Burbank High baseball coach Bob Hart has always been a believer in teaching athletes the importance of giving back with absolutely no expectation of receiving anything in return.
This year the team has taken his philosophy to a whole new level.
In partnership with the VFW organization, the team and organization recently banded together for Veteran’s Pancake Breakfast at the VFW in Burbank.
The team created a sponsorship program that would pay for a veteran’s meal, and the group sold over 200 sponsorships.
The Bulldogs met veterans from the Korean War and the Vietnam War, who shared their experiences with the athletes. They also provided a meal for Ed Herkelrath, a 97-year-old World War II veteran.
The coaches and players have also partnered with Angel City Sports and volunteered at Courage Weekend — the only sporting event for disabled veterans and first responders on the West Coast. The group is one of the few that provides competitive, adaptive sports opportunities. The Burbank team signed up together to volunteer and are also giving up their lunchtime on campus to recruit fellow classmates to contribute their time.
The Bulldogs and VFW will host a Veterans Night at the Burbank High baseball field on Nov. 9 to commemorate Veterans Day.
Also, next up for the Bulldogs is a volunteer day with Operation Gratitude.
First published in the November 4 print issue of the Burbank Leader.
