Major League Baseball announced it is expanding its longstanding
relationship with international relief organization World Vision by
donating unsalable 2007 postseason MLB-licensed apparel to children and
families in developing countries around the world. MLB has previously
worked with World Vision to donate counterfeit goods that have been
confiscated by law enforcement. These efforts will continue during the
2007 postseason.
As teams are eliminated during the 2007 postseason an excess amount of
inventory becomes available but is not salable. MLB will work with many
of its licensees to ship the losing teams' apparel to World Vision's
Gifts-in-Kind Distribution Center in Pittsburgh, PA. The goods will
then be sorted and packaged for shipment to developing countries where
World Vision has experienced staff and established product distribution
networks. World Vision will ensure the items, which will be sent
primarily to countries in Africa, are given to people in the greatest
need.
“Baseball is a social institution with enormous social responsibilities
and this is a tremendous opportunity for Major League Baseball to make
an impact on the lives of those in need around the world,” said
Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. “We are pleased to work
with World Vision, which brings more than 50 years of experience
successfully assisting millions of people around the world.”
The initial shipment of merchandise will go to the African country of
Ghana, which has recently experienced devastating flooding caused by
weeks of torrential rains and the spillage from the Bagre Dam in
Burkina Faso. Ghana's government reports that 592 communities have been
affected by the floods, with more than 20,000 homes destroyed and
260,000 people displaced.
“I am gratified to learn about the partnership of Major League Baseball
and World Vision to provide assistance to flood victims in Northern
Ghana,” said U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, Pamela E. Bridgewater. “This
action clearly demonstrates that governments, businesses, foundations,
non-governmental organizations, and private citizens can work together
to help those in need when natural disasters occur. The collective
response of the international community to flood victims in Ghana has
been encouraging.”
World Vision will carefully monitor and track the unsalable postseason
merchandise as it makes its way to the intended beneficiaries. World
Vision's network and resources will offer a secure, turnkey process to
effectively utilize excess inventory that might otherwise have been
destroyed.
“The children and families we serve will take great joy in these
goods,” said Richard Stearns, president of World Vision, “especially
right now in Ghana where thousands have lost their homes and what few
possessions they had. World Vision thanks Major League Baseball and its
partners for recognizing that even though these items are unsalable,
they are of great value to many people in need around the world.”
About World Vision Gifts-in-Kind
Gifts-in-Kind (GIK) are a company's first-quality, excess inventory
donated to assist those in need, and World Vision provides these goods
to millions of people in need each year. World Vision works in 100
countries, half of which have duty free status to import donations, and
through 11 U.S. sites, including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and
Appalachia. In the past 5 years, World Vision has placed $1.1 billion
of donated goods from major corporations, such as clothing, shoes,
medical supplies, books, school supplies, personal care, sporting goods
and building materials.
About World Vision
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to
working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to
reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and
injustice. For more information, please visit www.worldvision.org.