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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 8, 2002
PR-110-02
www.nyc.gov


MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG AND ACS COMMISSIONER
WILLIAM C. BELL APPLAUD JPMORGAN CHASE AND NEW YORK METS 5TH ANNUAL "BASEBALL IS FOR KIDS" PROGRAM

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Administration for Children's Services (ACS) Commissioner William C. Bell today thanked JPMorgan Chase and the New York Mets for donating 175,000 Met tickets to local children including 10,000 specifically for children in ACS programs. New York Mets President Fred Wilpon and JPMorgan Chase Executive Vice President of Marketing & Communications Frederick Hill were on hand to launch the fifth annual JPMorgan Chase "Baseball is for Kids" program at Shea Stadium.

"Since the inception of the 'Baseball is for Kids' program, JPMorgan Chase has provided 700,000 free Mets tickets to youngsters throughout the metropolitan area," said Mayor Bloomberg. "Because of this program, hundreds of thousands of children will once again have the opportunity to enjoy one of summer's great pleasures - a day at the ballpark. On behalf of the City, I thank JPMorgan Chase and the New York Mets for sponsoring 'Baseball is for Kids.'"

Following the announcement, New York Mets first baseman Mo Vaughn and pitcher Grant Roberts treated more than 50 children to a post-conference baseball clinic on the diamond at Shea Stadium.

"ACS is committed to enriching the cultural and recreational experiences of the children in our care," said Commissioner Bell. "Public/private partnerships like these better enable ACS to offer children exciting opportunities they might not otherwise have - and helps us remind them how special they truly are."

"By hosting the JPMorgan Chase 'Baseball is for Kids' program for the fifth consecutive year and again increasing their commitment of tickets to the youth of New York City, JPMorgan Chase once again has demonstrated its leadership role as a positive influence in the lives of many children," said Wilpon. "The Mets thank and commend them for their generosity."

Every one of the 175,000 tickets has been allocated. In addition to the tickets donated to the City, JPMorgan Chase distributed a large portion of the tickets to public schools, parochial schools in low-income communities and numerous youth groups in New York City, Long Island, Westchester and Connecticut.

"Most of us remember going to our first professional baseball game," said Hill. "We are thrilled to work with the Mets to help make this experience a reality for thousands of children with meaningful programs like JPMorgan Chase 'Baseball is for Kids'."

www.nyc.gov

Contact: Ed Skyler / Jennifer Falk
(212) 788-2958
Kathleen Walsh / MacLean Guthrie (ACS)
(212) 341-0999