Grand Slam with Granville: Making Dreams Come True

The 2nd Annual Grand Slam with Granville resulted in thousands of young people reading books this summer. Club members all over Fresno County competed to be a top reader—top 10 readers from every Club got to see the Fresno Grizzles play against the Stockton Ports on August 27th.

120 members took this amazing field trip because of Granville Homes. All 120 members received  VIP passes, t-shirts, backpacks, water bottles, Grizzlies hats, and a Grizzlies jersey. They also had dinner at The Party Deck, had full access to The Splash Zone and private time with Parker, the Mascot.

“A lot of kids participated in the challenge this summer because their friends got to go to the game last year,” said Director of Operations, Richard Saldivar, “They remembered how much fun they had and wanted to see Parker!”

The Fresno Grizzlies won, 10-1, but the real winners were the kids that experienced a baseball game for the first time. One boy caught a foul ball. It was the 3rd inning and the crowd was cheering as the ball came flying through the air. Jorge, a nine-year-old member from the Harris Farms Club raised his catcher’s mitt and to everyone’s surprise, caught the ball. His excitement was so contagious, a home-team player offered to sign his ball. Jorge was ecstatic. He has been a baseball fan for some time, playing in the Huron Summer Little League team.

“When Jorge heard about Grand Slam with Granville, he really set his mind to a reading goal. His goal was 20 books. He read 21 books this summer. I am so proud of him,” said Gustavo Gonzalez, Harris Farms Unit Director.

Jorge has been a member of the Harris Farms Boys & Girls Club since July 2021. According to Gustavo, he has made a real connection with the staff and other members. Program Assistant, Brandon, wanted to do something special for Jorge. After the game, he purchased a glass baseball case for Jorge to display his new signed baseball.

At the Boys & Girls Clubs, we motivate our members to succeed in what they put their minds to—whether it’s meeting your reading goal for the summer, joining a sports team, or learning a new skill. The best part is, we get to come along side young people and enhance experiences like this so that everyone who walks through our blue doors has a chance for a Great Future.