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Read About us in the Media
New York Times , Puerto Rico Herald , Post Gazette
La Prensa
( Largo homenaje
,Hijo de Roberto Clemente cumple sueño de su padre
Clemente hijo completará la última misión de su padre
, Ayuda será una realidad
)
UPDATE
We delivered the aid
to Nicaragua December 31, 2005.
Promesa cumplida 12/31/2005 Promise fulfilled
Donate! Project Club Clemente, Inc. is a non-profit corporation that was created on September 30, 2000, to celebrate the memory of the great humanitarian and baseball legend, Mr. Roberto Clemente Walker. Mr. Clemente, died in a plane crash on December 31, 1972. He was on his way to take relief supplies to the earthquake victims of Nicaragua. They never found his body. He was only 38 years old. Baseball lost a star, Puerto Rico lost a native son, America lost a great humanitarian and the world lost a hero.
The Flight for Humanity
This year, we want to teach our youth the value of making and keeping commitments. What better way to get our message across than by completing Mr. Clemente's last humanitarian effort? Mr. Clemente made a commitment on December 31, 1972, that he would personally deliver the last 16,000 pounds of aid to the earthquake victims of Nicaragua. The plane crashed shortly after taking off and the mission was never completed. If it is God's will, on December 31, 2005, a flight will leave Puerto Rico and deliver the promised 16,000 pounds of aid to Nicaragua. The ultimate tribute will be paid to Mr. Clemente by his son, Roberto Clemente, Jr., who will be the first person off the plane to complete what his father started. This is a tribute long overdue and I am thankful for playing a role in what we are calling "The Flight for Humanity."According to Eliezer Rodriguez, Esq., the Project's CEO/Founder, "We believe Mr. Clemente's spirit is not at peace because his promise has not been fulfilled, even after 32 years, … by doing "The Flight" we will be teaching our youth the real value of the word commitment" Mr. Rodriguez goes on to say "we want our youth to learn about Mr. Clemente and his values: faith, friendship, love, loyalty, community and commitment."
Roberto Clemente, Jr., will be the first person off the plane to complete what his father promised Nicaragua. Mr. Clemente, Jr., said "I have dreaded the month of December ever since my father died…this year, I look forward to it." At last year's Annual Dinner, the Ambassador of Nicaragua, Salvador E. Stadthagen said, "A true hero is never forgotten and Mr. Roberto Clemente is a true hero. We will await your delivery and accept your aid in the memory of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Number 21, Mr. Roberto Clemente Walker, one of the truest friends Nicaragua has ever had."
The Mission
The Project's mission is to educate, promote and celebrate the legacy of Mr. Roberto Clemente Walker and to bring recognition to the Clemente Family for keeping his memory alive.
The Project is currently raising funds for scholarships, organizing a poem interpretation contest of “A Clemente” for high school students, “You're a Hit” lecture series for middle school students, and a 76-mile 3,000 feet run (Mr. Clemente's 3,000 hits in miles and feet.) In addition, the Project will help develop a screenplay to promote the legacy of Mr. Clemente, entitled “The Light in the Shadow.”
“A Clemente” is a poem written by Eliezer Rodriguez, the Project's founder. The poem is limited to 3,000 copies--one for each of Mr. Clemente's hits, and will be available in English and Spanish. Each copy will include the hit information to match the numbered copy of the poem. The poem is beautifully matted and framed, and Mr. Clemente's image is in 3D.
To commemorate Mr. Clemente's 30th anniversary in the year 2002, the “A Clemente Memoriam” was awarded for performing a good deed consistent with the spirit of humanitarian action exemplified by the late Mr. Roberto Clemente Walker. The recipients of the “A Clemente Memoriam” became members of the Projects' Clemente 3,000 Hits Club. In baseball there is a group of elite ball players who are members of the “3,000 Hit Club.” On September 30, 1972, Mr. Clemente came to bat against the New York Mets and got his 3,000th hit at his last regular season at-bat, to become the eleventh member of the Club. He never came to bat again. The 3,000 Hit Club now has 24 members and Mr. Clemente is number 24 on the list. Every time the club welcomes a new member, Mr. Clemente will move down another notch. Why? Because Mr. Clemente is the threshold of the club; he is the welcoming committee. Mr. Clemente is the only member of the 3,000 Hit Club with exactly 3,000 hits. Mr. Roberto Clemente Walker is the “Gatekeeper” of the 3,000 Hit Club and that job will always be his title quite fitting for a man whose life and legacy has opened many doors. Our goal will be accomplished when Major League Baseball, ballplayers, sportswriters and sports fans acknowledge “The Gatekeeper's“ official title and renames the 3,000 Hit Club “The Clemente 3,000 Hit Club.”
ProjectClubClemente, Inc * 1601 Bronxdale Avenue, Suite 2-1 * Bronx, NY 10462