Fans Can Vote for the National Award Recipient on MLB.com/ClementeAward and Register for a Chance to Win a Trip to the 2012 World Series
Major League Baseball and Chevrolet announced that pitcher Luke Gregerson was named the Padres’ 2012 nominee for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet. This marks the eleventh annual Roberto Clemente Day, which was established by Major League Baseball to honor Clemente’s legacy and to officially recognize local Club nominees of the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet. Gregerson is one of the 30 Club finalists for the annual award, which recognizes a Major League Baseball player who best represents the game of baseball through positive contributions on and off the field, including sportsmanship and community involvement.
The Roberto Clemente A-ward presented by Chevrolet pays tribute to Clemente’s achievements and character by recognizing current players who truly understand the value of helping others. The Award is named for the 15-time MLB All-Star and Hall of Famer who died in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve 1972 while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.
Gregerson’s community efforts are inspired, in large part, by his upbringing, which included a close relationship with his foster cousin, Antwan Turpeau. Today, Turpeau, who has a Master’s degree in Social Work from Loyola University of Chicago, is co-founder and executive director of SYESA (see-saw), or Struggling Youth Equals Successful Adults. SYESA is a charitable organization with a mission to coach struggling youth to overcome obstacles in the lives by pairing them with successful adults.
For the past two seasons, Gregerson has hosted charity events in San Diego to benefit SYESA and Just in Time for Foster Youth (JIT), an organization with the mission to provide transitioning foster youth with opportunities for self-sufficiency through emergency support, essential resources, and caring personal guidance at critical junctures on their path to independence.
In addition to his efforts on behalf of SYESA and Just in Time for Foster Youth, Greger-son is a fixture in the San Diego community, regularly volunteering his time for club-organized events. Since 2009, he has participated in Rady Children’s Hospital’s Annual Celebration of Champions run to celebrate the courage and determination of “champions” – children and young adults who are fighting cancer. Gregerson also visits with kids from the Make-A-Wish Foundation once a month during their VIP Night at Petco Park.
For the past three seasons, Gregerson has served as a celebrity waiter at the STAR/PAL “Celebrity Waiters Luncheon.” STAR/PAL offers free youth programs and positive interaction with committed volunteers that include law enforcement officers, firefighters and community business leaders. STAR stands for Sports, Training, Academics and Recreation and PAL stands for Police Athletic League.
Gregerson is a team leader promoting the MLBPA Players Trust efforts, participating each year in MLBPA Players Trust Buses for Baseball program. In 2012, Gregerson hosted the MLBPA Players Trust City Clinic, and in 2010, he hosted high school action team leaders and participated in a pregame ceremony with the MLBPA Players Trust Action Team.
“It’s an honor to be nominated for the Roberto Cle-mente Award,” said Gregerson. “As athletes, we are put in a unique position to help in ways that others can’t. I am lucky to have been given the opportunity to contribute off the field.”
Fans are encouraged to participate in the process of selecting the national award recipient by visiting MLB.com/ClementeAward to vote for one of the 30 Club nominees.