NewsCommunity-minded Marlins giving back
Team developing relationship with new stadium neighbors
By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com
11/28/09 10:00 AM EST
MIAMI -- South Florida officials went out on a limb earlier this year and approved funding for a new baseball ballpark. In the spirit of giving during the holiday season, the Marlins are offering Christmas trees to families in need in the area.The Marlins have a long history of being community active, and the organization is doing its part to be good neighbors at the site of its future home.
To dress up their efforts even more, for the first time in club history, the Marlins are having a Christmas tree distribution on the Orange Bowl grounds in the Little Havana section of Miami.
On Dec. 4, roughly 100 trees will be distributed to predetermined families in Little Havana. It's an invitation-only event aimed to help brighten the holidays for those less fortunate.
"During the holiday season, it's a time for people to reflect on their year and reflect on their circumstances," Marlins president David Samson said. "We want to make sure we give people something to smile about. It's been a very difficult year with the economy. We're hoping that things are getting better now.
"But still, it's important to spread the holiday cheer, and I mean that metaphorically for what it is, you want to try to have people during Thanksgiving to have full stomachs. And to have people during the holidays to feel like it is the holidays. And a tree is a good way to do that."
The tree distribution is part of a series of team initiatives the Marlins are doing in South Florida. On Tuesday, the club took part in a turkey distribution, also at the Orange Bowl, and nearly 500 turkeys were offered to local residents.
"It's very important for all companies around the country to step up their charitable efforts during this economic period," Samson said. "The Marlins want to be a leader in that area, and that's what we're doing."
The turkey and tree distributions are the latest efforts being held in Little Havana. Look for additional events to take place on the site of the retractable-roof ballpark, which is scheduled to open in 2012.
"It's like at the end of Casablanca," said Samson, a movie buff. "The quote we use in the office all the time is when Humphrey Bogart says, 'This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.'"
The Marlins' first initiative at the Orange Bowl took place in May 2008, when the club used the site to announce the contract extension of All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez. In July, the ceremonial groundbreaking for the ballpark took place. Now, the turkey and tree distributions are continuing the trend of gathering in Little Havana.
"We're sharing with our new neighbors," said Sean Flynn, the team's vice president of marketing. "That's what the tree distribution will be. That's what the turkey distribution was in that area. Our efforts are focused on Little Havana and our neighbors to be.
"This is part of our continuous efforts to connect with our neighbors to be. We're going to be more and more involved in the neighborhood of our new ballpark, which is going to be Little Havana. You'll see more and more community outreach programs, more and more grassroots marketing efforts."
As stadium construction progresses and more of the building takes shape, those around the ballpark are embracing the project.
"I think people are excited as this stadium is coming out of the ground," Flynn said. "The walls are coming up. Columns are up. People see the activity. The excitement continues to build as this ballpark moves closer and closer to completion. I think the excitement level is going to rise. People are anxious and excited to get this ballpark open and get it under way.
"More and more neighbors have actually changed from asking, 'What's going on to what's going to happen next?' They are saying, 'What are the next steps going to be? We're excited. We can't wait until 2012.'"
Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
