August 2005
Step Up to the Plate for United Way
We again are about to Kick-Off Marshall County's community campaign. As in years past, the United Way Kick-Off luncheon has featured outstanding speakers from across Northern Indiana. Jim Wagner, Campaign Chairman for the 2005 United Way Campaign, is pleased to announce that Tommy Lasorda, Senior Vice-President and Special Advisor to the Chairman of the L.A. Dodgers will be this year's United Way luncheon speaker.
Regarded by many as baseball's most popular and best master, Tommy Lasorda begins his 56th season with the Dodger organization and 10th as Vice-President. He was named Vice-President in 1995 after retiring as manager, a position he held for the previous twenty seasons. Lasorda assumed all player personnel responsibilities when he was named the Dodger's Interim General Manager on June 22, 1998. He relinquished his General Manager duties when he was promoted to Senior Vice-President on September 11, 1998. In his current front office capacity, Lasorda spends much of his time scouting, evaluating and teaching minor league players as well as spreading baseball goodwill to thousands as he makes more than 100 speeches and appearances to various charities, private groups, and military personnel each year.
On May 15, 2005 he was named to manage the United States Olympic Baseball Team for the 2000 summer Olympic games In Sydney, Australia. His team, considered underdogs by many, won the gold medal on September 27, just five days after celebrating his 73th birthday. He was the 14th manager and 52nd Dodger inducted into the Hall of Fame. Lasorda's uniform number (2) was retired by the Dodgers on August 15, 1997. Lasorda compiled a 1,599 -1,439 record and won two world championships, four National League Pennants, and eight division titles in an extraordinary twenty-year career as the Dodgers manager. He ranks 13th with 1,599 wins and 12th with 3,038 games managed in major league history. His sixteen wins in thirty National League Championship Series games managed with the most of any manager at the time of his retirement in 1996. His sixty-one post season games managed ranked 3rd all time behind Bobby Cox and Casey Stengle. Lasorda posted a 3-1 record as the National League Manager lager in four All-Star games. Lasorda has won numerous awards throughout his career including being named Minor League Manager of the Year by the Sporting News in 1970, Manager of the Year by UPI and AP in 1977, Manager of the Year by AP in 1981, and National League Manager of the Year by Baseball America, and Co-Manager of the Year by the Sporting News in 1988.
"It is a real honor to have a person such as Tommy Lasorda kicking off our 2005 community-wide campaign," said Jim Wagner. Joining Wagner during the Kick-Off luncheon will be his Vice-Chairman, Gary Treat, the United Way Board of Directors, Wagner's Campaign Cabinet, and invited guests from around Marshall County. The Kick-Off luncheon is scheduled for August 24 at the Swan Lake Resort. wagner stated that the luncheon is a donation by the Swan Lake Resort and there will be no charge. "This is a wonderful tradition started by Tom Langdon and Deb Reed twelve years ago. They have made a gift of the Kick-Off luncheon every year to the United Way organization" said Wagner.
The United Way Kick-Off Luncheon is open to the public and reservations for tables of 8 may be made by contacting the United Way Office at 936-3366. Reservations will not be accepted after August 19.
The United Way of Marshall County along with its 16 Member Agencies provides programs and services during the year for the citizens of Marshall County. Over 60 different programs and services are offered by the Member Agencies. This year's countywide goal is to exceed $500,000, a goal reached for the first time during the 2004 Campaign. For further information, contact the United Way Office at 936-3366 or go to their website www.marshallcountyuw.org. |
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