Homers for good causes
SOUTH Bronx-born Deisy Cedeno grew up with Yankees fans but has good reason to root for the Mets this year.
Every time a member of the Amazins’ hits one out of their home field, Citi donates $2,000 to four community groups, including the New York City YMCA, as part of the Citi Community Home Runs Program.
Cedeno, an 18-year-old student at Barnard College, credits YMCA programs with helping her overcome a troubled past and finding a path to success.
“They have given me these opportunities,” said Cedeno, who is interning at Con Edison this summer. “I was able to see my potential. I don’t know where I would have been without the Y.”
Born to a deaf mother, Cedeno barely uttered a word before she was 3. She suffered physical and sexual abuse as a young child, a tragedy that left her confused and shattered her self-esteem.
Family members in Brooklyn and Manhattan took her in so she could attend better schools. While in high school, she earned a coveted spot in the Y’s Teen Career Connection program and a challenging internship with the Clinton Foundation.
“It introduced me to a whole other world,” said Cedeno, who now exudes happiness and confidence.
As of Sunday evening, the Mets have hit 44 home runs at Citi Field, and Citi has donated $88,000 to the Y, United Neighborhood Houses, City Harvest and the USO of Metro New York.
Outfielder Curtis Granderson, a three-time Major League Baseball All-Star known for his philanthropic work, serves as the team ambassador to the Home Runs Program. He met with Cedeno and her mother before Sunday’s game to thank her for sharing her compelling story.
“As the son of two school teachers, my parents always stressed the importance of ‘giving back’ — and it’s something that has stayed with me,” Granderson told the Daily News in an email. “Each of our four partners play a crucial role in providing a better and stronger community, which I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing over the past two seasons.”