Programs and Events

Baseball Diplomacy Helps Rescue At-Risk Youth

October 2, 2006

A donation of baseball equipment (valued at $33,000) by Ambassador William Eaton on October 2 capped off a week-and-a-half of Embassy programming to provide the youth of Panama with a better future through sports. In conjunction with the Omar Moreno Foundation, a Panamanian youth charity, the American Embassy - Panama sponsored American Speaker and former Major League Baseball (MLB) player Elias Sosa September 25-29 to train little league coaches in making baseball more accessible and attractive to youth at risk of joining gangs and taking drugs. Panama’s most popular sports television program featured a segment on the clinics on September 30. Panamanian press and electronic media gave more coverage to the event at which the Ambassador presented the equipment. During the ceremony, one of the young players spoke on behalf of the recipients, saying in English: “Thank you for making our dreams come true. God bless the United States.”

The Omar Moreno Foundation, a regular Embassy partner, is a non-profit organization led by the former Panamanian MLB player who played for the 1979 World Series-winning Pirates.