On Wednesday July 27th, 2011, Jeff Green of the Boston Celtics visited the Homeless Children’s Playtime Project (HCPP) in Washington, D.C. Jeff who grew up in Hyattsville, Maryland wanted to give back to those less fortunate in the Washington DC Metro Area. The visit started with Jeff reading to the children, followed by some basketball and an intense game of “Knockout.” This event was part of a series of visits that Jeff will make to different charities throughout the summer through his involvement with AFH.

Jeff was happy to spend time with the children and had this to say:“It was a great event. I really enjoyed spending time with the kids. I’m glad I had the opportunity to speak with them about the importance of responsibility and education. They were tremendous, and we had a lot of fun!”

The Homeless Children’s Playtime Project works to nurture healthy child development and reduce the effects of trauma among children living in temporary housing programs in the District of Columbia. It is well documented that homelessness causes physical, emotional, and developmental harm to children, yet the resources that serve them are shrinking and largely inaccessible. They provide an outlet for creative and physical expression as well as healthy eating options to support the children’s mind and body.

The San Diego Padres continued their involvement with Athletes for Hope on Friday, May 27th with a stop at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. Three of the team’s pitchers, Tim Stauffer, Aaron Harang, and Luke Gregerson, visited the historic medical center which specializes in amputation and brain surgery rehabilitation. The players spent an hour at the hospital before a 3-game series with the Washington Nationals on Memorial Day Weekend.

The Padres spent their time interacting with the veterans and their families. In addition, the athletes signed autographs and left Padres memorabilia for the soldiers. While some soldiers were away from the hospital with family for the holiday, those present in their rooms were delighted to meet the Major League Baseball players. Congresswoman Jackie Speier of California’s 12th district was also visiting the hospital and the veterans. She thanked the athletes for their kind hearts and willingness to give back to our Armed Forces who sacrifice tremendously for all Americans.

The highlight of the day was when the players met with a patient who has been a Padres fan his entire life. The patient donned his San Diego jersey and traveled across the hospital to the ward where the players were visiting. Stauffer, Harang, and Gregerson were humbled by the soldier’s admiration and gladly posed for a personal photo with him.

The visit to Walter Reed is part of an initiative by the San Diego Padres to reach out to members of the Armed Forces and thank them for their service.

“It’s kind of hard to put into words. It’s a great experience, definitely something everyone should do.” – Luke Gregerson

Twelve female USA Volleyball players, led by Courtney Thompson, visited the Children’s Hospital of Orange County in California on Monday, May 23rd, 2011. The players spent the afternoon visiting various play rooms and interacting with the children. The athletes and children played video games and board games, painted pictures, and played “house.” Thompson and the other players even visited some of the rooms of the patients who are in early stages of recovery from their ailments. The day concluded with the signing of autographs and the distribution of volleyballs to the children.

The Children’s Hospital of Orange County strives to nurture, advance and protect the health and well being of children. They are one of the busiest children’s hospitals in the nation with four centers of excellence: The CHOC Children’s Heart, Cancer, Neuroscience, and Orthopaedic Institutes. The Child Life Activity Specialist at the hospital, Amber Ayala, had this to say about the visit:

“At the end of the playroom shift, the patients didn’t want the players to leave! They wanted to continue playing with them. The visit helped distract the patients from feeling any pain or sadness. You could see the joy in the patient’s eyes! It was a great experience and one they will never forget!”

This is a list of the USA Volleyball players:

Kayla Bandworth, Jenna Hagglund, Angie Forsett, Tamari Miyashiro, Lauren Gibbemeyer, Alexis Crimes, Nicole Fawcett, Nicole Davis, Becky Perry, Kristin Richards, Cynthia Barboza, and Courtney Thompson