Luke Weaver Striking Out Poverty

JOIN ME IN STRIKING OUT POVERTY!

In January, I visited the communities of Camarón and Hoyo Oscuro in the Dominican Republic with my teammate Adam Wainwright. We played a game of pickup baseball on a beat-up field with a group of kids — ranging from 10 to 18 years old — and it left me with a sense of urgency. The poor conditions weighed on me: knowing that these communities thrive on the sport of baseball, and that the field is often the center of activity in the more rural areas. In playing together, the kids learn teamwork, sportsmanship, and hope for their futures. To think if there were a real field built with quality equipment: putting up some fences so they aren’t constantly losing the rare baseballs they have or leveling out the field so they aren’t playing in hazardous conditions…

MY CAMPAIGN: BASEBALL FIELDS IN CAMARÓN AND HOYO OSCURO

The trip I made in January was with Striking Out Poverty, an initiative of Food for the Hungry and its partnership with Adam’s charity, Big League Impact. Food for the Hungry serves some of the poorest and most vulnerable places in the Dominican Republic, and they work with community leaders and coaches to make baseball a part of the sustainable transformation happening there. I’m dedicating my 2018 season to building baseball fields in the 2 communities that I visited, Camarón and Hoyo Oscuro. I hope you’ll join me in my campaign by pledging a donation for every strikeout that I throw to help me towards my goal.

I’m excited about my opportunity on the field this year, and I’m even more excited about what we can accomplish off it! I’m kicking off the campaign by personally pledging $50 for every strikeout I throw. Adam has agreed to match up to $75,000 that we collectively raise, so anything you give will have triple the impact. Throughout the season, those who pledge towards my campaign will be invited to participate in some really cool events I’ll be hosting and will be entered to win special prizes.

I hope you’ll join me this year!!

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SPECIAL REWARDS

• Every pledge is entered into my monthly grab bag drawing that will include game-used gear, autographed cards, and other prizes.
• Any pledge of $0.50 per strikeout or $50 will receive a limited-edition custom Striking Out Poverty t-shirt in our team colors.
  • The first 10 pledgers at this level will also receive a thank-you card with information about the communities we’re helping.
• Any pledge of $1 per strikeout or $100 will receive everything above, except the t-shirt will be autographed.
  • The first 10 pledgers at this level will also receive an autographed thank-you card with information about the communities we’re helping.
• Any pledge of $2 per strikeout or $250 will receive everything at the $1/strikeout level, plus an autographed baseball.
• Anyone whose pledge or donation total equals at least $500 will receive everything included in the $2/strikeout level and also be entered to win a Cardinals team-signed baseball.
• Anyone whose pledge or donation total equals at least $1,000 will receive everything included in the $2/strikeout level and also be entered to win a Batting Practice and Meet & Greet Package (1 available):
  • Passes for 4 to watch the Cardinals take batting practice before a game at Busch Stadium
  • Meet and greet with me
  • 4 signed baseballs
  • 4 tickets to the game

When I saw how many kids were going up to the storefront and asking for candy, I thought it’d be cool to buy a bag to share. They loved these lollipops!

Future big leaguer? We’ll bring him a new ballcap next time!

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Striking Out Poverty is a campaign by Food for the Hungry and Big League Impact to meet the most urgent needs in some of the most vulnerable communities around the world. Using solutions that are innovative and community-specific to the complex view of poverty, Food for the Hungry contributes to community-owned transformations that empower children, families and, communities to invest in their own development.

For more information visit www.strikingoutpoverty.com.