Washington Nationals finalists announced as part of MLB, Target and Time Inc.'s 'People' "All-Star Teachers" Program

Major League Baseball, Target Corp (NYSE: TGT) and PEOPLE recently announced that Washington Nationals fans Sabrina Hayden, Jessica Valoris and Chad Wright are the team's finalists in the "Target Presents PEOPLE All-Star Teachers" campaign, which celebrates remarkable current and retired teachers who make an impact on the lives of their students and communities. The three finalists will visit Nationals Park next Tuesday, June 17 to take part in the pregame ceremony before the Nationals take on the Houston Astros. Fans have until June 29 to visit AllStarTeachers.com to vote on their favorite finalist stories. One winner from each of the 30 MLB Clubs will be included in All-Star Week activities and recognized during the pregame ceremony of the 2014 MLB All-Star Game on FOX. An "All-Star Teacher" winner will also be featured in 'PEOPLE' during the week of the MLB All-Star Game. Sabrina Hayden Nationals fan and special education teacher Sabrina Hayden of Washington, D.C., is a pioneer when it comes to developing programs that benefit children in low-income communities. A single mom to a nine-year-old son and an educator for more than eight years, Sabrina fully understands the importance of providing high quality education to students with and without disabilities. In 2007, she founded the nonprofit First Impressions Enterprises, which focuses on girls mentoring, health education and providing STEM opportunities to minority youth. Most recently, Sabrina wrote a grant for a program called Youth Ambassadors, which will help educate children about the harmful effects of tobacco, and she established a "Saturday School" called the Hayden Academy this past May. Jessica Valoris From a family of loyal Nationals fans, Jessica Valoris of Brooklyn, N.Y., is both a team player and a leader within her community. After attending Eugene Lang College in New York City on a full scholarship, she turned her efforts toward empowering young people through arts and education. In her six years as a Resource Teacher, Jessica goes the extra mile to make sure students receive a well-rounded education both in and out of school. She works closely with other teachers to make sure the school curriculum is culturally relevant and inspires students to become involved with mural painting, poetry, music production and giving back to their community. She continues her work outside the classroom, facilitating creative projects at local recreation centers and with community-based organizations. Chad Wright Chad Wright of Nokesville, Va., is a Nationals fan who has taught Government for 10 years and likes to think outside the box. He has invited Congressional candidates to speak to his classes and has also taken students to the Capitol to see Congress in action. During the 2012 presidential election, Chad set up a mock election at the school, which drew the attention of local papers. In addition, he encourages his students to get involved in activities outside the classroom and asks each of his students to complete 10 hours of community service as part of his class requirements. He focuses on bringing new technology into the classroom to help his students learn, and his passion for teaching extends to the entire world, as he challenges his students to learn as much as they can about other countries and cultures. Target presents "PEOPLE All-Star Teachers" is just one part of Target, MLB and PEOPLE's effort to celebrate teachers and raise awareness about the importance of education this baseball season. MLB Legends have attended Target-hosted School Library Makeover events in MLB communities throughout the first half of the season including Hall of Famer Ernie Banks, Vinny Castilla, Ron Cey, Cliff Floyd, Luis Gonzalez, Tim Laudner, Gary Matthews, Tony Oliva, Harold Reynolds and Michael Young. Guests and fans can visit ABullsEyeView.com/Baseball for regular updates and behind-the-scenes access to campaign activities leading up to the All-Star Game. About Major League Baseball M ajor League Baseball (MLB) is the longest running professional sports league in the United States and consists of 30 member Clubs in the U.S. and Canada, representing the highest level of professional baseball. Under the guidance of its ninth Commissioner, Allan H. (Bud) Selig, MLB has experienced dramatic changes including Interleague Play, the introduction of the Wild Cards, the new expanded Postseason format, the most comprehensive drug testing program in U.S. professional sports, an unprecedented era of labor peace, significant revenue sharing among the Clubs and growth in revenue from $1.2 billion in 1992 to more than $8 billion in 2013. The last ten years have produced the ten best-attended individual seasons in MLB history, including more than 74 million fans in 2013. With the continued success of MLB Network, MLB Advanced Media and the MLB Fan Cave, the National Pastime is consumed more often and in more ways than ever before. For more information on Major League Baseball, visit www.MLB.com. About Target Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) serves guests at 1,916 stores - 1,789 in the United States and 127 in Canada - and at Target.com. Since 1946, Target has given 5 percent of its profit through community grants and programs; today, that giving equals more than $4 million a week. For more information about Target's commitment to corporate responsibility, visit target.com/corporateresponsibility. About PEOPLE PEOPLE revolutionized personality journalism when it launched in 1974, and is now celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2014. Each week PEOPLE brings more than 53 million consumers the latest news, exclusive interviews, and in-depth reporting on the most compelling people of our time. In addition to unparalleled access to the entertainment community, the stories of real-life "Heroes Among Us" remain an essential component of PEOPLE's editorial approach. PEOPLE.com is the premier web destination for celebrity news, photos, style, and entertainment coverage. With reporters across the globe, PEOPLE is headquartered in New York City and is published by Time Inc. For more information visit www.PEOPLE.com.