february 2008 update
We've recently returned from another trip to the Dominican Republic. Like the previous two, it was great in so many ways - both professionally and personally. The relationships we have built through the film have become stronger, our understanding of the story we want to tell has gotten deeper, and, thanks to the involvement of friends and family, there are about 60 more kids who now have baseball gloves.
I'll tell you a little about where they went... At the end of our last trip we met Rudy, who coaches about 50 kids, many without gloves. We gave him the last of the gloves (7 or 8) on our last visit, promising more when we returned on our next trip. So this time around, we made good on that promise, giving 10 more of his players gloves. He still needs a few more, mostly for the smaller kids, but was very happy to be able to hand out 10 more gloves to his kids.
We thought the baseball team route was a great way to get gloves to kids who would really put them to use. We met another coach in a different town whose team had just received a donation of brand new red uniforms - despite the uniforms, many were still without gloves. Needless to say, they were excited to receive the gloves we gave to them.
The rest of the gloves were handed out to kids we met walking around in the community of Bellas Colinas, where we have spent the majority of our time filming. This time around we were finally able to find some girls who play baseball and were in need of gloves.
It's a pretty great feeling to see a group of kids playing catch with gloves that we gave them - that you gave them. Thanks again to everyone who sent a glove - you've put huge grins on the faces of many kids and, rest assured, that they are all being put to good use! Hope you enjoy the photos.