SAN DIEGO (CNS) - Aldo Sanchez, a 9-year-old who recently completed fourth grade, received a San Diego Padres Hispanic Heritage Comunidad Award before Friday night's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park.
Aldo was honored for his dedication to improving the lives of families and youth, specifically in children's education. He was the first child to receive the award, which was first presented last season.
Aldo began his volunteerism in October, centering his birthday on a community service project, a food drive for the Ronald McDonald House at San Diego Rady Children's Hospital. With the help of classmates at Ocean Beach Elementary School and teammates from Tecolote Little League, he delivered a truckload of more than 800 food items to the Ronald McDonald House.
Aldo also formed a group "Help ME Help Others," organized a holiday food drive for the homeless in Ocean Beach and downtown San Diego and a shoe drive for students at the Monarch School of San Diego. He is organizing a summer food drive for the Bannister Family House, which cares for families of patients at UCSD Hospital.
"Aldo is an inspiration for young people and adults alike," Padres President and CEO Tom Garfinkel said. "He is a remarkable boy who doesn't let his age hold him back. He identifies community challenges and tackles them head on when others might look away. We can all learn something from Aldo."
