Ryan Theriot and the Cubs Come to Bat for Wildlife Impacted by the Oil Spill

RyanTheriot Even as the impact of the Gulf oil spill continues to be felt across communities and ecosystems, the Chicago Cubs, led by Louisiana-native Ryan Theriot, stepped up to the plate and knocked it out of the park this past July.

Tuesday, July 20th was a special day at Wrigley Field. Cubs infielder Theriot (since traded to the Los Angeles Dogers) and his teammates had worked hard to have more than 1,000 baseballs ready for fans when they arrived at the gates for the game against the Houston Astros.

Each ball had a different signature from a current or past Chicago Cub, and each was placed in a paper bag, making the signature a mystery.

But there was no mystery about the important work each $20 purchase would support.

Theriot knew that the National Wildlife Federation had been on the ground in the Gulf from the very beginning of the crisis, working with local residents and partners to track and report the oil spill’s impact on both wildlife and humans.

Because of Theriot’s support and the support of the entire Chicago Cubs club, NWF’s ongoing efforts to restore these damaged delicate ecosystems received a major league boost.

The baseballs were sold out within minutes, and just like that, $22,000 was raised for the National Wildlife Federation Gulf Oil Spill Restoration Fund.

Theriot couldn’t have been happier with the support of wildlife and communities of his native Louisiana in this way.

“I’m extremely grateful to everyone for contributing to this great cause. I believe strongly in the work that NWF is doing in the Gulf to support the wildlife and communities in my home state of Louisiana.”

Theriot Golf Tournament LogoNow the starting second baseman with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Theriot will continue to support NWF with proceeds from his celebrity golf tournament on November 12 in Louisiana. Learn more about the event at www.ryantheriot.com

We are equally proud that the city’s famous “big shoulders” were wide enough to lend this kind of support to the more than 400 species of wildlife impacted by the spill.

On September 1, representatives of the National Wildlife Federation will be at Wrigley Field to accept this generous donation of $22,000 from Chicago Cubs Charities. We look forward to seeing many NWF supporters and fans in the stands before the start of the afternoon game with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

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Published: August 24, 2010