Adam Rubin, ESPN Staff Writer 10y

Wright nominated for Clemente Award

NEW YORK -- The Mets have nominated David Wright for MLB's annual Roberto Clemente Award.

The honor goes to the "player who best represents the game of baseball through positive contributions on and off the field, including sportsmanship and community involvement."

lastname

Wright

Carlos Delgado won the award while a Met in 2006.

The Mets wrote about Wright's charitable activity:

He launched the David Wright Foundation in 2005 to provide aid and assistance toward the health, emotional development and education for children in need in New York City and his hometown of Norfolk, Virginia.  

Over the past five years, the foundation has expanded its scope and raised more than $600,000 for a variety of charitable organizations, including the United States Marine Corps’ Toys For Tots, the Ronald McDonald House, the Virginia Tech Memorial Scholarship Fund, the Police Athletic League and the Patrolman's Benevolent Association -- a tribute to his police-officer father -- as well as the Make-A-Wish Foundation, for whom David hosts children at Citi Field on a regular basis. 

David has been a leader in his adopted hometown of New York City ever since putting on a Mets uniform. Every season, David visits a firehouse around the anniversary of Sept. 11 to recognize our fallen heroes and offer support to the hard-working members of the FDNY. He has spread good cheer to Sept. 11 families during Tuesday’s Children visits to Citi Field.

After Hurricane Sandy devastated New York, David donated $250,000 through his foundation to the Mayor’s Fund to Advance NYC to help the city recover and rebuild. He toured Staten Island communities that were hit hard by the storm and visited students at a local elementary school along with the New York City School Chancellor.

Inspired by the men and women working to rebuild their communities, David launched The Wright Thing in 2013 to honor and recognize volunteers who made an extraordinary impact on the lives of individuals and organizations impacted by Hurricane Sandy. Each month that season, David met with individuals who dedicated time and effort to help their fellow New Yorkers in need. The honorees received an autographed miniature third base and VIP tickets behind third base. They also had the chance to install third base with the grounds crew and had their story told through a video tribute on Citi Vision.

The Wright Thing has continued this year, with Wright saluting heroes from the New York City Police Department. The initiative underscores David’s admiration of law-enforcement personnel as his father, Rhon, served in the Norfolk Police Department for 30 years before retiring as assistant police chief in January.

^ Back to Top ^