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Boston Area Church League holds annual award luncheon

Banner Staff
Boston Area Church League holds annual award luncheon
Justin Cruz of the Cruz Companies receives the Most Valuable Player Award from Laura Dickerson. PHOTO: ISABEL LEON/MAYOR’S OFFICE

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The Boston Area Church League held its 22nd annual award luncheon at the Hilton Hotel in the Back Bay. The luncheon culminates a year in which Boston area children, ages 6-12 years old, get to learn and play the game of baseball in a free program sponsored by the Boston Red Sox and local law enforcement. Several volunteers give their time to these ball players, teaching them important skills about the game and teamwork.

One of the honorees, Boston Police Deputy Superintendent Pam Harris, told the Banner about her interactions with youth. She said, “The kids, they bring me joy. We have so many things that we have to deal with, but when you have that moment with the kids, you forget about the rest of it.”

Boston Police Dept. Supt. Pamela Harris receives the Charles Ogletree Drum Major for Justice Award from Paul McAffrey. PHOTO: ISABEL LEON/MAYOR’S OFFICE

Harris talked about her interactions when kids saw her in uniform. She said, “I’m just an ordinary person. I was born and raised in Roxbury, but to see the little girl’s reaction when in uniform, it was like something she’d never seen before. She walked up and she said, ‘Can I have a hug?’ I said, absolutely. I said, it’s a beautiful thing with some of the young girls. You know, for myself, I didn’t see it. I didn’t see women in uniform. I especially didn’t see females and women of color known to command staff. This is a good program.”

The Most Valuable Player Award recipient Justin Cruz, chief operating officer of the Cruz Companies, explained that a staff member at his company introduced them to the Church League, and as a result, their organization, Cruz C.A.R.E.S sponsors a variety of events for the kids during the summer, including trips to Martha’s Vineyard.

In August, they support a party where neighborhood children get backpacks with important items for the upcoming year. Cruz explains, “It’s about providing a fun night out for kids and families in the community, but also, giving them some supplies for the upcoming school year. Being able make a difference in a child’s life, I think, is quite honestly the best thing you can do right now.”

The Red Sox have been front and center with this organization under the leadership of Frank Jordan, special assistant to the Red Sox and the founder of this program. Marcell Bhangoo, senior vice president for client services and Church League Trail BlazerAward winner sings his praises: “Frank Jordan, quite frankly, is a remarkable human. He does so much for the community. I’m sure this has been said time and time again. But he truly is the epitome of what Boston needs for youth, for community, for service, and personality. I think everything Frank does with us to make that happen for kids is something above and beyond that you can’t just get on any baseball field.”

Bhangoo, who also talked about her relationship with the program, said, “What I do for the Red Sox is hospitality and service driven for the spaces at Fenway Park. I’m relationship driven. So, a lot of what we do for some of our sponsors is related to youth baseball, and youth baseball programs. And it’s really fun to share Fenway Park with kids; that’s what it’s all about.”

The Church League’s relationships reach far beyond the Boston area. William Zachery, president of Black Men of Greater Springfield, Massachusetts, talked about how the Red Sox and the BACL’s five-year relationship has worked. “They’ve helped support us bringing inner city baseball back to Springfield, and that’s kind of how the relationship began, and it’s just been growing since. We also have a growing relationship with the Woo Sox as well. We were there this past summer for their ‘413 day,’ where we were formally recognized as a group.”

Zachery talked about how the League takes advantage of parks. “I love the whole theory of the green space to try to provide for kids that might not otherwise have access to that. Even if there is green space in the community, our kids aren’t trained to take advantage of that,” he said, “never took advantage of that growing up.” He summed up the festivities with one final thought:

“I’m extremely impressed with the collaboration, civic, corporate, social, parochial houses of worship, and they’re all coming into this room with their hands out, but nobody’s asking. They’re all giving. That is a beautiful thing that we need to see more of happen in more communities.”

The 2024 Boston area Church League year may be over, but the connections continue to flourish.

baseball, Boston Area Church League, Boston Red Sox