Mets honor 'All Stars' for community service

One of finalists will represent Mets at All Star game

BY ALICE LOK

Wednesday, June 17, 2009 3:55 PM EDT

Mets third baseman David Wright took some time out from his quest to represent Queens’ hometown team at the All Star game to recognize three finalists in the “All-Stars Among Us” campaign, being run by People Magazine and Major League Baseball (MLB).

The Mets honored finalists Carol Cauley of Larchmont, Tara Suri of Scarsdale and Jonathan Zimmerman of Port Washington for their good deeds at Citi Field on Wednesday, June 10, and the three will vie to represent the New York Mets at the All-Star series.

“It’s a lot more simple with the stage I’m given to create awareness in the community,” Wright said. “I have the utmost respect for these ladies and gentlemen to do the things that they’re doing in the community.”

Zimmerman, a teacher, seeks out old computers to refurbish so he can give them away to needy children to help them learn.

He gave some computers to children in his class, and then reached out to organizations and churches that serve low-income communities. Zimmerman said he wants to give away as many computers as possible, and although he isn’t currently working with any organizations in Queens, Zimmerman said he would love to expand his reach to the borough.

A Mets fan ever since he was little, Zimmerman said he was “totally thrilled” to be a finalist.

Suri, who took President Barack Obama’s call for youth leadership to heart, was struck by the unfairness and conditions of women and children in India. At age 13, she started an organization to encourage teens to engage in activism and make the world a better place.

“It’s been spectacular. It’s also another opportunity to increase the outreach of my organization, to get people more involved and make a difference,” said Suri.

Cauley runs a food pantry out of a basement with about 100 volunteers and seeks to eliminate hunger in her community by having “neighbors help neighbors.” Cauley said she never expected to encounter such a need in her community, but it was important, especially in these economic times, to be conscious of others, she said.

“It’s really important for people to be aware of what’s going on in their own communities,” said Cauley. “The kid sitting next to their kid at school might not have had breakfast that morning.”

All of the finalists expressed hope that the attention would be directed to their causes to raise awareness and make their communities -- and the world -- a better place.

The final stretch of the campaign will depend on fan voting. Each of the 30 MLB teams is in the process of choosing one of the three finalists, of whom the one with the most votes will attend and be honored at the All-Star game in St. Louis on July 14.

For more information or to cast a vote, log on to www.PeopleAllStars.com

THE QUEENS COURIER/Photo by Alice Lok
From top left: People Magazine's senior editor Galina Espinoza; Mets third baseman David Wright; and MLB Executive Vice President for Business Tim Brosnan introduce finalists (front) Carol Cauley, Tara Suri, and Jonathan Zimmerman.