Salvation Army Treats Hundreds Of Kids To Day With The Phillies
By Hadas Kuznits
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Several hundred Salvation Army summer campers spent Wednesday at Citizen's Bank Park for the Day With The Philadelphia Phillies Christmas In July event.
"This is an important event," says Major Phillip Ferreira, director of operations for the Salvation Army of Philadelphia, "because it gives the opportunity to get the children out of their neighborhoods, out of some of the situations, to come to a bright and happy place, to come to a major league baseball game."
"We've got about 600 kids here, we've got some of our major donors here," he says. "We had a group from the Salvation Army Kroc Center play the National Anthem in conjunction with the orchestra. It's just a great time for all involved."
Salvation Army summer camp counselor Devon Ray says the children were bussed to the stadium from their respective summer camps to participate in this special day.
"We take all the Salvation Armies and we bring them to the Phillies game," he says. "The tickets get donated to us and this is basically one of our favorite trips because the children love it, they love everything about it."
Many of the kids say coming to the ballpark is a big thrill, but seeing the game isn't necessarily the highlight for them.
"I get to buy food and sit with my friends," says 10-year-old Anaya, who was attending her first Phillies game. "We get to see people on the jumbo screens!"
And the young campers were treated to a Phillies win in extra innings.
