Blue Jays unveil Field of Dreams for Eagles Nest Baseball Diamond

$35,000 Jays Care grant funds reconstruction of two new player dugouts

TORONTO, July 16, 2014 /CNW/ - The TORONTO BLUE JAYS will be joined by the City of Ottawa and the East Nepean Little League on July 18^th at 9:30am to unveil two reconstructed player dugouts at Eagles Nest Baseball Diamond in Ottawa, made possible by a Field of Dreams grant from Jays Care Foundation.  Joining staff members of the Blue Jays and Jays Care Foundation will be DEVON WHITE, DUANE WARD and JESSE BARFIELD, and 1310 News' ED HAND, who will be the event emcee.   

The Toronto Blue Jays, through JAYS CARE FOUNDATION, have invested $35,000 in the City of Ottawa for the reconstruction project – an endeavor that will impact more 390 East Nepean Little League Baseball members throughout the 2014 season.

Following a presentation, 30 Blue Jays Baseball Academy Rookie League participants from the Boys & Girls Club of Ottawa will take part in a free Instructional Clinic led by Blue Jays staff and alumni.

"The Toronto Blue Jays are eagerly anticipating the unveiling of new dugouts at South Nepean Park in Ottawa," said Danielle Bedasse, Jays Care Foundation Executive Director.  "Programs such as Field of Dreams grants help ensure that the Blue Jays continue to take a leadership role in growing the game of baseball in communities across Canada and we are thrilled to help leave a Blue Jays legacy project in Ottawa."

WHEN:
Friday, July 18, 2014
Event will start at 9:30 a.m.

WHAT:
Opening remarks and speeches
Official opening of the reconstructed player dugouts
Photo opportunity and media availability
30 Boys & Girls Club members participate in Blue Jays Baseball Academy Instructional Clinic

WHO:
Jim Watson, Mayor of Ottawa
Bob Chiarelli, Ontario Minister of Energy and Ottawa West-Nepean MPP
Jan Harder, Ward 3 Councillor, City of Ottawa
Mark Taylor, Ward 7 Councillor, City of Ottawa
Danielle Bedasse, Jays Care Foundation
Bruce Campbell, President, East Nepean Little League Baseball
Ed Hand, 1310 News & Event Emcee
Devon White, Duane Ward and Jesse Barfield, Blue Jays Baseball Academy Instructors

WHERE:
South Nepean Park
700 Longfields Drive
Ottawa, ON
K2J 4T1

About Jays Care Foundation
As the charitable arm of Canada's only MLB team, Jays Care has made a Major League commitment to invest in Canadian children and communities from coast to coast. Since 1992, Jays Care Foundation has created opportunities for children and youth through programs that focus on helping kids get active, engage in the sport of baseball, excel academically and lead healthy lives.  Jays Care is committed to breaking down barriers to access sport and education and building safe, dedicated spaces for recreational and educational youth programming in communities across Canada.

For more information, visit www.bluejays.com/jayscare, follow @JaysCare on Twitter, 'like' Jays Care on Facebook, or call [phone].

SOURCE: Toronto Blue Jays

Toronto Blue Jays Communications Department, [phone]/03