Contact:
Debora Spano                                                                        
401-258-3081                                                                                   
debora.spano@umassmemorial.org                                                       

Bill Wanless
SVP of Communications
bwanless@woosox.com

Organizations serving youth and families will be able to make new memories at Polar Park: Partnership to benefit UMass Memorial Children’s Medical Center

WORCESTER, Mass. April 8, 2021– With Opening Day at Polar Park just a month away, UMass Memorial Health and the Worcester Red Sox are partnering to support the health and well-being of our citizens and our community. 

“In our commitment as one of the Founding Partners and the WooSox’ exclusive health care provider, we are teaming up to improve the health and well-being of our community, especially the children,” said UMass Memorial Health President and CEO Eric Dickson, MD. “We are two hometown heroes putting on our uniforms to relentlessly create a healthy and vibrant community in Central Massachusetts where we live, work and play ball.”

After 50 wonderful years in Rhode Island as the Pawtucket Red Sox, the WooSox organization this year moves to Massachusetts, bringing with it a legacy of active participation in the community.

“Our Chairman and Principal Owner, Larry Lucchino, established charitable foundations as the leader of the Baltimore Orioles, the San Diego Padres, and the Boston Red Sox,” said WooSox President Dr. Charles A. Steinberg. “Establishing the WooSox Foundation was one of our first orders of business in January 2020.  Through our foundation and through our daily community outreach, we look forward to developing our partnership with UMass Memorial Health to span the spectrum, from promoting wellness to conquering cancer.

“We have enjoyed our relationship with Eric Dickson since Day One in Worcester, and we look forward to using the beauty of baseball and the commitment of our city’s magnificent health personnel to make a real impact on our community, especially the children.”

Community organizations that support local youth will be invited in small groups to attend ball games at Polar Park, where UMass Memorial and the WooSox will model healthy eating and exercise. There will be in-ballpark activities, before and during the game, such as kids running the bases on Sundays and fans waving hello to hospitalized children.

UMass Memorial Health will also provide opportunities to our caregivers for free and reduced-rate tickets to support the WooSox and enjoy America’s National Pastime.

Also, for the children of Central Massachusetts, a series of activities and events will benefit the visibility and fundraising efforts of the UMass Memorial Children’s Medical Center, which provides exceptional health care close to home for our children. Activities will include: 

• Hurl the Pearl - presented by Diamond Auto Group where fans will purchase soft baseballs that they will toss into the Chevy vehicle as it makes its way around the field
• Waving Hello - where fans will be live-streamed as they wave to pediatric patients at the Children’s Medical Center
• Home Run for Life – an event that will be dedicated to an admired and courageous patient of our Children’s Medical Center 
   

UMass Memorial Health 

UMass Memorial Health is the largest not-for-profit health care system in Central Massachusetts with more than 14,000 employees and 1,700 physicians, many of whom are members of UMass Memorial Medical Group. We are the clinical partner of the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Our comprehensive system includes UMass Memorial Health – HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital, UMass Memorial Health – Marlborough Hospital, UMass Memorial Medical Center and UMass Memorial Health – Community Healthlink. Together, we impact every aspect of life in the region by making health and wellness services available to everyone, advocating for social equality and providing economic stability and opportunity. There are many ways to heal. We pursue them all. Relentlessly. Visit www.ummhealth.org.

Worcester Red Sox

The Worcester Red Sox are scheduled to begin their inaugural season, and the inaugural season of Polar Park, in 2021.  On August 17, 2018, the leaders of the Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox announced their commitment to build a ballpark in the resurgent Canal District of New England’s second-largest city.  One month later, on September 17, 2018, a “Grand and Glorious Civic Celebration” welcomed the club on the steps of City Hall.  Nearly one month later, on October 16, 2018, the club inaugurated the first of 21 “Fan Plan” sessions that garnered 877 ideas, suggestions, and contributions from the public.  Ground was broken July 11, 2019, home plate was planted and the bases were set August 5, 2019, and “the first steel” at Polar Park rose on March 16, 2020.  Just over one year later, on Thursday, April 1, 2021, Boston Red Sox players stepped onto the field for the first time, marking 82 years since they last came to play ball in Worcester—at a 1939 exhibition at the College of the Holy Cross, a game that featured young Ted Williams, on his way to becoming the greatest hitter who ever lived.  

#####