ALL-STAR FAMILY DAY CLEANUP MOVED TO SATURDAY (JULY 3)

Astros, Keep Houston Beautiful, Waste Management, and City of Houston Lead Cleanup of Downtown

HOUSTON – In preparation for Major League Baseball's 75 th Annual All-Star Game, the Houston Astros, Keep Houston Beautiful, Waste Management and the City of Houston are sponsoring the All-Star Family Day Cleanup on Saturday, July 3, from 8:00 a.m.-12:00 Noon. The event was to take place this Saturday (June 26), but it was postponed to July 3 due to weather concerns. At the All-Star Family Day Cleanup, volunteers will be cleaning and beautifying areas surrounding Minute Maid Park to make Houston shine for the All-Star events. The Astros host the All-Star Game on July 13 at Minute Maid Park.

“We are extremely excited to collaborate with Keep Houston Beautiful, Waste Management and the City of Houston on the effort to beautify the areas around downtown,” said Rosi Hernández, Astros Vice President of Market Development. “With over 1,000 registered volunteers, the citizens of Houston and Astros fans alike have really stepped up to help Houston look its best for the Midsummer Classic.”

The All-Star Family Day Cleanup registration will start at 7:00 a.m. across from Minute Maid Park in Parking Lot A at the corner of Texas Ave. and Hamilton on the Highway 59-side of the ballpark. The cleanup will begin at 8:00 a.m. and will conclude with the post-event celebration starting at 11:00 a.m. FOX 26's José Griñan will serve as the Master of Ceremonies for the post-event celebration. Other invited dignitaries include Astros Owner Drayton McLane, Astros President of Business Operations Pam Gardner, Houston Mayor Bill White, and Houston Council Member Carol Mims Galloway. Each volunteer will be given lunch and the opportunity to win great door prizes from the Astros. In addition, all pre-registered volunteers will receive a free event T-shirt and a voucher for a pair of tickets to an upcoming Astros game.

Parking for cleanup volunteers will be available at no cost in Parking Lot B at the corner of Texas Ave. and Chartres St. (Media are asked to park along Texas Ave. or inside the Diamond Lot next to Minute Maid Park.) Trina Finley, the Project Manager for Keep Houston Beautiful, advises those volunteering to wear light attire as the day will grow increasingly warm. To participate, registration must be made no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 30, by calling (713) 839-8855 Ext. 13 or em ail info@houstonbeautiful.org . Registration is required.

Seven cleanup teams will be stationed at different locations around downtown Houston:

The Home Plate crew will coordinate the event (Station: Parking Lot A at Minute Maid Park). Registration for all volunteers and media check-in will take place here.
The Shortstop team is designated for Chinatown/E. Downtown (Station: Corner of 2000 Clay and 1300 St. Emmanuel). That group will mow and remove graffiti.
The Third Base crew will be in the East End area (Station: Guadalupe Plaza on the corner of 2311 Runnels and Navigation). They will clean the surrounding parks and mow.
The Left Field team will oversee the Midtown East area (Station: Baldwin Park, on the corner of 1701 Elgin and Crawford). Left Field will mow and remove graffiti.
The Right Field crew will take charge of Midtown West (Station: Corner of 901 Rosalie and 3000 Travis). Duties include mowing and eliminating graffiti.
The First Base team will be at the Pierce Elevated (Station: Corner of Pierce Elevated and San Jacinto). They will be sweeping, picking up litter, removing graffiti, and eliminating grass from cracks in the sidewalks.
The Dugout group will work the Highway 59 area. (Station: Parking Lot A at Minute Maid Park). They will mow the exits and entrances to Hardy Toll Road and the 59 freeway.

— ASTROS —