Nationals launch "Week of Giving" initiative

In an effort to spread holiday cheer throughout the D.C. region, the Washington Nationals will participate in a series of community events that make up the team's "Week of Giving" beginning next Monday, December 9 through Saturday, December 14. During the week, Nationals players and front office staff will partake in activities aimed at giving back to the local community while celebrating the spirit of the holidays. To start off the week of events, Nationals pitcher Ross Detwiler* and outfielder Denard Span* will visit with the first class of scholar-athletes enrolled at the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy. The following day, Detwiler and Span will join Nationals mascot Screech at a holiday party for young patients at The Lombardi Cancer Center at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, in partnership with the Hope for Henry Foundation. Additionally, Nationals front office employees will team up with 106.7 The Fan personalities to participate in local holiday activities during the week. Events include distributing toys to military families with John "Cakes" Auville, John-Paul "JP" Flaim and Danny Rouhier for the Project USO Elf initiative, as well as laying wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery with Holden Kushner for Wreaths Across America. Nationals "Week of Giving" Media Schedule MONDAY, DECEMBER 9 Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy Visit: Ross Detwiler and Denard Span will visit with third and fourth grade Youth Baseball Academy scholar-athletes from Kimball, Ketcham and Anne Beers Elementary Schools. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10 Lombardi Cancer Center Holiday Party: Detwiler and Span will join Screech for a festive holiday party for young patients at The Lombardi Cancer Center at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in partnership with the Hope for Henry Foundation. The players will deliver toys and participate in a variety of fun holiday activities with the children. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11 Project USO Elf Toy Distribution: Nationals employees and Racing President "Bill" will join John "Cakes" Auville, John-Paul "JP" Flaim and Danny Rouhier to distribute holiday gifts to military families through Project USO Elf. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14 Wreaths Across America: Nationals staff members and Holden Kushner will participate in Wreaths Across America at Arlington National Cemetery. Nationals fans are also encouraged to take part in this special day, which pays tribute to all those who lost their lives in service to our country, and can go to www.wreathsacrossamerica.org for more information.