education
celebration
Thursday, September 11, 2008
6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
The Depot
Minneapolis, MN
Reception sponsored by Target®
National Sponsor of the Kids In Need
National Network of Resource Centers
Gala Registration Form
Guest Speaker: Jim Morris, former major league baseball pitcher and subject of the film “The Rookie”
Jim Morris' Cinderella story is testimony to the power of dreams and their ability to inspire and transform human life. Jim's childhood dream of becoming a major league player was derailed by serious arm injuries. Instead, Jim married, had three kids, and got his college degree before becoming a high school science teacher and baseball coach in West Texas.
At the age of 35 and some 11 years after retiring from minor league baseball, Jim challenged his high school players with the following bet: if they won the District baseball championship, he would try out for a major league team.
Inspired, Jim's players fulfilled their part of the bargain, which committed him to a big league tryout, where he miraculously threw 12 consecutive pitches at a rate of 98 mph. Three months later , Jim returned to Texas as a major league player and struck out all-star Royce Clayton with a 98 mph fastball in his first big league game. Jim has co-written a critically-acclaimed book, also entitled "The Rookie." Jim speaks about second chances in life and overcoming obstacles. A schoolteacher by trade, Jim is a lovable storyteller whose miracle story captivates and inspires audiences to never give up on a dream.