Chicago Cubs: Maddon’s philanthropy honored in hometown

Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon was honored over the weekend in his hometown of Hazelton, Pennsylvania following his team’s championship run.

The (Hazelton) Standard-Speaker reports that the celebration came during Joe Maddon’s annual visit to fundraise for his brainchild, The Hazleton Integration Project’s Hazleton One Community Center.

Giving back to the community

This project’s main focus is to sustain a community center for economically disadvantaged youths and adults in Hazelton. At little to no cost to participants, the center hosts many educational, athletic, and cultural activities for the community.

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Maddon was honored by government officials and children who benefit from the center. U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, R-11, Hazleton, and state Sen. John Yudichak, D-14, Plymouth Township, attended as did state Rep. Tarah Toohil, R-116, Butler Township, Hazleton Mayor Jeff Cusat, Council President Jack Mundie, and former Mayor Joseph Yannuzzi.

They offered Maddon well-wishes and proclamations citing his work at the center, which promotes inclusion across all cultures, his career, and major life milestones.

Speakers offered Maddon proclamations celebrating his life and work on and off the field. Most notably, Maddon’s philanthropic efforts have helped unite cultures of greater Hazelton.

Celebrating with the kids

Among the salutations and well-wishes was a heartfelt moment between Papa Joe and the students attending the center on East Fourth Street.

According to the reporter, Amanda Christman, the kids were barely tall enough to speak into the microphone. Yet, their voices sounded a resounding thank you to Maddon for all the work he’s done in Hazelton.

“Another youngster also thanked Maddon for giving her a safe place to come to, one where she made new friends. Maddon embraced both of them after they finished speaking from the stage’s top podium,” Christman wrote.

Not long after, Papa Joe sat on the edge of the stage and answered questions from the kids.

One kid asked Joe if he named the team the Cubs. He chuckled and told the youngster that he would have named the team the Mountaineers, the mascot of Hazelton High School during Maddon’s days.

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Another one asked Maddon if he gets mad when players make errors.

“Never,” the Cubs skipper replied. “Physical errors happen. Mental errors can be stopped by the player thinking in advance of a given situation. Mental errors deserve a conversation with the player.”

The ceremony is just one of a page-long list of activities Maddon has taken in since the World Series. Last Thursday, he participated in the groundbreaking of a baseball themed playground and raised money for the center on Friday with a sold-out dinner party at Valley Country Club.