Atlanta Braves Visit Woodstock School: See Photos

WOODSTOCK, GA — A Mill Creek Middle School seventh-grader enjoyed the wiffle ball game of a lifetime with his classmates last week as they celebrated his big heart. The Atlanta Braves surprised Bronco Reese, a heart transplant recipient who then overcame cancer, with one of its Community Hero Awards.

The pep rally on Aug. 14 at Mill Creek Middle School came complete with the Heavy Hitters drum line, Blooper the mascot and half a dozen players from the Major League baseball team, including Woodstock High School grad Nick Markakis.

The Braves honored Bronco with the award in recognition of his creation of a nonprofit group, Bronco’s Benevolent Foundation, which helps children being cared for at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, just as he once was.

“We want all of our students to strive to be heroes with big hearts,” Cherokee County Schools Superintendent Brian Hightower said from the school district.

He added that he appreciates the Atlanta Braves’ partnership with the Cherokee school district, established during the last school year.

“Character Education and the value of community service are lessons just as important for our students to learn as any answer on a test," Hightower said. "We appreciate the Braves for recognizing Bronco and serving others.”

In addition to the pep rally, which the entire seventh grade attended, the Braves presented a $5,000 donation to Bronco’s nonprofit and then played a game of wiffle ball with him and his class.

As the event was coming to a close, the Braves players learned that one of Bronco’s classmates, Jacob McGraw, also received a heart transplant. They showed their own big hearts by taking a special photo with him, too.

Release: Cherokee County School District

Images: Bronco Reece, the Atlanta Braves’ Community Hero Award winner, and his classmates smile for a group photo with Braves players after a game of wiffle ball on Aug. 14 at Mill Creek Middle School.
Second image: Bronco Reece walks with Braves players Jonny Venters and Kurt Suzuki, in back, to the field for a game of wiffle ball.
Third image: The Atlanta Braves share a special photo with Jacob McGraw, a Mill Creek Middle School seventh-grader who also is a heart transplant recipient.
Fourth image: Bronco Reece reacts with surprise upon learning the Braves Foundation would be donating $5,000 to the foundation he established.
Fifth image: Braves second baseman Ryan Flaherty snags a ball in the infield as he plays wiffle ball with Mill Creek Middle School seventh-graders.
Sixth image: Seventh-grader Ashley Reyes Madrid gets a pitching lesson from Braves pitcher Mike Foltynewicz.
Seventh image: Bronco Reece is escorted by Atlanta Braves mascot Blooper and the Heavy Hitter drummers for the surprise announcement of his award.
(All images courtesy of Cherokee County School District.}