第九屆全球華文網路教育研討會訂六月十九日在MIT召開

波士頓華僑文教服務中心聯同麻省理工學院中文項目廖灝翔，新英格蘭中文學校協會等合作機構宣佈，僑委會主辦的「第九屆全球華文網路教育研討會(ICICE9)」訂6月19日至21日，在波士頓登場，預計有兩百人出席。

            會場將設在麻省理工學院史特拉登學生中心（Stratton Student Center）。

            波士頓華僑文教服務中心主任郭大文指出，本屆ICIE9會議主題為「華語文教學與科技結合之方向與省思」，是針對華語文數位教學的今日趨勢，省思雲端科技運用的限制，希望透過會上發表的學術論文，分享的實務經驗，與相關人士攜手開啟華語文數位教學的新層次。

華語文教學從「面對面的教室互動學習」，進展到「數位互動學習」，再到近年的「雲端教學」，無論是教學方法或輔助科技，不斷日新月異。僑務委員會為因應相關變化，早從1999年起，就為學術單位和產業界牽線，舉辦「全球華文網路教育研討會」。之後每兩年舉辦一次，延續迄今。

去年，全球華文網路教育研討首度跨進美國，在洛杉磯舉辦，成果豐碩，迴響熱烈，今年移師美國波士頓。

郭大文表示，僑委會希望透過波士頓的歷史悠久、人文薈萃，以及麻省理工學院的名聲在全球首屈一指等號召，吸引全球各地中文教育相關領域的專家、學者，從業人員參與盛會，發表各自在華語文數位教學上的理論及實務教學應用，激盪出令人驚艷的學術火花與省思。

麻省理工學院中文項目負責人廖灝翔表示，該校的學術研究重點項目和這次研討會主題，十分切合，他們很高興能和僑委會合作這場國際研討會，並與全球各地的華語文教育專家、學者，以及波士頓地區華文學校實務工作者進行交流。

在郭大文、廖灝翔之外，新英格蘭中文學校協會會長陳式儀、勒星頓中文學校校長蔡淑芬、麻州中部中文學校校長林大為，牛頓元極舞健身會會長鄭玉春等人都出席了宣布會。

在6月19日至21日的兩天半會議期間中，繼開幕典禮後，議程有專題報告、主題演講、論文及教學應用發表等等，專題報告包括“數碼狂潮中華語文教育的全球新定位”、“語音識別系統在課程設計中的角色”、“以達到高級語言能力為導向及以科技輔助教學之課程設計”、“應用Study Fun互動教學系統融入華語教學“、”在美跨區合作的華語文及文化遠距教學之實例分享與探索“等，內容十分豐富。

「第九屆全球華文網路教育研討會」訂6月19日至21日，在麻省理工學院史特拉登學生中心（Stratton Student Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology，地址：77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, U.S.A）舉行。查詢詳情，可上網站http://www.ocac.net/icice2015/。

圖片說明：

左起，林大為、陳式儀、郭大文、廖灝翔、蔡淑芬及鄭玉春等人。（圖由波士頓華僑文教中心提供）

MAYOR WALSH SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER ESTABLISHING GENDER NEUTRAL RESTROOMS IN CITY HALL

MAYOR WALSH SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER ESTABLISHING GENDER NEUTRAL RESTROOMS IN CITY HALL

Mayor Walsh to Take Steps in Making City Hall More Inclusive in Gender Diversity

BOSTON - Thursday, June 11, 2015 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today signed an executive order immediately establishing gender-neutral restrooms on the fifth floor of Boston City Hall, outside of the Mayor’s Office and City Council Chamber. Boston is among the first city halls to institute gender-neutral restrooms in New England.

“Today marks a historic moment in Boston,” said Mayor Walsh. “Boston thrives on diversity, and is an inclusive city. This change will foster a safe and welcoming environment for employees and visitors, and will go a long way as we continue to work towards improving the lives of those who love and call Boston home.”

Gender neutral bathrooms benefit a variety of individuals who are not comfortable when accessing gender-specific bathrooms. Providing access to a private, non-gendered stall can reduce or eliminate this negative experience. Gender neutral bathrooms also benefit members of the disabled community or others who have personal attendants of a different gender. Parents or guardians with children of a different gender can also experience misunderstanding when accessing gender-specific bathrooms.

This change will reduce and eliminate these unpleasant experiences, creating a positive effect for employees and visitors of City Hall. 

The Office of Neighborhood Services will continue to engage and support members of the LGBT, disability and gender-nonconforming communities by ensuring that they are aware of the gender neutral restrooms. The City of Boston’s Property Management Department has created new signage, which will also be in braille, rendering the single restrooms gender neutral, and the restrooms are now open to everyone.

Statements of Support:

“Mayor Walsh’s announcement today is an important step forward in the fight for equality, and I support his effort to accommodate transgender people at City Hall. My office has also put in place a robust policy that offers explicit protections against gender-identity discrimination to both our staff and members of the public who visit our office. For all of us who are employers in Massachusetts, a real commitment to preventing discrimination starts in our own workplaces, and I hope employers across the state will join in these efforts to promote equal treatment for all. I also hope the Legislature will pass the transgender accommodations bill this session.”  - Attorney General Maura Healey

"As a staff member in the Mayor's Commission for Persons with Disabilities and a member of the LGBT community the creation of these restrooms allows for friends, family, colleagues, and allies to feel comfortable visiting City Hall and participating in City government." -Jessica Doonan, Mayor's Commission for Persons with Disabilities 

"In addition to serving our LGBT members of the disability community, these restrooms allow for individuals with disabilities who require assistance of another person to use these facilities with ease." -Commissioner Kristen McCosh, Mayor's Commission for Persons with Disabilities

"These gender neutral bathrooms mark a welcoming and supportive space for City Hall employees and visitors to use the facility and feel safe regardless of gender expression or gender identity. I am proud and honored to work for a Mayor who has a strong desire in making our City Hall accommodating and accessible for everyone equally. Excited to continue working alongside all our local LGBT organizations and the great work they do on a daily basis for the community. What a fabulous announcement during this, the 45th anniversary of Boston Pride in our City!" - Jullieanne Doherty, LGBT Liaison, Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services

"Gender neutral bathrooms are important in providing a safe place for all people to use the facilities when needed without fear of harassment by others. Providing gender neutral bathrooms send the clear message that all people are valued and invited to take part in the community.” - Ruben Hopwood, MDiv, PhD, Coordinator, Transgender Health Program, Fenway Health

"Knowing the incredibly high rates of harassment and violence trans and gender non-conforming folks in my community face, installing a gender neutral restroom in City Hall is an important step forward for employees and visitors. Hopefully the precedent set by City Hall will encourage other government buildings to create accessible spaces for trans people, as well as continue the momentum here in Boston for additional protections under the law." - Rylee Hollett, Jamaica Plain Resident

"Boston Pride is #WickedProud of Mayor Walsh's taking the bold step to make bathrooms gender-neutral at City Hall. Not only is this a huge step forward toward full inclusion, respect, and understanding of trans* members of our community, but it is also a genuine opportunity to educate the public at large as to how we can all be welcoming of transgender people. We applaud Mayor Walsh's decision, which reflects great leadership and places Boston at the forefront of equality worldwide." - Sylvain Bruni, President of Boston Pride

“Boston is well known as ‘The Cradle of Liberty,’ and for nearly 400 years Boston has led the way in providing equal human rights for all of its citizens. Over 5 years ago, on May 5, 2010, The Boston City Council passed a Unanimous Resolution In Support of An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes (S. 1687/H.1728). Because the Massachusetts Legislature has still not passed this important Human Rights Bill, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh is today taking a very courageous and important action by making two restrooms in Boston City Hall Transgender Inclusive. This is a major step forward in providing Equal Human Rights for Transgender people. Mayor Walsh is sending the strongest possible message to the Massachusetts Legislature to pass the Public Accommodations Bill in 2015. On behalf of all Transgender people in Massachusetts I thank Mayor Marty Walsh for his outstanding leadership.” - Erica Kay Webster, Founder, CEO and President, Foundation For International Justice, Inc., CEO and Executive Director, Promise Place School

"Greater Boston PFLAG wants to honor and thank Mayor Walsh and his team for making Boston City Hall a more welcoming place for transgender and gender non-confirming individuals. As an organization, Greater Boston PFLAG works to help environments be welcoming, affirming, and safe for LGBTQ people and we are proud of Boston City Hall for taking this important step. There is still a lot of work to be done---currently transgender people in Massachusetts don't have their freedoms legally protected in public spaces. We value public safety for everyone, and for this reason we are also working to pass legislation that protects transgender people in public spaces throughout our state." - Tom Bourdon, Executive Director, Greater Boston PFLAG

“Based on the results from our 2013 transgender health and discrimination needs assessment of Massachusetts adults, we found that the majority (65 percent) had experienced some form of discrimination in public settings within the prior year. A 2011 national survey data suggest the majority (70 percent) of U.S. transgender people sampled experienced verbal harassment, assault, or were denied access to public restrooms. Furthermore both studies found associations between experiencing discrimination and negative health outcomes, so the Mayor's Office is taking an incredibly responsible step in protecting transgender people from violence as well as supporting the health of transgender communities.” -Emilia Dunham, Project Manager, The Fenway Institute of the Life Skills Project

"We appreciate Mayor Walsh's continued efforts to make Boston a welcoming city for all. The need for this executive order is a reminder that in Massachusetts it's legal to discriminate against transgender people in public accommodations, which are restaurants, hotels, the MBTA and all the other places where we spend our days when we're not at home, work or school. We urge the legislature to pass pending legislation that would outlaw this discrimination statewide. While public spaces are so much more than restrooms, and while pending legislation would not require businesses to reconfigure their restrooms. We applaud Mayor Walsh for going beyond basic nondiscrimination protections to create a safe and welcoming City Hall for all." - Mason Dunn, Executive Director, Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition

超武館進春田市開第五家武館

 左起，麻州參議員Eric Lesser，麻州眾議員Brian Ashe，紐英崙中華
公所主席阮鴻燦，漢普登（Hampden）契據登記官Donald Ashe，
胡炳超師傅的師弟葉福文，司徒炳聰等人，都來向胡炳超
（左四）道賀。（圖由阮鴻燦提供）

(Boston Orange)波士頓知名少林功夫師傅胡炳超，日前在麻州春田市開張第五家超武館，麻州參眾議員紛紛道賀，出席剪綵典禮。

胡炳超在麻州定居已逾五十年，是本地重量級功夫師父，傳承林世榮，林喬，黃飛鴻等人的少林功夫，如今桃李滿天下。

紐英崙中華公所主席阮鴻燦（左一）及麻州參眾議員，為胡炳超
（右一）新武館開張的瑞獅點睛。（圖由阮鴻燦提供）

胡炳超表示，位於春田市（Springfield）貝爾蒙道（Belmont Ave.)525號的“超武館”，大概是他在麻州開張的第五家武館，因為有些是在學校教課，有些是弟子經營，他在麻州到底開了多少家武館，連自己都不太清楚。波士頓市林肯街上的那家，是最早開張的武館之一，此外在羅爾市，曼斯菲爾德市（Mansfield），以及春田市等，都至少各有一家。

日前春田新館開張時，麻州參議員Eric Lesser，麻州眾議員Brian Ashe，紐英崙中華公所主席阮鴻燦，漢普登（Hampden）契據登記官Donald Ashe，功夫學校經理Donald Ashe Jr.，以及胡炳超師傅的師弟葉福文等人，全都出席道賀。

Barry Manilow Donates New Yamaha Keyboard to Kick Off Music Instrument Drive for Boston Public Schools

Barry Manilow Donates New Yamaha Keyboard to Kick Off Music Instrument Drive for Boston Public Schools

Public Can Trade a New or Gently Used Musical Instrument for Free Tickets to Manilow’s ONE LAST TIME! Concert on June 16
 

Boston, MA – Legendary singer-songwriter Barry Manilow is “hitting the road” ONE LAST TIME! and hopes others will follow his philanthropic lead as he donates a Yamaha Keyboard to launch a local instrument drive for Boston Public Schools during his ONE LAST TIME! Tour.  

Anyone who donates a new or gently used musical instrument to the TD Garden box office will receive two free tickets (valid for pre-selected seat locations) for Manilow’s June 16 concert in Boston, MA.
 
“I know firsthand how invaluable music education is,” said Manilow.  “It is a privilege for me to help bring the gift of music to these kids.”
 
The TD Garden box office will be the drop off location for the instrument drive in Boston, from now through June 16, 2015. The box office is open for drop offs between Monday-Thursday 10am-5pm and Friday 10am – 2pm.  

"Barry Manilow’s efforts to help increase the learning and love of music in public schools is a remarkable endeavor, one that helps enrich the lives of aspiring student musicians by providing them additional access to instruments,” said Boston Public Schools Interim Superintendent, John P. McDonough.  “We know that music enriches education, and we greatly appreciate what he is doing to share the gift of music with our Boston Public Schools students." 

The Manilow Music Project (MMP) is part of The Manilow Fund for Health and Hope.  Its primary focus is to provide musical instruments to high schools and middle schools and to provide music scholarships at universities throughout the US, Canada, and the UK.  More information on the Manilow Music Project can be found at www.manilowmusicproject.org.

Tickets for Manilow’s ONE LAST TIME! concert are available online at Manilow.com or ticketmaster.com, in person at the TD Garden box office, or by calling 1-800-745-3000.

ONE LAST TIME! Tour is a co-production of AEG Live and STILETTO Entertainment.

MAYOR WALSH LAUNCHES ONLINE TOOL TO HELP BUSINESS OWNERS NAVIGATE ZONING REGULATIONS

MAYOR WALSH LAUNCHES ONLINE TOOL TO HELP BUSINESS OWNERS NAVIGATE ZONING REGULATIONS

BOSTON - Thursday, June 11, 2015 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced today the release of a new tool to to help residents navigate Boston’s zoning code. The new tool, Boston Zoning Check allows business owners to see where specific uses are allowed by the zoning code. The zoning code is currently three volumes and over 3,000 pages long. By answering a few questions, users can make an initial determination regarding where in the City they are permitted to open a new business or expand an existing one.

The Mayor made the announcement at Thursday’s roundtable discussion on streamlining small business and startup services with U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet.

“We should be encouraging our residents with great ideas to focus on building their businesses, not being burdened with understanding municipal code” says Mayor Walsh.  “This new tool will help make the process of starting a business in the City one step easier.”

This new tool is part of series of actions Mayor Walsh has taken to ease the pathway for small businesses in the City:

• Created a streamlined Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) process for small businesses, doubled the hearing capacity for ZBA applications, which reduced wait times for ZBA hearings by four months.
• Made common Fire Department permits available online.
• Launched the Permit Finder application, which allows applicants to see where their permits are in the review process and connect to individuals responsible for each stage of review.
• Announced zoning changes which will make low-impact uses (such as art galleries or bakeries) allowed across all business districts, and plans to reform entertainment licensing policies to reduce the regulatory burden on small businesses.

Boston Zoning Check is one part of the Mayor’s overall goal of simplifying the relationship between business owners and government through technology. More information on the City’s efforts to improve its online permitting experience can be found at http://boston.gov/permits.

BTBA第三屆年會 唐南珊、陳垣崇分享經驗

波士頓台灣人生物科技協會（BTBA）幹部與唐南珊（前左五）合影。（周菊子攝）

波士頓台灣人生物科技協會（BTBA）現任會長謝富凱（左），
李湘盈（右）邀唐南珊做會議主講人之ㄧ（中）。（周菊子攝)

          (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)波士頓台灣人生物科技協會(BTBA)六月六、七兩日在哈佛大學舉辦第三屆年會，邀得廿二名講者在二場主題演講，四場座談中，侃論學術，企業概況，吸引近三百人出席，展現台灣人在大波士頓生物科技領域也佔有一片天的實力。

            波士頓台灣人生物科技協會今年的會議，由現任會長謝富凱，李湘盈與廿多名幹部策劃，邀得中研院院士陳垣崇博士，Tanox公司創始人唐南珊博士做主題演講。來自台灣的鑽石生技投資公司副總裁湯竣鈞做特別講談。另外有學術，企業，非實驗科學類職業生涯，台灣生物科技等四場座談。

 中央研究院院士陳垣崇談醫藥研究成果。（周菊子攝）

            以基因及轉化醫學研究聞名，2001年被李遠哲請回台灣擔任中研院生物醫學科學研究所所長的陳垣崇，頗為詳盡的闡釋HLA-B＊1520基因分型在防止卡馬西平（ Carbamazepine）引發的史帝文斯強森症候（Stevens-Johnson Syndrome）研究過程相關研究成果並於2011年獲得新英格蘭醫學雜誌選刊，讓台灣在國際醫藥研究上再度露臉的成就。他指出，利用類似HLA，HLA-B來檢測病人，再開給卡馬西平藥，以防止病人藥物中毒，已是個人化及預防性醫療的臨床現實。

鑽石生物科技公司副總裁湯竣鈞。（周菊子攝）

            唐南珊以“你的生命就是一段旅程”為主題，暢論人生就是一個“你與你的決定”所編織的故事。

2006年時，她所創辦的Tanox公司，被基因科技（Genetech）公司以九億餘元收購，締造一段生物醫藥界併購佳話。

唐南珊指出，人生不平等，也常常不公平，沒有必要去和別人比較。她的一生和她對創新的熱情，對科學突破的好奇，總想要找到更好解決方法的意願，有著絕對相連的關係。無論是作為科學家，做一名員工，作為創業者，教授，基金管理人，以及現在的做為慈善家，她都重視打造出成功紀錄。

 BTBA台灣生物科技座談主持者（右一）送紀念品給講者，左起，
湯竣鈞，呂全偉，許嘉欽，林南宏，藥華醫藥代表。（周菊子攝）

已和張子文於1992年離婚的唐南珊，當日很坦白表示，自己的人生有得有失，未能保全婚姻，當年又忙於事業，以致女兒成長時猶如無父無母，是她難以釋懷的遺憾。她藉此提醒出席會議的年輕學子們，每個人都得承擔個人決定所帶來的後果。

            湯竣鈞講了很多台灣生物醫療產業概況，直言鑽石生技投資公司及鑽石資本管理公司是個以鼓勵熱愛台灣者為台灣生物科技產業效力，提升台灣國際實力與地位為宗旨的公司。

BTBA學術座談主持者（右起）送紀念品給講者，宗家洸，
王立三，廖容儷，李敦厚，李勁葦。（BTBA提供，張煜杰攝）

            他指出，在廿一世紀中，對生物醫藥公司來說，時間就是金錢，知識就是力量，但有想像力更加重要。台灣與中國大陸的人口老化，都使得醫療護理產業成為更多人關注，發展前景更可觀的行業。

            就台灣的醫療護理產業來說，他認為由於兩岸的關係，台灣將有更多機會出口醫療護理產品到中國，許多國際企業也將利用台灣作為進入中國大陸的跳板，海峽兩岸經濟合作架構協議（ECFA）的服貿協議，也將從中國大陸帶進更多投資到台灣。

  BTBA學術座談主持者（右起）送紀念品給講者，欒甡，
陳亞華，張劭聿，賴青志，魏宇峰。（BTBA提供，張煜杰攝）

            這場會議四場座談的應邀講者，學術部分有麻省理工學院助理教授李勁葦，波士頓學院助理教授宗家洸，賓州大學副教授王立三，哈佛大學醫學院教授廖容儷，哈佛大學公衛學院教授李敦厚；企業部分有賽諾菲（

  BTBA學術座談主持者送紀念品給講者
莊維廉（左一）等人。（BTBA提供，張煜杰攝）

Sanofi）臨床實驗科學資深科學主任宋晶晶，生物基因艾迪克（Biogen Idec）製程發展資深科學家彭浩帆，賽諾菲分析化學首席科學家莊維廉，Vertex製藥資深科學家吳書沛，Intellia Therapeutics資深科學家黃宏仁；非實驗科學類職業生涯部分有Wolf Greenfield專利律師陳亞華，賽默飛世爾（Thermo Fisher）科學公司法規產品主任欒甡，生命科學國度顧問公司（Life Science Nation)資深研究分析師張劭聿，生命科技公司（Life Technology）產品管理副主任賴青志，Vizuro共同創始人魏宇峰；台灣生物科技部分有台灣微脂體（Liposome）資深企業發展經理呂全偉，善笙生物科技公司總經理許嘉欽，醣基生醫（CHO Pharma）資深副總裁林南宏，藥華醫藥（PharmaEssentia）的代表等。

            查詢會議詳情，可上該會網站http://btbatw.org/2015。

青少年描繪華埠圖書館藍圖 BRA6/10邀居民設想未來華埠

（實習記者戴斯夢波士頓報導)華人前進會(CPA)青年動力項目六月八日晚在昆士小學，向華埠社區匯報他們訪問社區後總結出來的“華埠圖書館理想藍圖”，期望波士頓市政府未來規劃能採納社區意見，盡快撥款建造。

波士頓重建局（BRA）將於6月10日晚上6點至8點，在中國貿易大樓舉行“華埠都市更新”工作坊，為規劃未來華埠做準備。華人前進會籲請華埠民眾出席，反映意見。

八日晚，六名青年實習生輪流上台報告。他們指出，理想中的華埠圖書館應承擔起保留文化歷史，提供社區聯誼空間，工作培訓，娛樂休閑等多重功能。

他們表示，青年動力項目從今年四月初起，依年齡分成三組的訪談了青年，耆英，父母，獲悉雙語課程，就業機會，休閑娛樂等功能的需求最殷。

包括代表市議員表態支持華埠圖書館的吳弭辦公室社區聯絡員王芳菲，米高法拉提（Michael Flaherty）辦公室政策主任Robyn Casper在內，當晚約有四十人出席。

其中一名出席者提出疑問，指報告會談圖書館，但藍圖中卻無書。CPA青年項目協調員司徒慕儀解釋，華埠圖書館的更重要作用是為社區居民提供聚會場所，提供服務，尤其是為英文水平不足的移民們提供學習機會。

其中一名青年實習生曹艷彤透露，實習生們在研討華埠圖書館項目時，曾拜訪市議員，為回答“華埠圖書館應該是什麼樣子”這問題，他們決定訪問華埠居民，徵求意見。經常在華埠牌樓旁下棋的老人家們，就向他們說，希望司徒麗英公園裏，最好有個能遮風擋雨，冬暖夏涼角落。

波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin Walsh )的亞裔聯絡員翁耀漢（Denny Ching）表示，市長曾經許諾要幫助華埠重建圖書館，正在研究適合地點，位於華埠橘線地鐵站旁的中華貿易大樓，以往稱為第廿四號地段（Parcel 24）的綠茵苑，都在考慮範圍內。一旦確認設址地點後，再評估所需資金。他認為青年動力項目的報告非常詳盡，讓他了解到華埠居民更需要提供社區服務的場所。

都是高中生的這六名青年實習生，當晚還介紹了華埠圖書館的相關歷史，指出波士頓市政府為建高速公路，在1956年拆掉了華埠的公共圖書館。2001年開始，青年動力項目就參與爭取在華埠建永久圖書館的活動。2009年時，以實驗性質營運的店面圖書館，開張三個月後關閉。2012年起辦理的燈籠閱讀室（Lantern Reading Room），也在資金不繼中於2013年關閉。

波士頓重建局（BRA）將於6月10日晚上6點至8點，在中國貿易大樓舉行“華埠都市更新”工作坊，為規劃未來華埠做準備。

圖片說明：

參與圖書館社區報告的青年動力項目實習生們合影留念。（戴斯夢攝）

到會人員在圖書館倡議板上簽字以示支持。右數第三為市議員Michael Flaherty辦公室的政策主管Robyn Casper。（戴斯夢攝）

RED SOX TO HOLD BASEBALL EQUIPMENT COLLECTION AT FENWAY PARK THIS WEEKEND

RED SOX TO HOLD BASEBALL EQUIPMENT COLLECTION

AT FENWAY PARK THIS WEEKEND

Fans Are Invited to Donate New or Used Equipment to Give to Kids

This Friday, Saturday, and Sunday

BOSTON, MA – As part of a league-wide initiative among Major League Baseball, the Major League Baseball Players Association, and the Baseball Tomorrow Fund, the Boston Red Sox will host a baseball and softball equipment collection during this weekend’s Red Sox-Blue Jays series at Fenway Park.  

Starting Friday, June 12, through Sunday, June 14, fans are invited to bring new and used baseball and softball equipment to Fenway Park.  Representatives of Kids Gear for Baseball, a Massachusetts-based non-profit organization, will collect the equipment at the gates and distribute it to children so that they have the opportunity to play ball.

Fans who donate equipment will have the opportunity to win autographed memorabilia and other valuable prizes.

Kids Gear for Baseball has donated bats, balls, gloves, and other equipment to more than 30 youth organizations, shelters, and missions over the last several years.

In conjunction with the equipment drive, the Baseball Tomorrow Fund will award a grant of $5,000 to Kids Gear for Baseball for the purchase of new equipment.

           

This year is the 11^th consecutive season that the Baseball Tomorrow Fund has organized a collection throughout Major League Baseball. The fund was jointly created in 1995 by the clubs and the players association as a collaborative effort to grow the game.

Last year, 27 organizations from Major League markets were awarded a Baseball Tomorrow Fund grant for the purchase of equipment or uniforms for youth baseball and softball leagues. To date, over $1.3 million in total monetary donations have benefited more than 150 organizations in need.