Vote for Mets All-Stars Among Us

Over the winter I mentioned that the Mets do a lot of good things and they could do a better job getting the word out.

Since then, Mets Police has been added to the list of folks that get the press releases…and since I am a person of honor, and do want to get out the word about good things (I’m not just here to take potshots) I happily share the below.  Please take the time to read about some folks who do good in the world.

FLUSHING, N.Y., June 1, 2010 – The New York Mets, Major League Baseball and PEOPLE today announced the three finalists and the start of the voting period for the 2010 “PEOPLE All-Stars Among Us” campaign.  The program, which debuted last year, recognizes individuals who are serving their community in extraordinary ways.

The three Mets finalists are: Hector Algarroba of Astoria, Queens, Marguerite Baber of Bayonne, N.J. and Luis Iza of Guttenberg, N.J.  Fans are encouraged to log on to www.PeopleAllStars.com now through June 20 to vote for their favorite “All-Stars” that go above and beyond to serve their communities.

Algarroba, 56, founded HSS (http://hhsfoundation.homestead.com/), an organization that collects used baseball equipment and medical supplies for needy children in developing countries.  HSS started in 1998 when Algarroba took used baseball equipment with him on vacation to the Dominican Republic.  He recently distributed wheelchairs, canes and other medical supplies to Haiti.  Over the years, Algarroba has delivered more than 3,000 wheelchairs to the Dominican and Haiti.

Baber, 50, has created two organizations to support the autism community, motivated by her own experience as the parent of an autistic child.  She started the Simpson-Barber Foundation (http://simpson-baber.org/) in 1995 to raise money to support educational, social and recreational opportunities to the autism community.  It has raised $1.5 million since inception.  In 2002, Barber began the Busy Bee Program, an early intervention initiative that helps autistic children maximize their developmental and educational potential.

Iza, 57, founded Operation Exodus Inner City (http://www.operationexodus.org/home) to help Latino children in Washington Heights achieve academic excellence and stay out of gangs.  Over the last 20 years, Operation Exodus Inner City has created after-school, mentoring, summer, parent, and school-placement programs to help these children succeed.

The 90 finalists (three per MLB Club) have been selected from thousands of online submissions by fans across the U.S. and Canada who nominated their local “All-Stars.”

A total of 30 “All-Stars,” one representing each MLB Club, will attend and be honored at 2010 All-Star Week in Anaheim, Calif., including during the pre-game ceremony of the All-Star Game on July 13 on FOX beginning at 5:00 p.m. PT (8:00 p.m. ET).   One of the “All-Star Among Us” winners will be featured in PEOPLE during the week of the All-Star Game, the premier sporting event of the summer.