Page 37 - August 2017

A big hit from Schwarber
Cubs’ star honors neighborhood heroes by donating LEMAR kits to 019
n BY DAN CAMPANA
During the 2015 National
League playoffs, Kyle Schwarber launched a massive home run to right field that felt like it could have reached the 19th District headquarters a few blocks east of Wrigley Field.
The ball didn’t fly quite that far,
but Schwarber recently paid a
visit to 019 to donate LEMAR kits
to Chicago police officers as part
of his Neighborhood Heroes charity that benefits police, fire and members of the military.
“It was really cool to be able to hand those out,” Schwar- ber related. “They were really, really appreciative of the LEMAR packs. That was something we wanted to key on for right now. For first responders like them, to have those packs can be life-saving,”
Schwarber felt right at home hanging out with law en- forcement because his father spent three decades as a po- lice officer, including time as a chief. Schwarber’s sister is now on the job, and he has an uncle who is a retired officer.
“It kind of brought me back to when I would go with my dad to the police department,” Schwarber said of the visit.
“He’d pick me up from school, so I’d go back to the police depart- ment and hang out with them until work was done. I grew up around that lifestyle.”
That level of appreciation is the basis for Schwarber’s Block Party, a charity event scheduled for Sept. 10 at Revel Fulton Market, which pays tribute to first responders and those in the military. For $200, attendees will enjoy live music,
traditional barbecue food, backyard games and more. “I’m really excited about the event. It will be really cool to have the community mix with the first responder com-
munity and have some fun,” Schwarber said.
Having grown up in a public service family – his moth- er was a dispatcher before becoming a nurse, and his sis- ter was in the National Guard before joining the force –
Schwarber knows the value of having a night out.
“I know the lifestyle, it’s a grind and a team effort on their side,” the Cubs slugger said. “Kind of like it is for us – it’s that team effort where we’re out on the field playing for each other; they’re out there working for each other and
having everyone’s backs.” d
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