News
Release
Contact:
Sarah Rogers
(815) 232-2121, ext. 225
sarah.rogers@m45.biz
Ron
Santo To Be Part of May 15
Little Cubs Field Benefit Hosted by FHN
FREEPORT,
Ill., April 3, 2006 – Cubs legend
Ron Santo will be in Freeport May 15 for Ron
Santo Day, sponsored by FHN, to raise funds
for Little Cubs Field.
The fund-raiser will be held at Freeport’s
Read Park, the future site of the scaled-down
but highly accurate replica of Wrigley Field.
Ron Santo Day will be a chance for the young
– and the young-at-heart – to see
former Chicago Cubs third baseman Ron Santo.
Now a broadcaster for the Cubs, Santo will be
on hand to answer a few questions, greet his
fans and lead the crowd in singing “Take
Me Out to the Ballgame.”
“I grew up loving baseball, and, like
a lot of kids today, I dreamed of playing at
Wrigley Field,” Santo says. “The
people building Little Cubs Field had that dream,
too – and I’m proud to help them
make it happen right here in Freeport.”
“We’re happy to be able to help
support this project for the Freeport area,”
says Mike Perry, M.D., president and CEO of
FHN. “It will be a very positive attraction
for visitors, and also a great place for local
families to get out and have fun spending time
together, which is an important element in staying
healthy. It will also encourage exercise, which
is key to wellness. We’re looking forward
to the event!”
Little Cubs Field will be built to the exact
scale of Wrigley Field, but smaller. The Chicago
Cubs organization has provided a cutting of
ivy from Wrigley Field to help establish ivy-covered
brick outfield walls at Little Cubs Field, and
everything from the traditional hand-operated
scoreboard to the famous admission sign and
the green doors onto the field will give Little
Cubs Field an authentic Wrigley feel.
Little Cubs Field will be sized for adult and
children’s Wiffle ball, peewee baseball,
minor league girls’ softball and adult
and children’s kickball, and will be available
for everything from league play to school and
church group events to corporate outings. When
it isn’t reserved for a special occasion,
the park will be open to the public so anyone
can enjoy the “big-league” ambience.
Read Park, the home of Little Cubs Field, also
is the home of Freeport Little League.
Some of the planned events include an official
declaration of Ron Santo Day in Freeport, a
short speech from the Cub legend and a silent
auction for signed Ron Santo items. Ron also
will throw out a pitch to one lucky Little Leaguer.
Special souvenirs will be available, from pennants
for the kids to special-edition Longaberger
baskets. Souvenir baseballs will be for sale,
and three lucky winners will draw an autographed
Ron Santo ball!
All proceeds from Ron Santo Day will help to
build Little Cubs Field.
FHN, a not-for-profit organization with 1,400
employees, is a regional healthcare system committed
to the health and well-being of the people of
northwest Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Organized
in 1995 as an integrated healthcare delivery
system, FHN is comprised of FHN Memorial Hospital,
the Leonard C. Ferguson Cancer Center, 14 family
healthcare centers offering primary and specialty
medical care, Home Health Care and Hospice,
occupational and chiropractic health services,
complementary medicine, dental care and outpatient
mental health services. An average of 1,700
people come to FHN daily for their healthcare
needs.
For
more information about FHN, please visit www.fhn.org.
