press release

U.S. Embassy Successfully Concludes Cal Ripken, Jr. Baseball Program

November 17, 2008

The United States Embassy in Nicaragua and the Cal Ripken Baseball Academy successfully concluded a Department of State sponsored Sports Diplomacy Program in Nicaragua.  The trip was headed by Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr. and MLB pitcher and Nicaraguan Hall of Famer, Dennis Martinez.

Ripken and Martinez worked with more than 300 youth between ages 8 & 12 and trained 60 little league coaches in the cities of Granada and Managua.  The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation donated sports equipment to the youth leagues of Granada and Managua.

Ripken also delivered 100 pounds of school supplies donated by Spanish language students from Fallston High School in Maryland to the children of Villa Esperanza, one of the poorest neighborhoods in Granada.  The children in Villa Esperanza participate in a stay-in-school program run by the non-profit Empowerment International, headed by U.S. citizen Kathy Adams.  Ms. Adams’ group will distribute the school supplies.  Empowerment International also received a monetary donation from the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation which will support 20 children in the program for a full year.

The clinic scheduled for Monday, November 17 in the city of León was suspended by mutual agreement bwtween the mayor’s office, Embassy and local partners due to local political unrest.

The United States Embassy would like to thank our program partner, American College, contributors Empowerment International, and the following event sponsors: Hunter Blair Company, KPMG, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Pizza Hut, Wal-Mart, and Cocibolca Jockey Club.

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Visit our web page for more Embassy news: http://nicaragua.usembassy.gov/