Children from the group Birthday Wishes enjoyed a party at Thursday’s Yankees game. (Paul J. Bereswill)
Thursday was a special day at Yankee Stadium for 25 children, and the memorable afternoon had nothing to do with Derek Jeter’s return to The Bronx.
As part of HOPE Week, the Yankees hosted Birthday Wishes, a group that throws birthday parties for homeless children.
From the moment the group, from Long Island-based Community Housing Innovations, entered Yankee Stadium Thursday morning, the kids were wide-eyed, smiling and snapping photos.
PHOTOS: JETER RETURNS TO YANKEES LINEUP
The day began with the kids walking through the bowels of the Stadium and hanging out in the Yankees dugout, where they met with Yankees general partner Jennifer Steinbrenner Swindal.
After posing for pictures and touring the grounds, they made their way around the warning track and eventually up to Suite 62, where a host of Yankees — including Mariano Rivera, CC Sabathia and Phil Hughes — were there to surprise the kids before the Bombers topped the Royals, 8-4.
“I spoke to a few of them and they said it’s the best day of their lives,” Rivera said. “It’s wonderful. To put a smile on their faces is absolutely priceless. That’s what it’s all about.”
In addition to hanging out with the Yankees, they were each given presents — Nike sneakers, lunch, games, personalized hats, candy — and a large birthday cake while they enjoyed the victory from the suite down the left-field line. A few of the kids even got to come back on the field right before the ceremonial first pitch.
“I’m completely blown away by everything the Yankees have done for the kids,” said Lisa Basiloff, co-founder and executive officer of Birthday Wishes. “Not only will they never forget this day, but I think it will have a positive impact on them. It’s such a fabulous experience.
“I know these kids didn’t expect to meet any players. They knew they were going to a baseball game and they thought they were going to see the players from the bleachers. It’s beyond my wildest dreams. I’m so impressed with the Yankees organization.”
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Basiloff started Birthday Wishes as a volunteer project at a homeless shelter in Newton, Mass., as a way to get her children involved in the community, and the venture took off. It is now statewide in Massachusetts and Rhode Island and serves Long Island as well, with over 75 shelters. The group throws a party once a month at each shelter to brighten up the lives of homeless children.
“Birthday Wishes has made a tremendous impact,” said Rosemary Dehlow, chief program officer of Community Housing Innovations. “It’s traumatic being homeless. It reminds them just to be a kid, forget about things for a bit. What a great day for any child.”