimed at helping teachers, students, and schools throughout Phoenix. Corbin Carroll, Jake McCarthy, and manager Torey Lovullo will be actively involved in the community through a variety of educational activities, grants, and classroom visits during this week-long event.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The week began on a high note at Chase Field on Thursday, August 8th, with a special ceremony honoring the 2024 Arizona Teacher of the Year, Efrain Casillas. The music programs coordinator at Tolleson Elementary School, Casillas was recognized for his dedication to public education with the ceremonial first pitch before the Diamondbacks’ matchup against the Phillies.
As part of a back-to-school campaign, the D-backs and Honeywell gave out 3,000 backpacks full of school supplies to kids in nine Arizona schools on Friday, August 9. Bringing smiles and much-needed supplies to the classroom, outfielder Corbin Carroll visited Valencia Newcomer School with the team’s mascot, Baxter, to personally hand out backpacks to 200 children.
There are more events scheduled over the next couple of days. During a pregame ceremony at Chase Field on Sunday, August 11th, the D-backs will give $5,000 STEM grants to Gila Ridge High School and Camp Mohave Elementary School.
Monday, August 12th, will see the launch of the “Read Your Way to the Ballpark” program, supported by Avnet, at Heard Elementary. Jake McCarthy will help kick off this reading initiative, which offers students incentives for reaching reading goals, including the chance to earn D-backs tickets.
Finally, as part of the “Torey Lovullo’s Kindness Champions” initiative, Torey Lovullo and his wife Kristen will visit Whittier Elementary on Tuesday, August 13. This program encourages children to share compassion via deeds of kindness in partnership with Ben’s Bells and Positive Coaching Alliance. On this day, area educators will be honored at Chase Field at a Teacher Appreciation Day, and 5,000 D-backs tickets will be given out to teachers for the month of August.
