Puerto Rican pitcher José Berríos, of the Minnesota Twins, announced that he will donate $ 50 to the Pediatric Hospital of Puerto Rico for every strikeout he throws this season.
So far this campaign, Berríos has provided 104 strikeouts for “La MaKina Strikeout Challenge”, for a total of $ 5,400 to benefit the CAP Foundation, a non-profit organization for children with cancer at the Island’s Pediatric Hospital .
«Puerto Rico is in my heart with every pitch I make. The people on my island are my greatest inspiration and more so this year that we are working for the children of the Pediatric Hospital, ”Berríos said in a press release.
The player said that last season he visited patients in the hospital and said that he was “motivated to do my part to help the CAP Foundation.
“I want to thank you all for being part of my strikeout challenge for this great cause,” added Berríos, who last Tuesday participated in his second Major League Baseball All-Star Game, and in which he fanned two of the four players who faced.
Additionally, the Twins have pledged to make a donation and support Berríos’ challenge throughout the season.
In turn, fans, individually or in groups, may also donate through the portal, www.BerriosBaseball.com.
The total amount raised will be presented to the CAP Foundation at a ceremony in September prior to a Twins game, as part of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
The CAP Foundation is a non-profit organization that since 1989 has worked for children with cancer at the Pediatric Hospital, the main public pediatric hospital in Puerto Rico.
In 2019, CAP celebrates its 30th anniversary and its ongoing support for the Pediatric Hospital, especially its pediatric oncology unit.
The mission of the CAP Foundation is to ensure that all children with cancer, regardless of their financial resources, have access to first-class cancer treatment here in Puerto Rico, close to their families and home.
100% of the funds raised remain in Puerto Rico and are used to provide advanced medical equipment for diagnosis and treatment, to keep facilities up-to-date and provide support services for patients, families, and staff of the Pediatric Oncology Unit of the Pediatric hospital.
Berríos’ philanthropic efforts have included providing water, food, and other supplies to residents of his hometown Bayamón, a neighboring municipality to San Juan, as a result of Hurricane María.
Berríos hosted his annual free baseball clinic in January 2019 for young players in Bayamón with fellow Chicago Cubs star Javier Báez and pitcher Trevor Bauer.
This season Berríos will lead several community initiatives with the Twins focused on education and youth baseball. EFE