Granderson to Join First Lady Michelle Obama in Washington D.C.
as MLB Expands “Wanna Play?” Initiative

Yankees Outfielder Curtis Granderson today joined Major League Baseball in supporting the new White House Anti-Obesity Campaign, which was introduced today in Washington by First Lady Michelle Obama. The nationwide campaign, which will address the serious epidemic of childhood obesity, for the first time ever will set a national goal of solving the obesity challenge within a generation, so that America’s youngest children reach adulthood at a healthy weight, it was announced today at The White House. This campaign will be designed to unite and inspire families to take real and sustained actions to eat better, be more active, and make a commitment to embracing healthier lifestyles.

Building on its commitment to the cause, Major League Baseball also announced today an expansion of its “Wanna Play?” initiative, a program dedicated to youth fitness. The MLB “Wanna Play?” program debuted last year with events in Cincinnati, Houston, and Philadelphia. In 2010, the program will be administered by Boys & Girls Club of America, the Official Charity of Major League Baseball, with the goal of reaching 175,000 members. “Wanna Play?” encourages boys and girls ages 6 to 12 to increase their physical fitness by focusing on agility, coordination and balance while infusing baseball and softball elements throughout the program. “Wanna Play?” features a variety of fun and engaging activities and games to help young people improve their fitness, increase awareness of good nutrition and hydration, and learn basic baseball and softball skills.

"Major League Baseball takes its responsibility to be a positive influence in the lives of young people very seriously,” said Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. “We are proud to expand the ‘Wanna Play?’ program’s emphasis on physical fitness and good nutrition as part of MLB’s support of the First Lady's new initiative. I can think of no better MLB representative to stand alongside the First Lady today than Curtis Granderson, a role model and ambassador for baseball who has demonstrated a passion and dedication for all issues relating to enriching young people’s lives.”

“As a member of the Major League Baseball family, I hope that we can educate young people on a variety of topics to help them in their development and communicating the importance of physical fitness and living a healthy lifestyle is critical,” said Granderson. "I'm proud and honored to be invited by the First Lady to take part in this special event, and I pledge to do my part to continue stressing the importance of staying active to today's youth."

Granderson, an All-Star centerfielder who joined the New York Yankees this off-season, for his strong community work was the Detroit Tigers Roberto Clemente Award nominee and was voted by his peers as the 2009 Marvin Miller Man of the Year. He established the not-for-profit Grand Kids Foundation in 2008, focusing on improving opportunities for inner city youth in the areas of education and youth baseball. As a Major League Baseball Ambassador, he has visited Europe, South Africa and China to promote the game of baseball to thousands of fans overseas.