Holland America Group CEO Stein Kruse presented a check for $25,000 to Seattle Children’s Hospital’s Uncompensated Care Fund Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014, at the Seattle Mariner’s home game at Safeco Field. The company made the donation as part of its partnership with the Seattle Mariners Major League Baseball team and their “K’s for Kids” program that debuted during the 2014 baseball season.
With “K’s for Kids,” each strikeout (represented as a “K” on the score card) recorded by a Mariners pitcher at Safeco Field throughout the season earned a cash donation from the cruise line to Seattle Children’s. Kruse was joined on the field during the check presentation by 14-year-old Seattle Children’s patient Jake Finkbonner and his family and the Seattle Mariner’s Major League Baseball All Star and Cy Young award-winning pitcher Félix Hernández.
“It is rewarding to partner with the Seattle Mariners, who prioritize giving back to the community as we do, and we’ve eagerly been following the season in anticipation of today’s presentation,” said Kruse. “The Seattle Mariners earned this donation for Seattle Children’s with 667 strikeouts at home this season, and it was an honor share the field with a young man as courageous and inspirational as Jake.”
For the past three years, Holland America Line and the Mariners have maintained a partnership that, in addition to a corporate sponsorship, includes community-based programs. The cruise line sponsors “Get Well Tours” to area hospitals and donated two cruises for raffle at the annual Fan Appreciation Night, on Friday, Sept. 26.
“Holland America Line has been a tremendous supporter over the past three years, and their “K’s for Kids” donation is a very special and meaningful piece of the partnership,” said Bob Aylward, executive vice president of corporate business for the Seattle Mariners. “We know that Seattle Children’s will greatly benefit from the generous donation made during Saturday’s game.”
