Harlem RBI donors to be feted at Stadium

Nine lucky donors personally picked by Mark Teixeira will spend Thursday at Yankee Stadium in recognition for their support of Harlem RBI and DREAM Charter School. The group will take part in a ceremony before the 1:10 p.m. game between the Yankees and the Rangers, receive an exclusive tour of the Stadium and end the day by having dinner with the first baseman at the Delta Sky360 Lounge

In 2011, Teixeira made a $1-million donation to East Harlem nonprofit organization Harlem RBI, and he has been calling on his fans to help raise additional funds through his Dream Team 25 campaign. For the second year, nine donors who shared Teixiera’s passion for service, baseball and community were personally chosen by him, based on a written submission to the http://www.dreamteam25.org website.

The group will enjoy unique access to Teixeira and the Stadium throughout the day, made possible by partnerships formed with various corporations. Delta Air Lines is flying in out-of-state All-Stars into New York City. Goldman Sachs will provide luxury suite box game tickets for the day.

The fundraising campaign is helping the organization build a state-of-the-art facility for the children that Harlem RBI and its partner DREAM Charter School serve each year. The ground-breaking project will include a 450-seat public charter school facility, a new community center, 87 units of low-income housing and a rebuilt public park, and will serve as a model of urban development in one of New York City’s toughest neighborhoods.

Teixeira and Harlem RBI entered into a strategic partnership in May 2010 when the two-time All-Star and 2009 World Series champion became a member of Harlem RBI’s board of directors. He served as the honoree with Howard Lutnick from Cantor Fitzgerald/BGC Partners at Harlem RBI’s annual Bids for Kids Gala at Cipriani in June 2011.

In addition, as co-chair of Harlem RBI’s $20-million Capital Campaign, Teixeira is chair of the
organization’s Home Run Leadership Council. Teixeira assists Harlem RBI by participating in various events to support the organization, including activities with Harlem RBI youth. He works with Major League Baseball to connect with programs nationally through stadium appearances with fellow MLB players and seek to support local RBI programs around the country.

Harlem RBI, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization began in 1991 when a group of volunteers transformed an abandoned, garbage-strewn lot into two baseball diamonds for the youth of East Harlem. Since then, Harlem RBI has grown to serve more than 1,200 boys and girls, ages 5-22, with year-round academic, sports and enrichment programs.