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Baseball Takes Halloween Spirit to the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital Outpatient Center 11/12/2003
Baseball Takes Halloween Spirit to the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital Outpatient Center 11-12-03 In great holiday spirit, the Vanderbilt baseball team recently spent several hours hosting a Halloween party for the residents of the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital Outpatient Center. The Commodores visited nearly 100 children, from newborn to age 20, distributing candy, toys and autographed pictures. Head Coach Tim Corbin led different team units to the various suites, room to room, of the Children’s Hospital. The team participated in a variety of games, such as a beanbag toss and other Halloween-themed activities, with the children. Team newcomer Antoan Richardson kept many of the kids entertained with a repertoire of magic tricks while the others players helped patients decorate several dozen pumpkins. The focus of the day, however, was on visiting with and talking to the children. For junior transfer Colton Daines, the opportunity to interact with such inspiring children was “pretty awesome.” “We were hoping to make the kids smile and change their focus for a small amount of time,” Corbin said. “Our team got as much from the visit as the kids did, possibly even more. It was a very rewarding afternoon.” Peggy Buchanan, the Administrative Assistant of the Outpatient Center, worked with the team as its liaison. She planned the organized activities for the party, but said that it was the presence and enthusiasm of the athletes that generated the positive and festive atmosphere. Buchanan said the “patients were really pleased,” and added that she “can’t say enough about the athletes?they have such busy schedules?when they give up their time for us, it’s just so heartwarming.” The Commodores said the afternoon’s enjoyment was mutual; although the environment was new and unfamiliar to many of them, they had an equally good time visiting and playing with the children. Buchanan mentioned plans are in the works for Christmas and Valentine’s parties hosted by the football and women’s lacrosse teams, respectively. In the meantime, Corbin plans to make his team’s Halloween appearance an annual event. Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital Outpatient Center treats over 88,000 children a year and has annually been one of Middle Tennessee’s favorite charities. |
