METS WEAR ORANGE FOR NATIONAL GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY
 
 FLUSHING, N.Y., June 2, 2015 – The New York Mets today announced their participation in the first annual National Gun Violence Awareness Day by wearing orange.
 
 To show our support of the Wear Orange campaign (www.wearorange.org), two separate photos are attached that include the entire Mets team and one of the Mets staff all donning the orange shirts.
 
 “We are proud to be a part of such an important campaign that is a prevalent issue in our society today,” said Mets COO Jeff Wilpon. “We hope this increased awareness can bring about some ideas and actions to address this problem.”
 
 The Mets became the first pro sports franchise to participate and join more than 200 organizations, cultural influencers and elected officials that all are participating. The “Wear Orange” campaign was inspired by a group of Chicago teens that asked classmates to commemorate the life of their friend — 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton, who was shot and killed one week after marching in President Obama’s second inaugural parade — by wearing orange, a color that hunters use to protect themselves in the woods. What started in their high school has grown into a national movement, elevating orange as a symbol for the value of human life — and a way to visibly honor the 88 Americans lives cut short by gun violence every day, plus the countless survivors forever altered by shootings each year.
 
 Today in Chicago, the Wear Orange campaign is hosting “Party for Peace,” a community event to honor the lives of those affected by gun violence and elevate gun violence prevention efforts nationwide. Anyone who believes we can do more to save American lives from gun violence is encouraged to join the Wear Orange campaign today by wearing one piece of orange clothing, taking a photo of themselves and sharing it on social media with the hashtag #wearingorange.
 
 Further, supporters are encouraged to visit wearorange.org and use the website’s pledge tool to change their social media profile picture orange or share why they are #wearingorange on the first-ever National Gun Violence Awareness Day.
 
 – Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone