Hollywood's Biggest Names Join Mervyn's and Major League Baseball for Second Annual Mervyn's Bases to Benefit RBI Program, Featuring Online Auction July 1-14 on MLB.com

Features/Entertainment & Sports Writers

HAYWARD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 17, 2003--


Top Celebrities and Major Leaguers to Decorate Baseball Bases for Charity Auction

Mervyn's, a Target Corporation company, has aligned with Major League Baseball (MLB) for an exclusive national charity event called Mervyn's Bases to Benefit(SM) RBI. The program combines the biggest names in Hollywood and baseball, autographing and decorating baseball bases, to be auctioned on MLB.com July 1-14. Proceeds from the bases will benefit Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI), a grassroots youth initiative managed by Major League Baseball.
Hollywood luminaries, including Billy Crystal, Cindy Crawford, Kiefer Sutherland, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Marisa Tomei, Ashton Kutcher, and Angela Bassett, as well the casts of the television shows "That `70s Show," "American Dreams," "CSI," "Buffy The Vampire Slayer," and "The King of Queens," are among the many celebrities participating in the program. A complete list of all participants is below.
Twenty-nine MLB teams will also participate in the initiative this year -- including the World Champion Anaheim Angels -- as well as such marquee stars as Frank Thomas (Chicago White Sox), Shawn Green (Los Angeles Dodgers), Tom Glavine (New York Mets), Juan Gonzalez (Texas Rangers), and more.
In addition, this year, Mervyn's and Major League Baseball have announced celebrities Carlos Bernard ("24") and Ali Landry ("Full Frontal Fashion") and baseball Hall of Famers Joe Morgan and Tony Perez as the official spokespersons for Mervyn's Bases to Benefit(SM) RBI. Each will decorate and sign their own base. Landry will appear in a videotaped promotional piece, to be shown at all 29 ballparks, and Bernard will participate in the official launch of the campaign June 17 by throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at Dodger Stadium, prior to the Dodgers-Giants game that evening. Morgan and Perez also have taped radio spots promoting the charity, to be broadcast nationwide in English and Spanish.
"The Mervyn's Bases to Benefit(SM) RBI program is a fun and creative way to help a very worthy cause," said Landry, a former Miss USA who now serves as host of the WE: Women's Entertainment series "Full Frontal Fashion." "I'm thrilled at the overwhelming response from those in the entertainment community who, through this program, support the dreams of young boys and girls who love our American pastime."
"Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) does fantastic work with kids who are often at a disadvantage in life," added Bernard, who currently stars in the FOX drama series "24." "I am proud to be associated with the Mervyn's Bases to Benefit(SM) RBI program, which creates opportunities, helps kids stay off the streets and learn about sportsmanship and teamwork."
From July 1-14, fans will be able to log on to MLB.com to bid on all the bases. All proceeds from the MLB.com auction will be donated to RBI, a grassroots outreach program designed to promote youth interest in baseball, increase the self-esteem of disadvantaged children, and encourage kids to stay in school. The program, which began in 1989, has helped more than 120,000 boys and girls each year in 185 cities across America.
"We are pleased to be working with Major League Baseball to take Mervyn's Bases to Benefit(SM) RBI to a national level," said Lee Walker de Sarvide, vice president of marketing for Mervyn's. "The commitment by Major League Baseball to this program further exemplifies the importance of RBI to the league, and we hope that our combined efforts help raise even greater awareness and resources for this worthy organization."
"Major League Baseball has administered and funded the RBI program since 1991, and we are excited to have Mervyn's join in the effort to give disadvantaged youth the opportunity to play ball and to enjoy our national pastime," said Thomas C. Brasuell, Major League Baseball Vice President of Community Affairs.
For more information on the Mervyn's Bases to Benefit(SM) RBI program or how to bid on the bases, please visit www.mlb.com or call 1-800-MERVYNS for more information.

About RBI

Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) was created in 1989, as Los Angeles-area Major League scouts, led by John Young, sought to increase the number of young players, give more local athletes an opportunity to play baseball, and establish a program that would develop talent. The Dodgers joined scouts, representatives from junior high schools, high schools, and colleges, along with the Amateur Athletic Foundation and the City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department in developing a program that has grown from a local project into a 186-city national entity. In fact, in 1991, RBI was adopted and funded by Major League Baseball and currently attracts over 120,000 children worldwide.

About Mervyn's

Mervyn's, headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, is a family-friendly neighborhood department store with 265 locations in 14 states. Known for its big brands at small prices, Mervyn's has a well-earned reputation for its extensive selection of national- and owned-brand fashions and housewares. With hundreds of top national brands such as adidas(R), Cuisinart(R), Dockers(R), Fieldcrest(R), Gloria Vanderbilt, Haggar(R), KitchenAid(TM), Lee(R), Levi's(R), Nike(R), Nine & Company, Samsonite(R), Sideout(R), and Unionbay(R), Mervyn's offers trend-right fashions for the entire family and the home. With a focus on improving the lives of children and families, Mervyn's, together with parent company Target Corporation, annually contributes more than $2 million a week to communities where the company operates.
The complete list of celebrities and baseball players signing bases (subject to updates) to be auctioned July 1-14 is as follows:

The Cast of "Buffy The Vampire Slayer"
Sarah Michelle Gellar
Nicholas Brendan
Alyson Hannigan
Anthony Stewart Head
James Marsters
Emma Caulfield
Michelle Trachtenberg
Tom Lenk
Joss Whedon ("Buffy" creator)
Marti Noxon ("Buffy" exec. producer)