The Hamels Foundation Raises $300,000-plus for Schools

Schools in Philadelphia, Missouri and Malawai, Africa will benefit from the $351,000 raised last week during The Hamels Foundation’s annual “Diamonds and Denim” event.

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels and his wife Heidi created The Hamels Foundation to provide support for quality education in the United States and establish a school in Malawi, Africa. The Hamels Foundation takes a community-based approach to education by providing assistance to schools as well as supporting other education based non-profit entities in the United States in need of support.

Singer-song writer John Ondrasik of “Five for Fighting” performed during the event and Cole and Heidi Hamels also invited representatives from eight Philadelphia schools to recognize their excellent work.

“Heidi and I, as parents, feel strongly about the right for each child to receive a quality education,” Hamels said. “We are proud to be able to help with events like “Diamonds and Denim” and efforts of the foundation throughout the year.”

The Hamels Foundation has already donated more than $1 million in grants to Philadelphia schools.

Last September, The Hamels Foundation opened its first dedicated school in Malawi, Africa.

“This 640 seat school is a life changing addition to the community in Malawi,” Heidi Hamels said.  “In addition to providing an education, it offers the students healthy meals and is a community anchor in the fight against AIDS. This had been a dream of Cole’s and mine ever since I travelled to Malawi.”

The foundation team regularly travels to Africa to visit and evaluate the needs and progress of the school.

For more information about The Hamels Foundation, please visit www.thehamelsfoundation.org.