Third Baseman Ryan Zimmerman had a feeling he would be expanding his family’s ziMS Foundation from Virginia Beach to DC when re-signing his contract with the Washington Nationals. Working a single night use of the stadium into his last renewal contract, he successfully created “A Night at the Park,” which took place Tuesday with musical guests Amos Lee and Mutlu joined by world renowned magician David Blaine to benefit Multiple Sclerosis research and funding.
“We ultimately want to make the foundation become bigger and better,” said Zimmerman, “and the next step was to take it to a bigger and better city. There’s really not a bigger or better city in the world to do something like this than D.C.”
The family agrees. Excited by increased opportunities to grow awareness for MS, they aren’t shy to share Zimmerman’s Mother’s own struggles with this disease that affects the central nervous system (she was diagnosed when Ryan was only 15), and they are proud to help fund others in need of treatment.
With over 700 attendees raising over $200,000 in one night, Zimmerman and nine of his Nationals teammates succeeding in transforming their ballpark playground into a concert and party, complete with dinner, silent and live auctions, musical performances – and those magic tricks.
What magic was Ryan looking forward to most?
(Video embed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMpVsCjBArU
