Many volunteer opportunities are weekly, others are monthly and some are even annual. But few volunteer opportunities can be called once-in-a-lifetime. This summer, the 1995 All-Star FanFest will give volunteers that kind of opportunity.
All-Star FanFest is an indoor, baseball amusement park held in conjunction with the All-Star Game, which will be played at the Ballpark in Arlington July 11. Visitors to FanFest can test their pitching skills, call the play-by-play of a World Series game or obtain an autograph from a favorite Hall of Famer.
In Pittsburgh last year, more than 150,000 attended FanFest, a five-year-old All-Star tradition featuring more than 100 attractions.
As a beneficiary of the event, the Volunteer Center of Dallas has teamed up with Major League Baseball to recruit more than 1,200 volunteers to bring FanFest to life. The event will be held July 7-11 at the Dallas Convention Center.
Baseball fans can share their knowledge as information guides to the Cooperstown Hall of Fame collection or the Hometown Heroes tribute to the Texas Rangers.
Volunteers can staff and operate the video batting cages and carnival games. Outgoing, enthusiastic individuals also are needed to greet visitors, assist with crowd control and provide information.
To be on the All-Star FanFest team, volunteers must be available all five days or one three-day block. Individuals who volunteer five days will be entered in a drawing for tickets to the All-Star Game and roundtrip tickets on Southwest Airlines.
Volunteers will attend an orientation the week prior to FanFest and receive the official team uniform – a FanFest jersey and baseball cap. Volunteers also will be admitted free to FanFest and receive discount admission coupons for family members.
Volunteers must be at least 18 years old to participate. Children ages 12-17 can volunteer if accompanied by an adult.
Call the All-Star FanFest Hotline at 373-2296 or the Volunteer Center at 826-6767, ext. 242, for more information.
