[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 131 (Friday, October 1, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11813-S11814]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             REINSDORF STEPS UP TO THE PLATE FOR EDUCATION

 Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I rise today to call the attention 
of my colleagues to a column by Raymond Coffey which appeared in the 
Chicago Sun-Times on September 30, 1999. Mr. Coffey describes the 
efforts undertaken by Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf to 
improve literacy among children in Chicago's public schools.
  Mr. Reinsdorf is assisting Chicago School Board President Gery Chico 
and Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas in the implementation and 
financing of Direct Instruction, a program that uses phonics to teach 
reading in the schools. This summer, Mr. Reinsdorf also designated 
White Sox manager Jerry Manuel and rookie sensation Chris Singleton to 
sign autographs for all fans donating books to Target Literacy, a joint 
initiative by Target stores and Sox Training Centers that is seeking to 
donate a million children's books to needy kids. Mr. Reinsdorf has also 
worked with Mr. Vallas to provide free tickets to public school 
students who have distinguished themselves through their academic 
achievements.
  Mr. President, it is important to recognize individuals in our 
community who go beyond the call of duty to improve the lives of people 
who are less fortunate than them. Chicago can be proud of the winning 
efforts undertaken by Mr. Reinsdorf throughout the city. I ask that my 
colleagues join me in honoring Mr. Reinsdorf's charitable efforts by 
having Ray Coffey's column from the Chicago Sun-Times printed in the 
Congressional Record.
  The article follows:

              [From the Chicago Sun-Times, Sept. 30, 1999]

                      Out To Prove Kids Can Learn

                          (By Raymond Coffey)

       As his ``The Kids Can Play'' White Sox close out the 
     baseball season this weekend, Jerry Reinsdorf himself gets my 
     vote as one of the most valuable players Chicago kids have 
     going for them.
       Though they played before mostly empty seats at Comiskey 
     Park and drew little serious attention or respect, the 
     rebuilding Sox did win more games than the hapless last-

[[Page S11814]]

     place Cubs who, thanks to the Sammy Sosa phenomenon, set an 
     all-time attendance record.
       More significant than won-lost and tickets-sold records in 
     my score book is what Reinsdorf, who never toots his own 
     horn, is doing for kids.
       Perhaps most valuable is the working relationship he has 
     established with Chicago School Board President Gery Chico 
     and CEO Paul Vallas in supporting and helping finance 
     literacy programs in the schools. Reinsdorf has, as Sox 
     director of community relations Christine Makowski put it, 
     ``a genuine heartfelt belief'' that literacy is a survival 
     skill without which inner-city kids cannot succeed in making 
     their future.
       He has worked with Vallas on pushing a program called 
     Direct Instruction--basically a way to teach reading in the 
     schools via phonics. He volunteered to serve as Principal for 
     a Day at Doolittle Middle School near Comiskey Park and 
     regularly has dispatched Sox players to the school to talk 
     with students about the value of education.
       When Vallas wants to recognize and reward students for 
     scholastic achievement, Reinsdorf regularly arranges free 
     tickets for him to bring sizable groups of kids of a 
     ballgame.
       Chico and Vallas are in ``constant communication'' with 
     Reinsdorf, Makowski says. ``They can call him anytime'' and 
     get help on the schools.
       This summer Reinsdorf assigned Sox manager Jerry Manuel and 
     rookie star Chris Singleton to sign autographs for all fans 
     donating books to Target Literacy, a joint initiative by the 
     Target stores and the Sox Training Centers for youngsters to 
     donate a million children's books to needy kids.
       Reinsdorf takes a lot of media heat for the way he operates 
     the Sox and his Chicago Bulls. And there is, obviously, some 
     self-interest in what he does for kids in connection with his 
     sports franchises and through the separate Sox and Bulls 
     Charities.
       This season, the Sox gave away 35,000 free tickets, worth 
     about $600,000, to such inner-city social welfare 
     organizations as Boys and Girls Clubs, Mercy Home for Wayward 
     Kids, Hull House and Maryville Academy. The tickets weren't 
     selling anyway, but they went to kids unlikely to be able to 
     buy them and also otherwise unlikely to get to see a big 
     league game.
       Reinsdorf also has donated 3,000 autographed Sox items to 
     charity raffles and auctions. Members of the current ``Kids'' 
     roster have made 60 appearances before community groups.
       Through White Sox Charities, Reinsdorf also has distributed 
     more than $3 million to nonprofit organizations, including $1 
     million to the Chicago Park District to refurbish and 
     maintain 800 baseball diamonds. White Sox Charities also 
     funds the Inner City Little League baseball season. And it 
     has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for cancer 
     research and treatment at Children's Memorial and 
     Northwestern Memorial hospitals.
       Some 3,000 kids were offered baseball instruction this 
     summer at 160 weeklong camps in the Chicago area and 
     neighboring states. At Comiskey Park itself, before the Sox 
     take the field, kids can get free coaching in batting and 
     pitching cages inside Gate 3.
       As Makowski acknowledges, Reinsdorf and the Sox franchise 
     hope the focus on kids will generate a new generation of 
     baseball fans. ``We'd like to give them their first major 
     league experience,'' she said. ``We want them to have fun.'' 
     If they go home ``a Sox fan, so much the better.''
       Even better, they might sometime soon see that indeed ``The 
     Kids Can Play.''

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