Ryan Zimmerman honored for his charitable work with the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award
By James Wagner, The Washington Post
Posted at 02:45 PM ET, 06/25/2012
Ryan Zimmerman before the 3rd Annual “A Night at the Park” at the Nationals Park on June 14. (Ilya S. Savenok – GETTY IMAGES FOR ZIMS FOUNDATION)
Zimmerman was honored for his charitable work, notably his ziMS Foundation, which he founded to raise money for a cure for multiple sclerosis, the disease his mother Cheryl suffers from. Zimmerman will be presented with the award before the Nationals game in Colorado on Friday. (Note: The award will be presented during Phi Delt Night at Nationals Ballpark on the evening of Friday, July 6th.)
Soon after being drafted in 2005, Zimmerman started his foundation, and created a golf tournament and a yearly event at Nationals Park. Zimmerman’s contract stipulated that he be given full use of the stadium one day a year for an event, Night at the Park, that raises money for his charity. In 2011, the event raised more than $300,000.
The award is given by the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity at Columbia University, Gehrig’s college fraternity. Zimmerman is the first National or Expo to be honored. Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter was honored last year, and Angels first baseman Albert Pujols and Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino the previous two years.
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Ryan Zimmerman of the Washington Nationals to Receive Lou Gehrig Memorial Award at Washington, DC Convention (Phi Delta Theta, 5/22/12)
Lou Gehrig Memorial Award at the Baseball Hall of Fame (Phi Delta Theta)
