Guardians and RMHC NEO Team Up
Baseball season is a home run for families!
For a second year, the Cleveland Guardians are pitching in for RMHC Northeast Ohio!
Cooking with Naylor returns with first baseman Josh Naylor preparing monthly meals and family favorites served by our Ronald McDonald House and Ronald McDonald Family Room programs.
Meanwhile, Tylor Mettler, general manager for Delaware North, the concessions provider for Progressive Field and the Cleveland Guardians is leading pull tab collection efforts at the ballpark for fans to help collect kindness for families.
JOIN THE TEAM TO HELP FAMILIES
With an assist from GM of concessions Tylor Mettler, the Guardians continue to collect pull tabs throughout Progressive Field! Drop your pull tabs from canned beverage purchases in collection containers at concession stands and other locations around the ballpark.
Why Pull Tabs?
We use the money from recycled pull tabs to give families staying at the Ronald McDonald House special moments of normalcy and joy – like birthday gifts, trips to the hair salon, and anniversary dinners.
Start your personal or group collection today with these downloadable labels and activities:
MEET TYLOR METTLER
New Dad Rallies Fans for Families
Tylor Mettler, general manager for Delaware North, concessions provider for Progressive Field and the Cleveland Guardians has a personal connection to RMHC NEO. Just before moving to Cleveland in 2022, Tylor and his girlfriend Hillary learned that their unborn daughter had Spina Bifida. Learn how the care and support they found in their new hometown inspired Tylor to find a way to give back.
2024 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
From April to October, the Guardians’ official provider of concessions and premium dining, Delaware North, delivers delicious ballpark fare throughout Progressive Field. A sellout crowd means serving over 35,000 fans in the stands and suites at 81 home games and additional special events. The diverse menu includes ballpark staples alongside unique options from local restaurant partners.
At the end of each homestand, the team from Delaware North connects with RMHC NEO staff to make sure that leftover food does not go to waste. On days off from the ballpark, members of the concessions team regularly volunteer to prepare meals for families at the Cleveland House.
Josh Naylor visited the Cleveland Ronald McDonald House on September 18th. Josh Naylor hit two home runs later that day. Coincidence? We think not.
The Perky Pantry Ladies reunited with Josh for Cooking with Naylor presented by Meijer to bake kolaczki and churros as sweet treats for families. Congratulations to the playoff bound Cleveland Guardians!
Meijer is committed to enriching lives in the communities they serve. As a part of this ongoing commitment they are the presenting sponsor of Cooking with Naylor, a monthly volunteer program with Guardians’ first baseman Josh Naylor, and recently made a $5000 donation to support the RMHC NEO Family Meal Program.
Naylor and Meijer representative Debra Sell teamed up for an on-field check presentation before the September 14 game at Progressive Field. Accepting the check on behalf of RMHC NEO was 10-year-old Miguel, whose family has spent more than 100 nights at the Cleveland Ronald McDonald House since 2023. Miguel and his family stayed at the game to cheer the Guardians on to a 6-1 victory where Naylor went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI.
Ballpark vendor Joe Kleinhenz has been a fixture in Progressive Field aisles since 2003, serving food and drinks alongside his son and grandson, who share his name. After 20+ seasons, Joe views the Guardians and their concessions provider Delaware North as family, so when one of them needed support he was there to help.
“I heard about what Tylor was going through with his daughter and it just broke my heart. I asked how I could help and he suggested that I start collecting pull tabs.” That’s exactly what Joe did. He started collecting kindness at the ballpark.
Josh Naylor’s custom cleats were a show-stopper during Major League Baseball’s annual Players’ Weekend. The cleats were designed and hand-painted by Jonathan Hrusovsky of Hrusovsky Custom Kicks, who beautifully captured the themes and symbols that best reflect the mission and values of RMHC NEO.
“He included the tulip sculpture, a Hector Vega design that adorns the front of the Cleveland House, as well as other references to our beautiful gardens and green spaces. The various other symbols represent our families, volunteers, and the services we provide throughout Northeast Ohio,” says Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Jeanine Carroll.
The design also has some Naylor-specific nods including a baseball, the number 22, and stars which are meant to represent his recent All-Star selection. Guests of the Cleveland House had the opportunity to check out the new cleats before they were handed off to Josh following the Guardians’ victory over the Cubs on Tuesday, August 13. He reportedly enjoyed showing them to his teammates and telling them all about the great work of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Ohio.
Family Meal Program volunteer and Cleveland Guardians’ first baseman Josh Naylor was selected to the 2024 MLB All-Star Game! The first-time All-Star traveled to Arlington, TX to participate in all of the Midsummer Classic festivities, including the big game which was held July 16, 2024. Congratulations to Josh and all of the Guardians’ All-Stars!
On July 3, Josh visited with guests at the Cleveland House and miniature therapy horses from Tender Touch Equine. The team from Tender Touch surprised all in attendance by dressing up therapy horse Lucky in full Naylor gear! Family Meal Program and Pet Therapy volunteer Jill Chuha nailed Josh’s signature look from head to toe including a custom jersey, socks, baseball pants, red headband and curls.
Afterward, Josh and the Perky Pantry Engineers headed to the kitchen and spent time stocking the salad bar and preparing a special 4th of July fruit salad with red watermelon, white feta cheese, and blueberries.
The Perky Pantry Engineers were honored as ‘May Guardians of the Community’ in a pre-game ceremony at Progressive Field on May 21.
The group appeared on the field and were recognized for their over 20,000 volunteer hours at RMHC NEO. Mary Jane Soltysiak, 24 year RMHC NEO volunteer, threw the first pitch to the group’s best friend, Josh Naylor.
In his second visit of the season, Josh Naylor and the Perky Pantry Engineers made boxed lunches for RMHC NEO families and practiced their baseball throws in the backyard.
On Tuesday, May 21, the Perky Pantry Engineers will be honored as Guardians of the Community in a pre-game ceremony at Progressive Field. The group will appear on the infield, where Mary Jane Soltysiak will throw the first pitch.
Josh Naylor kicked off the 2024 season with a morning of baking with our very own Perky Pantry Engineers, making his special Skor bars and a Naylor family favorite, soda cake.
The Perky Pantry Engineers welcomed Josh back to the kitchen with his own honorary Perky Pantry Engineer apron, with a baseball heart!
2023 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
Josh Naylor made his first volunteer visit to the Cleveland Ronald McDonald House in April. He and his fiance Chantel helped make baseball-themed boxed lunches and visited with families and kids.
Josh Naylor and Chantel spent their second visit volunteering at the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Cleveland Clinic Children’s. They helped pack boxed lunches and visited with families.
Jenice Naylor came for a Mother’s Day visit to bake with her son Josh at the Cleveland Ronald McDonald House. They were joined by House guests Megan and Major Lindberg, which led to some magical moments! Read the story.
Josh Naylor and Tylor Mettler teamed up with other Guardians staff to prepare a family favorite – breakfast for dinner! Learn more about the Mettler family story.
Josh Naylor becomes an official honorary member of the Perky Pantry Ladies. They made chocolate chip cookies for families staying at the Cleveland House.
RMHC NEO gifted Josh a “Chef Naylor” jacket for all of his efforts at the Cleveland House during the 2023 season. Josh was surprised with therapy dogs as he left his visit!
Oscar Gonzalez joined the Cleveland House to kick off Pull Tab Palooza! Oscar was interviewed by Telemundo, along with RMHC NEO staff and families staying at the House.
Oscar Gonzalez Pulls Tabs for a Cause – Collecting aluminum pull tabs to help families staying at RMHC NEO is similar to Oscar’s hometown charity, Bottle Caps for a Cause, which recycles the caps to help kids with cancer in the Dominican Republic.
Served with Love: About our Family Meal Program
Family meals, Served with Love, help keep families strong so they can focus on what matters most — their children. The meals we serve alleviate the stress of figuring out what, when and where to eat, and eliminate a huge financial burden during an extremely stressful time.
All RMHC NEO programs are provided at no cost to families, thanks to generous community support.