New York Mets Donate $20K For N.O. Playgrounds

The New York Mets made a donation of $20,000 to the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation on Wednesday, money that will be distributed to playgrounds throughout Orleans and Jefferson Parishes to aid in recovery after Hurricane Katrina.

A check presentation was held at Airline Park Elementary School, with Mets first base coach and member of the 1986 World Series Champion team Howard Johnson and catcher Mike DiFelice representing the Mets and holding a baseball clinic for kids at the school afterwards.

This is the first donation the Mets have made to New Orleans since becoming the Zephyrs new big league affiliate, but prior to the affiliation the Mets had donated a total of $650,000 to the New Orleans area to help in the hurricane relief.

Prior to the check presentation Johnson and DiFelice were given a tour of the Lakeview section of New Orleans by Zephyrs color analyst and member of the 1969 World Series Champion Mets Ron Swoboda. The group looked at the levee breach at the 17th St. Canal and also toured the West End area.

The New York Mets signed a two-year agreement with the Zephyrs this offseason to become the team's major league parent club. Members of the Mets were also in town January 17th for a 'Meet the Mets' cocktail reception that was held at Pat O'Brien's in the French Quarter.