TORONTO – Grade five students from Oakridge Junior Public School were recently given a chance by a Toronto foundation to experience a Blue Jays game for the first time.
The foundation, Kids Up Front, fills thousands of seats at Blue Jays games each year that may otherwise go unused.
“We really believe in inclusion and we’re working towards a more inclusive city,” Founder of Kids Up Front, Lindsay Oughtred said.
The organizations works with nearly 200 child-serving partner agencies to remove social and financial barriers and provide children and their families access to the arts, culture, recreation and sporting events in Toronto.
Oishee Das from Oakridge Junoir Public School described her first sports game experience as hard to believe.
“Well, first I thought it was kind of boring because you know how it’s a slow game? But now it’s so amazing and it’s like so exciting…I can’t believe that I’m actually here,” she said.
The MLSE Foundation, The Rom and The AGO are among various organizations in the city who offer tickets to the children and youth said Oughtred.
Oishee said her favourite player is J.P Arencibia, a catcher for the Toronto Blue Jays.
For Arencibia, setting a positive example is an important part of his job.
“We are role models we definitely have to go out there, we may not feel good everyday, but you know we have to go out there and remember what we represent,” said Arencibia.
Comments