Youth Action Teams
Get involved and make a difference!
Youth Action Teams in Partnership with Major League Baseball Players Association
Volunteers of America and the Major League Baseball Players Trust joined together as national partners in 2002. A major part of the partnership is the personal involvement of Major League Baseball Players in raising public awareness regarding Volunteers of America and its programs with the goal of encouraging young people across the country to volunteer in their communities.
The signature program of the partnership between Volunteers of America and the Major League Baseball Players Trust is the Youth Action Teams. The Action Teams are comprised of Major Leaguers and area high school students who serve as team captains. The Major Leaguers and Action Team members work together to inspire youth to get involved in their communities by volunteering at Volunteers of America’s programs.
The Action Teams:
The teens that are selected to be team captains work through local school districts to recruit other teens to volunteer in projects developed by Volunteer of America’s local offices. Projects have included reading to children and assisting teachers in day care and head start programs, serving meals at homeless shelters and senior centers, working at activities and events at our housing facilities, collecting food, clothing, gifts, and other needed items for the people we serve, holiday activities and many other projects.
2010 Action Teams in Maine:
Poland Regional High School, Morse High School, Mt. Ararat High School, Lewiston Regional Technical Center, Lewiston High School, Edward Little High School, Lisbon High School, Oak Hill High School, Home Schooled, Thornton Academy, Georges Valley High School, RSU #14 Windham Raymond School District
2010 Major League Baseball Players Involved in Action Teams:
Boston Red Sox (Maine): Mike Cameron, Bill Hall, David Ortiz and Jason Varitek
Chicago White Sox: JJ Putz, Jake Peavy, Mark Kotsay and AJ Pierzynski
Cincinnati Reds: Jay Bruce, Mike Lincoln and Nick Masset
Cleveland Indians: Russell Branyan and Matt LaPorta
Colorado Rockies: Dexter Fowler, Ryan Spilborghs and Huston Street
Detroit Tigers: Johnny Damon, Austin Jackson and Dontrelle Willis
Houston Astros: Pedro Feliz, Hunter Pence, Chris Sampson and Cory Sullivan
Minnesota Twins: Joe Mauer, Nick Punto and Kevin Slowey
Mobile: Jake Peavy
New York Mets: Alex Cora and Gary Matthews, Jr.
Oakland A's: Eric Chavez, Rajai Davis and Brad Ziegler
Philadelphia Phillies: Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, and JC Romero
Pittsburgh Pirates: Joel Hanrahan, Kevin Hart and Ross Ohlendorf
San Francisco Giants: Mark DeRosa, Aaron Rowand and Freddy Sanchez
Seattle Mariners: Ken Griffey, Jr. and Mike Sweeney
Tampa Bay Rays: Gabe Kapler, Carlos Pena and Kelly Shoppach
Texas Rangers: Ryan Garko and Michael Young
Washington Nationals: Miguel Batista, Nyjer Morgan and Ryan Zimmerman
Learn more about the Action Teams by contacting:
Glenn Michaels
Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Volunteers of America of Northern New England, Inc.
14 Maine Street, Suite 301
Brunswick, ME 04011
Telephone: 207.373.1140 Ext. 216
Email: glenn.michaels@voanne.org
Moody's Collision Centers are the official "Recognition Day" sponsor for Action Teams. Their generous donation will pay for our transportation and our recognition celebration for team leaders at Fenway Park.