The Final State of the Union
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Summary:
President Obama hosts the World Series Champion San Francisco Giants at the White House to celebrate their victorious season and community service.
President Barack Obama joins the Giants team for a group photo during an event to welcome the World Series Champion San Francisco Giants to the White House to honor the team and their 2014 World Series victory, in the East Room, June 4, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
Yesterday afternoon, President Obama hosted the San Francisco Giants at the White House to celebrate their latest World Series Championship win.
It's been another great season for the Giants — this past year, they beat the Kansas City Royals in seven games to claim their eighth World Series Championship. Yesterday’s visit also marked their third visit to the White House in the last five years.
While at the White House, San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy presented President Obama with a Giants jersey.
Giants Manager Bruce Bochy presents President Barack Obama with a baseball jersey during an event to welcome the World Series Champion San Francisco Giants to the White House to honor the team and their 2014 World Series victory, in the East Room, June 4, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
The San Francisco Giants, led by Giants Pitcher Madison Bumgarner, also presented President Obama with a baseball and a base, both autographed by the team.
President Barack Obama looks over a team signed base ball presented to him by Giants Pitcher Madison Bumgarner during an event to welcome the World Series Champion San Francisco Giants to the White House to honor the team and their 2014 World Series victory, in the East Room, June 4, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Major League Baseball Hall of Famers Monte Irvin and Willie Mays both came to the White House to join the celebration.
"But what’s best about this organization is the example they set off the field."
— President Obama on the San Francisco Giants
During the ceremony, President Obama pointed out that the San Francisco Giants were more than just a winning franchise on the field — they're working to help lift up their community off the field as well.
The President announced that the baseball team is partnering with San Francisco State University and Major League Baseball to build a multimillion-dollar youth training academy called the Urban Youth Academy. The academy, complete with training facilities, batting cages, and two baseball fields, will also help young sports enthusiasts with classwork, with a division that will offer mentoring, tutoring, and college prep.
President Obama also praised their “Junior Giants” program, which works to get young people active, teaches them skills like self-esteem and teamwork and leadership, and helps provide scholarships to underprivileged youth.
Congratulations to the San Francisco Giants on a great season.
Read the President’s full remarks from yesterday's ceremony here — or watch the video, below:
