09 May Gina DeJesus update: Ryan Ellis, St. Lucie Mets manager, part of group which searched for DeJesus
Ellis is part of the BairFind Foundation
By: Angela Cruz, WPTV.com
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – Young students filled the stands Wednesday for the St. Lucie Mets Education Day.
As Mets Manager Ryan Ellis coached his team members, he thought of not only his love of the game, but also his heart for children.
“We’re going to try to go into the schools and educate the kids on such things as stranger danger,” he said.
Ellis is an original board member of the BairFind Foundation, which helps spread awareness of missing children.
He remembers when his group began searching for Gina DeJesus. She was found Monday in Cleveland, along with Amanda Berry, Michelle Knight and a young girl, after years of captivity.
“Our organization has been working to try to help find DeJesus since 2005,” Ellis reflected.
The BairFind Foundation features missing childrens’ photos on flyers in public places, such as at Tradition Field.
“It can only help, it can’t hurt,” said Ellis. “What better venues than baseball stadiums, sports arenas around the country?”
Ellis said he had chills when he found out Gina had been found.
“Some tears rolled out, because that’s what it’s about,” he said. “And not only about finding those kids, but ten years after the fact– it brings hope!”
Ellis would like to one day bring DeJesus’ mother to Tradition Field to share her story. In the meantime, he said the BairFind Foundation hopes to expand partnerships with more pro sports teams like the Mets.
“We didn’t find her, somebody else found her, but the point is the awareness is out there,” said Ellis. “That’s what we want.”
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