The Washington state Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is accepting nominations for a child or youth in foster care to throw the ceremonial first pitch during an upcoming Seattle Mariners game at T-Mobile Park.
The opportunity is part of We Are Family Day, hosted by DCYF and the Mariners, which recognizes a foster youth during National Foster Care Month.
This year, the selected youth will throw the first pitch during the Mariners’ game versus the Kansas City Royals on Sunday, May 3.
According to DCYF, the youth will throw the first pitch to their caregiver.
"Every year, DCYF partners with the Mariners to celebrate kinship, foster and adoptive families during their annual We Are Family Day event held at T-Mobile Park,” the state agency said in a news release. “This year’s celebration is centered on the ways that foster families and kinship caregivers keep young people connected to their families, communities and culture.”
According to DCYF, to be eligible for nomination, the child or youth must:
• Have experienced foster care during the past 12 months in Washington state
• Be at least 10 years old
• Be prepared and comfortable standing in front of a large crowd of people and throwing a baseball to their caregiver at home plate
Additionally, nominations must include:
• The young person’s first name and age
• Information about how the youth has benefitted from their caregiver’s commitment to keeping them connected to their family, communities, and culture
• The caregiver name(s) and contact information
Nominations are due Friday, Feb. 27, to holly.luna@dcyf.wa.gov.
According to DCYF, the selected nominee and their caregiver will be asked to complete a photo release with appropriate signatures.
Purchase tickets for the event at https://www.mlb.com/mariners/tickets/specials/we-are-family.
