Angel Stadium Becomes a “Field of Dreams” for Youth with Disabilities
 
Angels Baseball Foundation, Little League and Bank of America Team Up for
Third Annual Orange County Little League Challenger Classic
 
 
Anaheim, CA ― More than three hundred children with physical and mental disabilities from numerous Challenger Division Little League teams across Orange County experienced the thrill of playing baseball at Angel Stadium on Saturday, during the third annual “Bank of America Orange County Little League Challenger Classic.” The Challenger Classic, created through a partnership between the Angels Baseball Foundation and Bank of America, provided the young players with the joy of playing America ’s pastime alongside their baseball heroes and coaches.
 
“The Angels Baseball Foundation is pleased to partner with Bank of America and Challenger Little Leagues on the annual Orange County Little League Challenger Classic," said Dennis Kuhl, president of Angels Baseball. "It is a tremendous honor for the Angels organization to open up Angel Stadium for this event. It is a privilege to give these participants the opportunity to experience the joy of playing baseball on a major league field and to have such a positive impact on so many young lives."
 
Retired baseball legend Jim Abbott, Angels pitcher Justin Speier, former Angel Matt Luke, Angels coaches Mickey Hatcher and Steve Soliz and announcer Rex Huddler served as mentors for the Challenger players.
 
“Bank of America is proud to partner with Angel’s Baseball Foundation to host the Little League Challenger Classic.  We believe all children should have the opportunity to enjoy the great game of baseball.  We also recognize the wonderful support provided by the families, friends and volunteers of these young athletes.”
 
"Little League Baseball started the Challenger Division in 1989, to give kids with special needs an opportunity to participate the great sport of baseball through local leagues. What you saw out there today was Challenger baseball at its finest. Lots of joy, lots of effort, and no talk of statistics. It’s what youth sports is all about, said Darrell Burnett, Assistant District Administrator, Challenger Little League. "Bank of America and Angels Baseball should be very, very proud. They gave some very special kids a very special experience, and a special memory that they will no doubt keep revisiting for a long, long, time. "  
In addition to learning the skills of baseball and the benefits of teamwork and sportsmanship, the Challenger Classic provides therapeutic and socialization benefits.
 
The Challenger Division was established in 1989 as a separate division of Little League Baseball to enable boys and girls with physical and mental disabilities, ages 5-18 or the completion of high school, to enjoy the game of baseball along with the millions of other children who participate in this sport worldwide. Teams are set up according to abilities, rather than age.
 
An important part of the Junior Division Challenger program is the "Buddy" system, whereby Little League players (usually ages 11 and 12), in uniform, are paired one-on-one with the Challenger players throughout the game, cheering them on, encouraging them, helping out where needed, and, in general, helping the players have a good time. The “Buddy” system also involves Junior High and High School volunteers who play an essential role as “buddies” during weekly practice sessions.
 
Bank of America is recognized as a leading financial partner, advisor and sponsor across the American sports landscape. As a world-class financial institution with a dedicated Sports Finance and Advisory team, we help owners, leagues and franchises address their full range of needs – from building stadiums to redesigning their capital structure. As a sports marketing leader, Bank of America proudly serves as the Official Bank of Major League Baseball, the Official Bank of NASCAR, the Official Bank of the NFL, and the Official Bank Sponsor of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team, while supporting an expansive nationwide sponsorship portfolio that includes the Bank of America 500, Bank of America Championship, Bank of America Chicago Marathon and a variety of arts and cultural programming.
 
Baseball, in particular, has been a part of the Bank of America culture for the better part of the past 130 years, when the company first sponsored employee baseball teams. Today, we are proud to support the four leading organizations that represent America’s national pastime—Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball™, Little League Baseball and Softball and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Bank of America’s deep-rooted support for baseball includes sponsorships with several Major League Baseball Clubs, including the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
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Bank of America
Bank of America is one of the world's largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk-management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States , serving more than 59 million consumer and small business relationships with more than 6,100 retail banking offices, more than 18,000 ATMs and award-winning online banking with more than 25 million active users. Bank of America offers industry leading support to more than 4 million small business owners through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients in more than 150 countries and has relationships with 99 percent of the U.S. Fortune 500 companies and 83 percent of the Fortune Global 500. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.