Ten students from SS. Joachim and Anne School, Queens Village, participated in a day to remember, courtesy of Yankees HOPE Week.
The students were all Haitians and were victims of the 2010 earthquake that devastated their homeland. They also are recipients of educational grants from the diocese’s Futures in Education Foundation.
The students were told that they would be visiting the public libraries of Manhattan and instead were brought directly to Yankee Stadium where they were ushered onto the field to watch the Yankees have batting practice.
They were introduced to manager Joe Girardi who welcomed them to the stadium. Yankee players, Jorge Posada, Nick Swisher and C.C. Sabathia greeted them as well.
Students Junior Duplesis, Tiffany Rimpel, Charles Boute and Frantz Bleus chatted with the players and the press about their memorable experience.
Sharing the adventure with the kids were Father Jean Delva, parochial vicar; Linda Freebes, principal; five teachers; two parents; and Priscilla Uy of the Futures in Eduation Foundation.
The Diocese of Brooklyn through Futures in Education was able to award $50,000 to 36 Haitian earthquake victims in diocesan schools. Of those 36 students, 15 of them attend SS. Joachim and Anne School.
Toured the Big Apple
After the game, the group was invited onto the field to participate in races coordinated by Sabathia, Posada, Freddie Garcia and coaches Tony Pena and Mike Harley. The Yankee players then led them to the back of the stadium where they boarded a double-decker bus to tour the Big Apple.
The tour included Harlem, Central Park, and Times Square to grab some pizza, which was delivered by all-star shortstop Derek Jeter, who accompanied the tour to its final spot at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where youngsters were greeted by Archbishop Timothy Dolan.
The archbishop gave boys and girls a grand tour of the Cathedral and the tomb of Venerable Pierre Toussaint, the only person buried there who is not a priest.
Archbishop Dolan then hosted a soda and dessert reception at his residence.
