Atlanta Braves’ Diaz Supports Children’s Homes’
Haiti Relief Efforts
The circumstances were obviously from God, so I had to get involved in some way.
February 25, 2010
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| Atlanta Braves outfielder Matt Diaz speaks to students at Medulla Elementary School in Lakeland. Diaz announced that he would match dollar for dollar whatever the students raise for the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes’ Haiti Relief efforts. |
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| Dr. Jerry Haag, president of the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes and his wife Christi (far right) join Atlanta Braves baseball player Matt Diaz, his wife Leslee, and their two children Nathan and Anna at Medulla Elementary School in Lakeland where Diaz announced that he would match dollar for dollar whatever the school raised for the Children’s Homes’ Haiti relief efforts. |
LAKELAND, Fla. – Atlanta Braves outfielder Matt Diaz was doing some work at his Winter Haven home several weeks ago when he heard his old elementary school mentioned on the news. “I heard the announcer mention Medulla elementary, which is where I went to school so I listened closely to what they were talking about,” Diaz said.
“They were talking about raising money for the Florida Baptist Children's Homes and their Haiti relief efforts. They said they'd like to challenge a business in Lakeland to match whatever they were able to raise,” Diaz recalled.
Diaz who attended Medulla from Kindergarten through fourth grade and who is also a born again Christian said that he knew he needed to get involved in some way.
“It just so happens that my wife Leslee and I are putting together a family foundation that will be focused on helping orphans and disadvantaged children in Polk County and around the world. The circumstances were obviously from God so I had to get involved in some way.”
The entire Diaz family including wife Leslee and their two young children Nathan and Anna, and Diaz’s mother Gwen participated in a special event at Medulla Elementary on Friday, February 19 with the school’s students and teachers announcing that they would be matching whatever the school raised for the Children’s Homes’ Haiti relief efforts.
Dr. Jerry Haag, president of the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes and his wife Christi joined Diaz and his family at Medulla for the special announcement.
“Matt called to let me know that he saw the story about what the students at Medulla were doing for the victims in Haiti and that he would like to help out in some way,” Haag said. “I was absolutely thrilled when he told me that he was willing to match their donations dollar for dollar, including corporate gifts given through Medulla for our Haiti relief efforts.”
According to Haag the Children’s Homes quickly mobilized to provide relief when they first heard the news about the earthquake in Haiti.
“When the earthquake happened we immediately began to organize relief efforts. We made arrangements to care for as many as 250 orphans from Haiti that may need our assistance. We also launched a campaign in coordination with the Florida Baptist Convention to raise funds for food and other humanitarian aid.”
Ronda Davis, a fifth grade teacher at Medulla and who also attends First Baptist Church at the Mall in Lakeland organized the fund raising drive. “Originally I was going to challenge our kids to help raise money for the Children’s Malnutrition Center in San Juan, Guatemala where I had visited on a mission trip with the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes,” Davis said.
“However, when the earthquake in Haiti happened I realized that we needed to shift our focus and our kids really responded. We plan to raise money for the Children’s Homes’ Haiti relief efforts throughout the rest of the school year.”
Diaz says that they are excited to be involved in this special opportunity to help others. “Our family has been so extremely blessed, and this opportunity lines up perfectly for what we feel called to do as a family.”
For more information on how you can help with the Children’s Homes’ Haiti relief efforts contact Julie Boyd at Julie.Boyd@FBCHomes.org or go to their website at www.FBCHomes.org
