Posted on May 22, 2024
David Lindauer and Scott Barrows threw out the first pitches of the game while their friend Jeff Young and the York Revs mascot cheered them on.
Jacob Rhinesmith’s grand slam on Opening Weekend at WellSpan Park Stadium wasn’t the only “home run” scored by the York Revolution Baseball Team. They also hit it out of the park by treating fans to the Celebration of Abilities Day on April 28th, featuring a highlight video by Lead Sponsor Penn-Mar Human Services, a welcome address by the organization’s CEO, Greg Miller, and a ”first pitch” by two people Penn-Mar supports.
This is the fourth year Penn-Mar has sponsored the special event joined by other organizations providing support for people with disabilities, including the Special Olympics. This year the promotion was a run up to the May 3 GIVE LOCAL YORK 24-hour online giving extravaganza that raised over $5 million to support the missions of York-based non-profit organizations like Penn-Mar.
While the York Revolution lost 5-4 to the Hagerstown Flying Boxers that day (but tied the series 2-2), the season’s first Sunday Funday was still a wonderful opportunity for the Penn-Mar community to gather together to celebrate people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), according to event coordinator Jackie Summers, Senior Director of Development.
“The tickets went like hotcakes and the Revs were very accommodating trying to keep up with the huge demand,” recalled Jackie. “We started out offering 100 tickets which quickly grew to 326 Penn-Mar team members, their families, and the people they support accepting our invitation to cheer on our professional minor-league baseball team’s home weekend opener.”
The scoreboard video, stadium banners, announcements throughout the game, as well as the remarks by Greg Miller, were designed to show the fans just how Penn-Mar supports people with IDD to live courageously in pursuit of their best life.
David Lindauer and Scott Barrows, two gentlemen Penn-Mar supports, had the thrill of throwing out the first pitches.
David is a die-hard Ravens football fan who loves sports and is a frequent Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge participant. A Towson University alum, he also loves being on the water and participating in all kinds of water sports, as well as hanging out with his housemates and friends.
Scott Barrows is a New England native who still flashes that upstate charm and coincidentally is also a Polar Bar Plunge participant. He is a major techie who knows all about electronics, loves movies like Star Wars and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and enjoys gardening and being with his housemates and friends.
Both had a wonderful experience throwing out the first pitches, and are still talking about the event. They even have plans to display photos of them on the pitcher’s mound in their home.
Jackie described the outing as a great team building event for Penn-Mar managers and their staff, a terrific experience for the people Penn-Mar supports, and a unique way to get families together on a Sunday.
“There was great camaraderie among all our guests, and it was particularly fun to be together on opening weekend,” said Jackie. “It’s such a worthwhile, heartwarming event that helps us celebrate each other, the work we do, and the families we love. We will definitely be back as a sponsor again in 2025.”