Cards "Get Busy" In the Community
What better way to kickoff the 2003 Community program than with Cardinals kicker Bill Gramatica. On Monday, September 8, Gramatica appeared at the Arizona Burn Center at Maricopa Medical Center to unveil the new Andrea’s Closet and to kickoff a two-week toy drive.
Gramatica joined burn survivors Danell and Dylan Baker and program creators Kenny and Traci Brunk along with the Arizona Burn Center, Foundation for Burns and Trauma, and A Hand of Hope for the ribbon cutting ceremony and toy drive kickoff.
Andrea’s Closet, a program of A Hand of Hope, was born in the hearts of Kenny and Traci, the parents of Andrea who died of Leukemia last January. The Brunks say one of the things that kept their daughter going through all of her hospital visits, chemotherapy and radiation therapy sessions was the fact that she received a toy after each painful and/or scary, medical procedure. That thought brought the Brunks together with A Hand of Hope to create Andrea’s Closet in July 2002.
The new closet will now be open for kids to come in and get a toy after they’ve had a scary or painful procedure.
The Cardinals community activities continued on Tuesday, September 9 as players, cheerleaders, Big Red and front office staff participated in kids camps, a reading program, and an open house celebration.
Cornerback David Barrett and Big Red coached a Gatorade Junior Training Camp at Magnet Traditional School in Phoenix for almost 70 5th-8th graders. The students participated in a teacher’s incentive program to earn themselves spots in the morning camp.
“It is really good to be out here with the kids and just try to be a positive role model for them,” offered Barrett. “They are not busting on me too bad over Sunday’s loss so that is pretty nice too!”
A few miles up the road from Barrett’s camp, his teammates Quentin Harris and Tony Wragge joined Cardinals Cheerleaders and former Cardinals Vice President and National Football League Hall of Famer Larry Wilson at the Open House Celebration of Los Vecinos’s recently completed home located at 6825 N. 60th Avenue in Glendale. With the help of Cardinals Charities, APS Foundation, Sears National Bank, Qwest Pioneers and the City of Glendale CDBG this dream home became a reality for a low-income family.
Los Vecinos Housing Development is a non-profit community development organization that provides quality, affordable housing for qualified working low-income persons. Started in 1993, Los Vecinos aggressively has improved neighborhoods through its affordable housing programs. Its acquisition/rehab and new construction in-fill programs are designed to provide modern, attractive and comfortable living environments for working low-income persons. The homes average in size of 1300 square feet, with three bedrooms, two baths and a two-car garage.
“Anytime you go out in the community, it is important, especially coming out to Glendale where our future home is going to be,” shared Harris. “This is a very nice home with a BIG backyard, and backyards are key! I think the family is still sort of in awe over their new home. I would be too. This is a very nice home.”
Wilson, who retired from the team in May, took a break from working in his own backyard to come view the newly finished home.
“I was out here for the groundbreaking a few months ago and it is just nice to take a break from retirement and see the finished product,” offered Wilson. “The Cardinals are very appreciative of being involved in the development of a home like this for this young family. It is just part of the Cardinals wonderful commitment to improving our community.”
Mid-afternoon, running back Damien Anderson and Big Red visited Fowler Elementary in Phoenix as part of the Cards/SRP Milk & Cookies Reading Program. Each Tuesday throughout the season, players will visit local schools and read to students and share in a snack of milk and cookies.
Anderson, joined also by his son Drake, spoke to the 1st-5th graders about the importance of reading and making the most of their educations. Following his reading session, Anderson autographed team bookcovers for all of the kids.
The Cardinals closed out a busy day of community activities with the help of first-round draft choice Calvin Pace. Pace and Big Red hosted an ADHS Kids Clinic at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe. Almost 120 kids from a local Boys & Girls Club participated in the football camp and also received an educational message on the dangers of tobacco.
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What better way to kickoff the 2003 Community program than with Cardinals kicker Bill Gramatica. On Monday, September 8, Gramatica appeared at the Arizona Burn Center at Maricopa Medical Center to unveil the new Andrea’s Closet and to kickoff a two-week toy drive.
Gramatica joined burn survivors Danell and Dylan Baker and program creators Kenny and Traci Brunk along with the Arizona Burn Center, Foundation for Burns and Trauma, and A Hand of Hope for the ribbon cutting ceremony and toy drive kickoff.
Andrea’s Closet, a program of A Hand of Hope, was born in the hearts of Kenny and Traci, the parents of Andrea who died of Leukemia last January. The Brunks say one of the things that kept their daughter going through all of her hospital visits, chemotherapy and radiation therapy sessions was the fact that she received a toy after each painful and/or scary, medical procedure. That thought brought the Brunks together with A Hand of Hope to create Andrea’s Closet in July 2002.
The new closet will now be open for kids to come in and get a toy after they’ve had a scary or painful procedure.
You must be registered for see images
The Cardinals community activities continued on Tuesday, September 9 as players, cheerleaders, Big Red and front office staff participated in kids camps, a reading program, and an open house celebration.
Cornerback David Barrett and Big Red coached a Gatorade Junior Training Camp at Magnet Traditional School in Phoenix for almost 70 5th-8th graders. The students participated in a teacher’s incentive program to earn themselves spots in the morning camp.
“It is really good to be out here with the kids and just try to be a positive role model for them,” offered Barrett. “They are not busting on me too bad over Sunday’s loss so that is pretty nice too!”
A few miles up the road from Barrett’s camp, his teammates Quentin Harris and Tony Wragge joined Cardinals Cheerleaders and former Cardinals Vice President and National Football League Hall of Famer Larry Wilson at the Open House Celebration of Los Vecinos’s recently completed home located at 6825 N. 60th Avenue in Glendale. With the help of Cardinals Charities, APS Foundation, Sears National Bank, Qwest Pioneers and the City of Glendale CDBG this dream home became a reality for a low-income family.
You must be registered for see images
Los Vecinos Housing Development is a non-profit community development organization that provides quality, affordable housing for qualified working low-income persons. Started in 1993, Los Vecinos aggressively has improved neighborhoods through its affordable housing programs. Its acquisition/rehab and new construction in-fill programs are designed to provide modern, attractive and comfortable living environments for working low-income persons. The homes average in size of 1300 square feet, with three bedrooms, two baths and a two-car garage.
“Anytime you go out in the community, it is important, especially coming out to Glendale where our future home is going to be,” shared Harris. “This is a very nice home with a BIG backyard, and backyards are key! I think the family is still sort of in awe over their new home. I would be too. This is a very nice home.”
Wilson, who retired from the team in May, took a break from working in his own backyard to come view the newly finished home.
“I was out here for the groundbreaking a few months ago and it is just nice to take a break from retirement and see the finished product,” offered Wilson. “The Cardinals are very appreciative of being involved in the development of a home like this for this young family. It is just part of the Cardinals wonderful commitment to improving our community.”
Mid-afternoon, running back Damien Anderson and Big Red visited Fowler Elementary in Phoenix as part of the Cards/SRP Milk & Cookies Reading Program. Each Tuesday throughout the season, players will visit local schools and read to students and share in a snack of milk and cookies.
Anderson, joined also by his son Drake, spoke to the 1st-5th graders about the importance of reading and making the most of their educations. Following his reading session, Anderson autographed team bookcovers for all of the kids.
You must be registered for see images
The Cardinals closed out a busy day of community activities with the help of first-round draft choice Calvin Pace. Pace and Big Red hosted an ADHS Kids Clinic at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe. Almost 120 kids from a local Boys & Girls Club participated in the football camp and also received an educational message on the dangers of tobacco.
You must be registered for see images
