Support Washington Nationals' FOF Ryan Zimmerman's ziMS Foundation: 2nd Annual "A Night At The Park"

"It's amazing how you start something little and how much it can do," Ryan Zimmerman said in a press conference before last year's first annual ziMS Foundation's A Night at the Park charity event in Nationals Park. The Nats' third baseman and first 1st Round pick started the ziMS Foundation to honor his mother, who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1995, by helping to search for a treatment and ultimate cure to the disease.

"We've gotten better and better each year," Zimmerman said, "we obviously started, really had no idea what we were getting into, and just wanted to do stuff to help and over the last five years it's grown, I think, more than we could have ever imagined. This is kind of a big stepping stone for us, and we think from here we can take off and sky is the limit from here."

• If you can attend and want to support Ryan Zimmerman's efforts and his foundation's cause, you can buy tickets HERE. 

(ed. note - "This is not a paid ad. I'm not involved with the event, and can't attend this year. I asked another writer who will be attending to report on the event, so hopefully that works out. Just think it's a good cause and want to let anyone who's interested and was unaware know that it's taking place. Check out some images from last year's event after the JUMP...")

Last year's event, which organizers said drew over 700 people and raised over $200,000 was attended by Zim's teammates Drew Storen, Sean Burnett, Ross Detwiler, John Lannan, Tyler Clippard, Craig Stammen, Willie Harris, Adam Dunn, Pudge Rodriguez and others. There was street magic performed by David Blaine, who'll be back for this year's event, there was a silent auction which featured signed jerseys by the Miami Heat's Dwayne Wade, the Chicago Blackhawks' Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews and a jersey signed by the entire Washington Caps team, and there was bidding on auction items in a live auction as well, (the most popular of which was a day following Zimmerman through his workout routine which Adam Dunn won if I remember correctly?) This year's auction features an opportunity to attend The Masters (I think that's golf-related), a VIP Grammy experience, a tour of Yankee Stadium and a Ryan Zimmerman experience at Nats Park. 

(Ryan Zimmerman Photo in Silent Auction, from final game of '09 30-game hit streak.)

(signed Washington Capitals Jersey available in ziMS Foundation Silent Auction.)

(photo ©Chris Kennedy Images.)

(photo ©Chris Kennedy Images.)

(photo ©Chris Kennedy Images.)

(photo courtesy of and © Ian Koski - Nats Daily News.)

(photo courtesy of and © Ian Koski - Nats Daily News.)