2008 Roberto Clemente Award

Joel Hanrahan has been named The 2008 Recipient from Our Washington Nationals for this year's Roberto Clemente Award. The annual award given to one player from each of the 30 Major League Baseball Teams who not only show fine skill on the field of play, but combine their profession with community work--giving back to others--selflessly. Tomorrow Evening, Our Number 38 will be honored in a Pre-Game Ceremony before the final game of the current 9 Game Homestand against The Philadelphia Phillies.

The September 3rd Roberto Clemente Day honors one of Baseball's Greats. A Hall of Fame Outfielder for The Pittsburgh Pirates who died tragically on New Years Eve, 1972, in a plane crash while attempting to help survivors of a terrible earthquake in Nicaragua. Roberto Clemente was arguably one of the most exciting players to ever play the game. And he always helped others throughout his too short of a lifespan. As he youngster, he was one of my favorite players. Great Arm, Ran Like The Wind and he could Hit & Field. A Tremendous Player both on and off the field of play. Unique.

Fans can log on to www.chevy.com/clemente beginning September 3rd to vote for Joel Hanrahan or any of the other 29 Team Recipients until October 3rd. The Winner will be named The 2008 Roberto Clemente Award National Winner.

Here is the Team's Press Release:

JOEL HANRAHAN NAMED WASHINGTON NATIONALS RECIPIENT OF THE 2008 ROBERTO CLEMENTE AWARD PRESENTED BY CHEVY

Joel Hanrahan today was named the Washington Nationals recipient of the 2008 Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevy. He is one of 30 Major League Club nominees for the national 2008 Roberto Clemente Award, which is given annually to the Major League Baseball player who combines outstanding skills on the baseball field with devoted work in the community. Tomorrow will mark the seventh annual Roberto Clemente Day, which was established by Major League Baseball in 2002 to honor the legacy of Roberto Clemente.

The Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevy is part of Chevy’s official sponsorship of Major League Baseball, and recognizes those players who best represent the game of baseball through sportsmanship, community involvement and positive contributions to their teams. The award is named for Clemente, a 12-time All-Star and Hall of Famer who died on New Year’s Eve 1972 while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. This award perpetuates Clemente’s legacy and character by recognizing current-day players who truly understand the value of helping others.

Fans are encouraged to participate in the selection of the national winner of the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevy. From September 3rd through October 3rd, 2008, fans can log on to www.chevy.com/clemente and vote for one of the 30 Club nominees. Joel Hanrahan, in his second year with the Nationals, has become an active member of the Washington community. Joel began a partnership with the American Red Cross this past summer, to raise awareness and funds in the DC Metropolitan Area for the organization’s disaster relief efforts. An Iowa native, Joel adopted this cause when he saw the devastation created by the June floods in the Midwest Region. He mobilized an aggressive fundraising campaign that included television and radio PSAs, collections at the Nationals Park gates during a June homestand, and an on-line auction with valuable game-used items and experience packages for which Joel and other Nationals players donated their time.

In addition to his work with the American Red Cross, Joel was an integral part of the 2008 Man & Woman of the Year Campaign benefitting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society – National Capital Area Region. The Man & Woman of the Year fundraising competition is a unique national campaign in which hundreds of men and women in 41 cities across the country raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Joel donated his time and money to participate in events benefitting the campaign. Joel is involved in a number of events to benefit the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation, conducts a number of meet-and-greets, autograph sessions and private clinics, supports the military and is always available to make school, camp and library visits.

The Nationals will recognize Joel’s involvement in the community during a pre-game ceremony on Wednesday, September 3 when they face the Philadelphia Phillies at 7:10pm. The fan vote winner will be tallied as one vote among those cast by the selection panel, which includes Vera Clemente, wife of the late Hall of Famer, and Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. Participating fans automatically will be registered for a chance to win a trip to Game Three of the 2008 World Series, where the national winner of the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevy will be announced.

As the official sponsor of the Roberto Clemente Award, Chevy will donate $7,500 to the charity of choice of each of the 30 Club recipients. Joel has chosen the Walter Reed Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping wounded soldiers and their families at the Walter Reed Medical Center. Chevy also will donate $30,000 and a Chevy vehicle to the national winner’s charity of choice and an additional $30,000 will be donated by Chevy to Roberto Clemente Sports City, a not-for-profit organization in Carolina, Puerto Rico, designed to provide recreational sports activities for children.