Community Development Department Overview

The Houston Astros Community Development Department is the community outreach portion of the Houston Astros organization. The department handles a wide-array of community functions including coordinating all Astros youth programs, fulfilling donation requests, arranging player and staff visits, hosting community groups at Minute Maid Park, scheduling appearances by team mascots, and organizing special awareness days at the ballpark.

DONATION GUIDELINES
The Houston Astros want to make a positive difference in our community. We welcome charitable donation requests from the state of Texas and surrounding states. All requests must be made on the non-profit organization's official letterhead and include the date and other pertinent information regarding the event. Donation request letters should be sent to the Community Development Department, P.O. Box 288, Houston, TX 77001-0288 or fax to (713) 259-8981. Letters should be received six weeks prior to the event date.

SPEAKERS BUREAU
Front office personnel represent the Astros at speaking engagements year-round. Request should be submitted in writing at least six weeks prior to the event on the organization's letterhead. The letter should provide as many details as possible and be sent to the Community Development Department, P.O. Box 288, Houston, TX 77001-0288.

FAN MAIL
Letters to Astros players and staff should be addressed to them individually at Minute Maid Park, P.O. Box 288, Houston, TX 77001-0288. If a response is desired, please enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Please keep in mind the large quantity of mail received by players and staff and, thus, a response may not always be possible.


EVENTS
In 2007, the Houston Astros Community Development Department organized hundreds of community events both at Minute Maid Park and throughout Houston. Following are a few of those events:

• 15th Annual Sunshine Kids Party
• Astros Hometown Heroes
• Astros Spring Training Week of Caring
• Astros Winter Caravan
• Astros Wives Charity Softball Game
• Baseball Clinics at Boys & Girls Clubs
• Berkman's Bunch at Minute Maid Park
• Coca-Cola Kids Opening Day
• Coca-Cola Operation School Supplies
• Coca-Cola Share the Dream Essay Contest
• Fielder's Choice School Visits
• Gift of Produce
• Hospital Visits by Players, Staff and Mascots
• Houston Area Women's Center Awareness
• Impact a Hero Day
• Jackie Robinson Night
• Literacy Day at the Ballpark
• Methodist Hospital Day
• MLB Pitch, Hit and Run Contest
• One for the Community
• Prostate Cancer Awareness Day
• Stroke Awareness Day
• Sunshine Kids Holiday Party
• Sunshine Kids Visits to Minute Maid Park
• Walter Reed and Bethesda Naval Hospital Visits