About The Branch Rickey Award

| | | | | |

Created by the Rotary Club of Denver, the Branch Rickey Award is a nationally prestigious and coveted honor that recognizes professionals in Major League Baseball for exceptional community service.

Rotarians believe that community service is everyone’s responsibility. We celebrate the many humanitarians in baseball who, through their countless acts of unselfish involvement, personify Rotary International’s motto,
"Service Above Self."

We are dedicated to enriching the lives of young people through programs that contribute to education and create opportunities for success in life. We believe that kids benefit greatly from exposure to positive role models. All of the Branch Rickey Award nominees are winners in their communities. We hope that these humanitarians will inspire young people to recognize the possibilities within themselves.

Branch Rickey (1881-1965)

Each of the 30 Major League Baseball clubs nominates one person from their team for the annual award. A National Selection Committee, comprised of members of the sports media, past Branch Rickey Award winners and Rotary District Governors in Major League cities vote on the nominees to choose the winner each year. Ballots are tabulated by the independent accounting firm of Saltzman Hamma Nelson Massaro.

The 2008 Branch Rickey Award will be presented during a banquet on November 15 at the Marriott City Center Hotel in downtown Denver.

Proceeds from the banquet and silent auction benefit Denver Kids, Inc., a preventative counseling and mentoring program for at-risk students in Denver Public Schools.

As illustrated by the standards set by the late Branch Rickey, criteria for the award are:

	An outstanding individual currently involved in Major League Baseball -- a player, owner, manager, front office staff, scout, etc.
	A role model for young people as evidenced by baseball accomplishments coupled with high ethical standards.
	An unselfish contributor to the community whose volunteer activities exemplify Rotary International's motto, "Service Above Self."

Created by the internationally-prominent sculptor George Lundeen, the Branch Rickey Award is an original bronze sculpture of a baseball player. The trophy stands 24" tall.

Lundeen, a resident of Loveland, Colorado, studied in Florence, Italy, on a Fulbright-Hayes scholarship. His sculptures can be found in museums and private collections throughout the world.

The Branch Rickey Award is presented annually by the Rotary Club of Denver.
Proceeds from the event benefit Denver Kids, Inc., a preventative counseling
and mentoring program for at-risk students in Denver Public Schools.