The weatherman couldn’t have dialed up a nicer day for Citi Kid day when the Mets took on the St. Louis Cardinals and handily claimed a 4 to 1 victory for the home town fans. Upon arrival into the Seaver entrance of the stadium, we were escorted to a pack filled room of middle and high school students who were treated to a reprieve from their daily school routines with a trip out to the ballgame. We arrived a few hours prior to the start of the game where we participated in a Citi Kids seminar on the benefits of financial savings and how making smart choices with your money can really make you “Cool.”
Citi Kids, now in its sixth season, is an educational and motivational community-based initiative for New York City middle and high school students developed by Citi in collaboration with the Jackie Robinson Foundation, the Mets and various community-based organizations. Citi Kids was launched on April 15, 2009, in conjunction with Major League Baseball’s annual Jackie Robinson Day.
The series of in-season events has sought to positively impact students through the nine values and ideals of Jackie Robinson – courage, integrity, determination, persistence, citizenship, justice, commitment, teamwork and excellence. Each participant in the Citi Kids program receive a complimentary gift bag before enjoying the game.
This year’s program centers on the importance of financial education and savings via Citi’s Teach Children to Save program. Citi’s Teach Children to Save program, in partnership with the American Bankers Association, is designed to teach children in grades K – 12 about the importance of saving for the future and healthy money habits, such as understanding needs versus wants and spending money wisely.
Multiple speakers presented throughout the hour and all of the students showed a genuine interest in the subject matter. However, most of the attention was grabbed when luge bronze medal winner, Erin Hamlin from team USA made a guest appearance to talk about her 2014 Olympic achievement and how saving money is relevant even for star athletes.
Citi Field. Special guest Erin Hamlin, Olympic Games Luge Bronze Medalist, joined 150 students in grades 6-8 from The School of Integrated Learning for a program emphasizing the importance of financial education and savings via Citi’s Teach Children to Save initiative.
Erin Hamlin made history in Sochi when she claimed bronze in women’s luge, becoming the first American ever to win an Olympic medal in singles luge. Hamlin, a native New Yorker, also took home the gold medal at the 2009 FIL World Luge Championships, in Lake Placid, New York. She shared her inspirational story of triumph with students in grades 6-8 from The School of Integrated Learning.
After the seminar was over, kids were treated to a stadium ballpark lunch and off we went to our phenomenal 3rd base side field seats. Players were almost within arms reach, albeit from the opposing team. Nevertheless, being right behind the dugout of one of the most storied teams in baseball history, the St. Louis Cardinals, would make even the most casual fan a bit nostalgic.
The Mets made the day an even greater success, beating the Cardinals in convincing fashion 4 -1. Bartolo Colon started for the Mets and benefited from a brisk ballpark wind that helped him secure his second win of the season. While the offense for the Mets started off a bit slow, bats perked up a bit in later innings with key hits by Eric Young and newly acquired free agent, Curtis Granderson. Bullpen relief for the Mets proved solid, topped off by a first time save for former Japanese phenom Daisuke Matsuzaka.
There’s nothing better than a day at Citi Field…especially when the Mets win one for the home team!
Role Mommy 3.0