Helping others is what drives me......

Barry doesn't take anything for granted. While his on field accomplishments are a reflection of his hard work and dedication, he is equally committed to helping others  -- and it's the desire to make a difference -- that drives him.  From creating Strikeouts For Troops to his efforts on behalf of organ donation, cancer research, juvenile diabetes, world literacy, fight against autism, Special Olympics, the performing arts, animal rescue and the rebuilding of little league fields - you will find Barry Zito at the center of it all.

A WORD FROM BARRY ABOUT STRIKEOUTS FOR TROOPS™…

In a world where professional athletes and celebrities are often portrayed as heroes, it's easy to lose sight of who the real heroes are.  The real heroes are the men and women in uniform stationed here at home and around the world who are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice on a daily basis for us.

My family and I wanted to come up with a way to do something positive to honor our American troops especially during  such an important time.  We thought a partnership with baseball and support for our soldiers was a good idea.  So with the help of a number of fellow major leaguers, Strikeouts For Troops was introduced in April 2005.

Barry visits with members of the armed forces who attended the Strikeouts For Troops Giants Jam fundraiser event.

Strikeouts For Troops is non partisan and dedicated to raising funds for our war wounded veterans that are being treated at military hospitals across the country like Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Bethesda Naval, Brooke Army, San Diego Naval, among many others.

Financial grants have been made to troops who have been wounded in active duty to help provide some "comforts of home" that will help them in their long rehabilitations. They may also be used to help family members travel and visit their wounded service member in the hospital - after all, we all know the best medicine is the care and attention from those you love.

In addition, Strikeouts For Troops has provided meals on Christmas and Thanksgiving for military personnel recovering from injuries and invited their families and the medical staff to join in. We've hosted morale-building activities across the country, and also purchased gift and phone cards and holiday gifts for military children.

Our roster of participating players is home to some of the biggest names in baseball. Guys like, Alex Rodriguez, Jake Peavy, Manny Ramirez, Nick Swisher, CC Sabathia, Dan Haren,  Albert Pujols, Tim Hudson, Russ Springer, Dontrelle Willis, Chipper Jones and Jermaine Dye to name just a few.

These players have pledged contributions based on their statistical accomplishments on the field. So for every strikeout they throw, homerun they smash or RBI and hit collected respectively, they will make a contribution to Strikeouts For Troops and the effort to help our American Soldier.

Through this program, my Strikeouts For Troops teammates and I have been able to meet an amazing group of people. These soldiers have some of the most inspirational spirits and attitudes you could ever hope to come across. It feels only right to give back to those who have given so much.

I wanted to personally thank everyone for their support on this program and if you'd like to make a donation or find out more about the program, visit us at Strikeouts For Troops.

Thank you.

To learn more about Strikeouts For Troops
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