7th Annual Bring Me Home Campaign
Upcoming Events:
Grand Slam Party, Sunday, August 25, 2013—location TBD
Foster Family Day at the Park, Sunday, July 21, 2013, U.S. Cellular Field
June 26, 2011
2011 Grand Slam Party: What a Swell Party It Was
Chicago White Sox stars Paul Konerko and Gordon Beckham, joined by their teammates Phil Humber, Brent Lillibridge, Brent Morel, Juan Pierre, Alex Rios, Chris Sale, Sergio Santos and Mark Teahen, made Children’s Home + Aid’s 2011 Grand Slam Party a lively, joyful and very successful event. More than 100 people attended the party which raised more than $20,000, spurred on by the auctioneering skills of Children’s Home + Aid President Nancy Ronquillo.
Special thanks to the whole White Sox organization and White Sox staff Christine O’Reilly, senior director of community relations, Laina Myers, senior coordinator of community relations and Marty Maloney, senior coordinator of public relations. The commitment of White Sox players and staff to the Bring Me Home Campaign has made it a success every year since it began in 2007. Special thanks also to the generosity of RJ and Jerrod Melman of the Paris Club, who hosted the party on the beautiful rooftop Paris Studio.
See the 2011 Grand Slam Party Photo Album
August 1, 2010
Stars Come Out for Grand Slam Party at HUB51
Thanks to Paul Konerko, Gordon Beckham and fellow Chicago White Sox attendees Guillen, Danks, Jackson, Threets, Lillibridge, Jones, Pierre, and Kotsay for coming out to raise money for Children's Home + Aid! Many thanks to Hub 51, who hosted a fantastic event. Guests included John Cusack, and hockey stars Chris Chellios and Reid Simpson!
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| Jennifer and Paul Konerko |
White Sox players Mark Kotsay and Andruw Jones with Jennifer Konerko |
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| White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen with guests |
Gordon Beckham with guest |
January 20, 2010
Bring Me Home 2010 Grand Slam Party
On January 20, Big League Sluggers Paul Konerko, Gordon Beckham, Jim Thome, the Chicago White Sox and Children’s Home + Aid welcomed well over 100 guests to the Bring Me Home Grand Slam Party at the United Scout Lounge at U.S. Cellular Field.
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| (from l to r) Big League Sluggers Gordon Beckham, Paul Konerko and Jim Thome with a foster mom at the Grand Slam Party |
September 22, 2009
White Sox Slugger Paul Konerko Honored by Senator Richard Durbin
Paul Konerko and wife Jennifer, along with Los Angeles Dodger Jim Thome and wife Andrea selected for Angels in Adoption™ Award for their work on behalf of foster children and families.
>read press release
June 17, 2009
White Sox Sluggers Jim Thome and Paul Konerko Release Op-Ed Opposing State Budget Cuts
In an effort to close the state’s challenging $9.2 billion budget gap, the General Assembly has recently passed a “Doomsday Budget” that proposes devastating cuts to the state’s infrastructure of services for children and families.
> read Op-Ed > read press release > read Sun-Times article > read Op-Ed in Peoria Journal Star
> read Sun-Times article > read Tribune article
April 27, 2009
Jim Thome and Paul Konerko Go to Bat for Foster Kids
Sluggers Kick Off Third Year of Partnership with Children’s Home + Aid
Chicago White Sox designated hitter Jim Thome and first baseman Paul Konerko, along with their wives Andrea Thome and Jennifer Konerko, are continuing their efforts to raise awareness and support for the needs of foster children and families in Illinois for a third straight season through the 2009 Bring Me Home Campaign. The two families are launching the campaign in partnership with Children’s Home + Aid, a leading child and family service agency in Illinois.
Read press release
March 16, 2009
Chicago White Sox slugger Jim Thome, and his wife, Andrea, along with Paul Konerko, and his wife Jennifer, host a Chicago-area foster family to a weekend at Sox spring training in Glendale, Ariz. The family’s trip is the latest in a number of initiatives the two players and their wives have participated in over the past three years – as part of their ongoing partnership with Children’s Home + Aid – to help raise awareness of foster care in Illinois.
> Read press release > See Sun-Times article > See Sun-Times column
> See whitesox.com article > See video
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| Children's Home + Aid's Director of Family Centered Services, Melissa Ludington (left) and the Brown family arrive at airport in Arizona. |
(From left) Jim Thome, Lydia Brown, Kendall Brown, Keyonna Brown, Frank Brown, and Paul Konerko. |
Lydia Brown interviewed for television. |
December 22, 2008
Chicago White Sox players Jim Thome and Paul Konerko stepped up to the plate last fall by joining Children’s Home + Aid in reaching out to the public to ask for holiday gift donations for needy children. Hundreds have responded to their plea including the Chicago White Sox front office staff, who filled 50 children’s wish lists and the Meijer company, which donated and delivered five pallets of children’s toys to Children’s Home + Aid.
> Read press release
November 17, 2008
Jim Thome and Paul Konerko Kick-off 2008 Holiday Gift Drive for Foster Kids
Chicago White Sox players Jim Thome and Paul Konerko are joining Children's Home + Aid in reaching out to the public to ask for holiday gift donations for children living in foster care.
> Read press release > Holiday Gift Drive
November 7, 2008
Foster Children Go Shopping with Jim and Andrea Thome
Chicago White Sox slugger Jim Thome and his wife, Andrea, went winter coat shopping at Target with more than 35 elementary school-age foster children as part of the Thome family’s ongoing partnership with Children’s Home + Aid of Illinois.
> Read press release
October 10, 2008
CHILD WELFARE LEGISLATION MAKES CRITICAL
IMPROVEMENTS TO NATION’S FOSTER CARE SYSTEM
Chicago White Sox Players Advocate for Foster Care Legislation
The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act (H.R. 6893) was signed into law on October 7, 2008 by President Bush. The legislation forges significant improvements in the nation’s child welfare system, making it possible for more children to leave foster care for permanent, loving homes. This groundbreaking legislation marks the most sweeping Congressional reform of the U.S. foster care system in more than a decade.
For the last two years, Chicago White Sox players Jim Thome and Paul Konerko, along with their wives, Andrea Thome and Jennifer Konerko, have partnered with Children’s Home + Aid through the “Bring Me Home Campaign” to raise awareness and support for the needs of foster children, youth and families in Illinois. Together, the Thome’s and Konerko’s worked to advocate on behalf of this national foster care legislation.
> Read press release
August 31, 2008
Chicago White Sox sluggers and Children's Home + Aid Bring Me Home Campaign partners, Jim Thome and Paul Konerko, urge Congressional passage of Senate Bill 3038, the Adoption Incentives Progam.
> Read Op-Ed by Jim Thome and Paul Konerko
August 15, 2008
White Sox Wives Go Back-to-School Shopping with Foster Children
Andrea Thome and Jennifer Konerko went back-to-school shopping with 36 elementary school-age children and five college bound foster teens, as part of their ongoing partnership with Children's Home + Aid.
> Read press release
April 22, 2008
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| (From left) Nancy Ronquillo, Paul Konerko, Jim and Andrea Thome |
Children’s Home + Aid Honors the Thomes and Konerkos at the Champions for Children Luncheon
Each year, at the annual Champions for Children Luncheon, Children’s Home + Aid presents the For the Love of Children award to an individual who has excelled in improving the lives of children and families in need. This year, four very deserving individuals received this award for their work in raising support and awareness for the needs of foster children and families in Illinois through the Bring Me Home Campaign. Jim and Andrea Thome and Paul and Jennifer Konerko were honored with the For the Love of Children award at the Champions for Children Luncheon on April 22, 2008.
The Thomes and Konerkos Host Foster and Adoptive Family at White Sox Spring Training
As part of their ongoing partnership with Children’s Home + Aid, Chicago White Sox designated hitter Jim Thome and first baseman Paul Konerko, along with their wives, Andrea Thome and Jennifer Konerko, hosted Vanessa Jackson and her family for four days at White Sox Spring Training in Tucson, Ariz. Her young son, Sammy, had been a foster child in her home before Ms. Jackson adopted him in October, 2007. United Airlines generously donated the flights to the family, which was the first time on an airplane for the three children. During their stay, they were given a tour of Tucson’s Electric Park, where they had box seats for the ball games and spent time with Jim Thome and Paul Konerko. They also got a chance to meet other White Sox players, were taken shopping by Andrea Thome, and toured the Desert Museum.
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| Children's Home + Aid's Director of Family Centered Services, Melissa Ludington (second from left) and the Jackson family arrive in Tucson. |
Paul Konerko signs an autograph for Sammy Jackson. |
Vanessa Jackson interviewed by the media. |
January 27, 2008
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| (From left) Jim and Andrea Thome, Paul and Jennifer Konerko, Chairman Gary Ahlquist, President Nancy Ronquillo, Trustee Tom Murphy, and White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf |
Campaign Supporters Celebrate at Grand Slam Party
At the end of January 2008, the Chicago White Sox and the Thome and Konerko families hosted the Bring Me Home Campaign Grand Slam party at U.S. Cellular Field’s Scout Lounge. This party was to thank supporters of the 2007 Bring Me Home Campaign. Attended by over sixty-five people, the party served as a fitting end to the highly successful 2007 Bring Me Home Campaign and a spirited beginning to the 2008 campaign. Jim and Andrea Thome and Paul and Jennifer Konerko greeted and mingled with their guests throughout the evening.
December 10, 2007
Bring Me Home Campaign Update
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In recognition of Jim Thome’s Roberto Clemente Award nomination, Chevrolet donated $7,500 to Children’s Home
+ Aid and presented the check to Children’s Home + Aid President and CEO Nancy Ronquillo. Also on the field was
a Children’s Home + Aid foster family. |
The Chicago White Sox baseball season ended on a high note with the excitement and celebration surrounding Jim Thome’s 500th home run. Another high note was the Bring Me Home Campaign that players Jim Thome and Paul Konerko and Children’s Home + Aid kicked off last May to raise awareness and support for the needs of foster children and families in Illinois. By the end of 2007, the Campaign raised over $82,000.
Read update
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