News
Community stars vie to represent Cubs
Fans can vote for one of three 'everyday All-Stars'By Jesse Sanchez / MLB.com
06/08/09 12:00 PM ET
Three finalists per Major League club were chosen out of thousands of nominations from across the United States and Canada of "everyday All-Stars," people who have gone above and beyond to serve their community.Fans are invited to vote in the All-Stars Among Us campaign, a presentation of People Magazine and Major League Baseball, for the 30 winners from June 8-24. One winner will be chosen as a representative of every club, and all 30 will be honored at Busch Stadium in St. Louis for the July 14 All-Star Game. One club representative also will be featured in People Magazine.
Here are the finalists for Chicago Cubs:
• Ryan Lambert, a student at Central Michigan University, developed his own philanthropy, Chip Away Malaria. His group raised over $30,000 insecticide-treated bed nets for families in Africa. The nets prevent the mosquito bites that cause malaria. Lambert is from Mt. Pleasant, Mich.
• Matthew Crawford, from West De Moines, Iowa, fixes fields and takes equipment to the Dominican Republic for children. He also takes clothes, arts and crafts to an orphanage. Crawford works on his own initiative and without pay.
• Erin Leyden, a Chicago-native, started a foundation to help families who have children suffering from epilepsy. She offers support by listening to their struggles and calming their fears. Her foundation educates the public about epilepsy and seizure first-aid. Eliminating the stigma and dispelling myths surrounding epilepsy is part of the foundation's work.
Meanwhile, vote for your favorite players with the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint Online Ballot at MLB.com and all 30 team sites, and look for Walt Disney Pictures G-Force All-Star Game ballots at Major League and Minor League ballparks.
The 80th Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and Sportsnet HD and televised around the world by Major League Baseball International, with pregame ceremonies beginning at 7 p.m. CT. ESPN Radio will provide exclusive national radio coverage, while MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage.
Jesse Sanchez is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
