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JDRF will honor Todd Zeile and his wife, Julianne McNamara Zeile, at the event, and other Dodger guests will include Manager Joe Torre, Special Advisor to the Chairman and Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda, and club executives.
Zeile has been working with JDRF for several years, as his daughter, Hannah, is battling diabetes. Todd and Hannah recently threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Dodger Stadium to raise awareness for the disease.
Singer and American Idol favorite Katharine McPhee will also be on hand for a special performance, as will surprise Grammy Award-winning performers.
Zeile, who was the Dodgers' starting third baseman from 1997-99, is one of just a handful of major leaguers who have hit more than 250 home runs, registered more than 1,000 RBIs, and have reached the 2,000-hit milestone. He was a member of the Dodgers' 30-home run quartet in 1997, which included teammates Mike Piazza, Eric Karros, and Raul Mondesi.
The Dodgers have been community partners with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation for many years. The Annual Los Angeles Walk to Cure Diabetes has been hosted at Dodger Stadium for the past two years, and this year's event, which has an expected attendance of 15,000, will take place on Saturday, Nov. 1.
Besides the Dodgers' many community partnerships, the Dodgers Dream Foundation has four dominant areas of community emphasis, similar to the four bases of a diamond. At first base is youth sports and recreation. Through the foundation, the club has built eight Dodgers Dream Fields and has committed to do more.
At second base, the foundation focuses on literacy and education. To that end, the Dodgers donate more than $100,000 each year for college scholarships to the Jackie Robinson Foundation to fund 42 "Dodgers Scholars."
At third base, the Dodgers Dream Foundation focuses on health. The marquee program for this area is "ThinkCure," which was established in 2007, the official charity of the Dodgers. The partnership with Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and City of Hope is dedicated to raising funds for critical cancer research at these two hospitals and ultimately to finding a cure for cancer.
We complete the journey where it began, at home. Here, the focus is on the environment, where Dodgers hope to "Think Blue But Act Green." And such actions start at home. Whether it is reducing the use of electricity, water, or non-biodegradable products, whether it is recycling paper, plastic, or aluminum, each of us can do our part to cross the plate and score some runs - and it starts at home. The Dodgers are embracing these practices as well in their home -- Dodger Stadium.
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, whose mission is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications, has awarded more than $1.16 billion to diabetes research, including over $137 million in the last year alone. JDRF International is the leading charitable advocate of juvenile diabetes research worldwide.
Pics from
http://www.wireimage.com/SearchResults.aspx?igi=317002&s=katharine%20mcphee&sfld=C&vwmd=e
Kevin of katharine-pictures.org made a photo gallery
She looks absolutely gorgeous.
Sang something acoustic with just a single guitar accompaniment.
Used her Mary Jane stool prop. I wonder?
...and she won the WireImage contest, narrowly edging out Garth Brooks 32 to 30:
Bruce Jenner (6) Garth Brooks (30) Heather Locklear (4) Jimmy Jam (3) Joe Elliott (9) Joe Torre (9) Juvenile (124) Katharine McPhee (32) Kris Kardashian (3) Lisa Harris (3) Robin Ventura (1) Sugar Ray (8) Sugar Ray Leonard (8) Tommy Lasorda (14) Trisha (21) Trisha Yearwood (21)
I'm not sure what the WireImage contest thing was about but, she has to have won everyone's heart by using that young man to accompany her on his guitar! I know it wasn't a publicity stunt on Katharine's part to do that but just her love of children and her very generous, giving nature. Her pureness of heart glows from her face!
Moms, The young man performing with Katharineis Todd Zeiles son His sister Hannah has diabetes.
Catch you later
Baseball players are great people. Here's the update...
Dodgers pitch in to fight diabetes Former players and entertainment legends host gala By Colin Gunderson / Special to Dodgers.com
Baseball players share a special kinship. They fight the same battles, encounter the same obstacles, enjoy the same victories and share a passion for the game.
Parents of chronically ill children share a similar kinship. They too share feelings of doubt and despair, fearing the unknown, or even worse, the death of their children.
The Junior Diabetes Research Foundation held its annual gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Thursady night. The dinner, entitled, "Finding a Cure: A Love Story," honored former Dodger third baseman Todd Zeile and his wife, Julianne McNamara Zeile with the Caregiver Award, while the Dodgers, represented by Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda and current Dodgers manager Joe Torre, received the Angel Award.
"I love baseball but I live my life for my family and my daughter Hannah," said Zeile, who has been helping his daughter fight juvenile diabetes since she was a toddler. "Although it's part of her life, and she's learned how to deal with it, I still wish we could find a cure so she could experience that freedom."
The Dodgers have been community partners with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation for many years. Zeile has been working with JDRF for several years as well, as his daughter, Hannah, is battling diabetes. Todd and Hannah recently threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Dodger Stadium to raise awareness for the disease.
"I was thrilled to come back to Dodger Stadium to catch Hannah's first pitch," said Zeile. "I couldn't be happier with the way the Dodgers have stepped up and supported my family, and the JDRF."
The star-studded gala was a successful mixture of sports legends and entertainment icons. Garth Brooks, and his wife Trisha Yearwood, were on hand as Brooks talked about his relationship with Zeile and the JDRF.
Singer and American Idol favorite Katharine McPhee was also on hand for a special performance, as she sang a song accompanied by Garrett Zeile, who played Brook's guitar during the performance.
Boxing champion Sugar Ray Leonard was also on hand, and he presented Torre and Lasorda on behalf of the Dodgers with the Angel Award.
"Any time you can help a foundation that supports research and cures for children's diseases, it is an honor," said Torre who arrived at the dinner after deboarding the Dodgers charter from Milwaukee.
Lasorda, who followed Torre at the podium, quipped, "The Dodgers, the only Major League team in Los Angeles are proud to support Todd and the JDRF."
"And remember," continued Lasorda, "the only angels are up in heaven, and they're all ex-Dodgers."
Colin Gunderson is a contributor to Dodgers.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080516&content_id=2712038&vkey=news_la&fext=.jsp&c_id=la
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