When I was asked to select a charity for Club Diamond Nation's pre-launch Charity Challenge, my wife Marcey and I put quite a bit of thought into it. We are fortunate to have a team full of Yankees who do so much work in the community, with many of the players having their own foundations. While they are all so worthy and each doing wonderful work, we thought that The Jorge Posada Foundation would be the perfect choice for a few reasons. Jorge just concluded an amazing career in pinstripes, and while he has retired from baseball, his work with his foundation fighting Craniosynostosis is just beginning.
Craniosynostosis is a condition when an infant's sutures fuse too early and it affects the growth of the brain. Often, the end result is an infant with an abnormally shaped head, and if left untreated, can cause severe and permanent damage. An infant may have increased intracranial pressure, seizures, neurological deficiencies, eye problems, misalignment of the spine, and cognitive and developmental delays. Jorge and Laura Posada have done so much tireless work to create awareness of this affliction, raise funds for research, and support affected families ever since their beautiful son Jorge Jr. was diagnosed with it as an infant.
While Jorge is no longer physically with us on our Yankee team, Marcey and I want to be sure that the commitment of Jorge and Laura does not get overlooked, which is why I chose to compete for The Jorge Posada Foundation in the Club Diamond Nation Charity Challenge.
In Club Diamond Nation's Charity Challenge, Jennie Finch, Tom Glavine, Barry Larkin and Jack Cust Jr., and myself are competing for $25,000 for our respective charities. Club Diamond Nation is a virtual baseball and softball academy that offers a social venue for players around the world to train and interact.
Through my career, I have learned that when you are in a position that allows you to give back, there is nothing more rewarding than doing so. When I am not working with the Yankees, I like to teach young sports players the skills they need to better their game -- and perhaps one day they will be on a platform from which they can affect and influence change in other's lives. Club Diamond Nation will be offering the unique opportunity for myself and the other stars to reach many more children now from all over the country because of its online environment.
Everyone at Club Diamond Nation, from my fellow baseball talents to everyone working behind the scenes to bring the Club to life, is dedicated to producing a baseball and softball experience that is second to none. While we promote the site's launch and build our community of members, to know we are also supporting worthy charities makes it even more special. I am grateful for this opportunity to not only help build Club Diamond Nation and help develop our members to become better baseball and softball players, but also to become better citizens who always understand that giving back to those in need is more rewarding than anything you will ever achieve on the baseball field.
Please vote for me in the Diamond Nation Charity Challenge at www.clubdiamondnation.com and help support the Jorge Posada Foundation.
The New York Yankees hitting coach since 2007, Kevin is respected as one of the best in the game. He's the author of Cage Rat: Lessons from a Life in Baseball, which tracks his journey to the majors.