West Seattle’s Richard Gold a finalist in ‘All-Stars Among Us’

Just got word from the Seattle Mariners that a West Seattle poet is one of their three finalists in the nationwide “All-Stars Among Us” contest (sponsored by Major League Baseball and People Magazine). From the Mariners’ announcement:

Richard Gold, of West Seattle, founded the Pongo Teen Writing Project to help abused and neglected kids heal through writing poetry about their experiences. Over the past 15-years, Pongo has helped over 5,000 kids in such places as juvenile detention centers, homeless shelters and psychiatric hospitals. Gold says writing, especially poetry, has powerful therapeutic value because the act of expression is a relief that helps young people understand and cope with their emotions surrounding often traumatic losses in their lives.

You can vote for him (or any other finalist) by going here by June 20th. Each MLB team will have one winner, and all 30 will be honored during the pre-game ceremony at the MLB All-Star Game on July 13th (this year it’s in Anaheim). The Mariners’ other two finalists are Puyallup’s Tim Hannah, who founded Jamie’s Heart after losing his two-year-old daughter to a congenital heart defect, and Lake Forest Park’s Alyse Rome, who founded Amazing-Kids.org to inspire and honor excellence in children.

1 Reply to "West Seattle's Richard Gold a finalist in 'All-Stars Among Us'"

  • Carson June 1, 2010 (3:18 pm)

    I actually had the pleasure of not only meeting Richard recently, but actually going to a Mariners game with him. There is not a more deserving person. Like a good native Chicagoan, vote early and vote often!

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