23 October 2014 - The Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) met with Consul General Mario L. de Leon, Jr. on October 01. The group led by Melissa Persau, Esq, Director, Greg Bouris, Director of Communications, and Hillary Caffarone, Senior Program Coordinator briefed him on the Major League’s  effort to help the Philippines in building back better. To date, MLBPA has donated US$250,000 to non-profit organizations in the Philippines.

Through Player Trust, the first 501 (c) 3 charitable foundation in professional sports run by the MLBPA, the Major Leaguers contribute their time, money and celebrity to call attention to important global issues affecting the needy and to help encourage others to get involved in their communities.

In the Philippines, Player Trust donated through four non-profit organizations as follows: (1)   The International Deaf Education Association, with the sweat and equity of the deaf people in the towns of Loon, Jagna, Talibon and Sagbayan in Bohol province and in town of Maasin in Leyte province, built 50 houses and 4 schools for families with deaf members; (2) The International Medical Corps  also built 10 schools in  Ormoc, Leyte; (3) The Physicians for Peace  constructed 2 clinics in Tacloban and Davao, respectively; and (4) The project C.U.R.E. was one of the first organizations to bring relief goods and medical supplies to the Mother of Mercy Hospital in Tacloban,  a few days after the typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan.

The Major League Baseball Players Association is planning to bring some of its players to the Philippines in January 2015 to visit the devastated areas, host under-served kids and see for themselves what more should be done.  “There is much more to be accomplished and many still needed to be helped” said Director Persaud.  END