The recognition by the Thunder, the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, was a part of the team’s annual HOPE Week (Helping Others Persevere and Excel), which honors organizations who consistently help, motivate, and give back to their communities.  

On Wednesday, September 2, players and coaches from the baseball team stopped by the school’s Yardley campus to see NHA in action and to film their visit. After a tour of the building, which included a visit to the art rooms and a brief meditative session in the yoga room, the team members greeted the students and staff who were present for the week’s Student In-Service. There, they each described their own inspirational story, how they turned their passion into a career, and how perseverance and determination are essential in achieving one’s dreams. They then fielded questions from the enthusiastic audience, signed autographs (and even a phone case), and took tons of pictures with the kids.

Later that evening, NHA was honored at the Trenton Thunder game at Arm and Hammer Park in Trenton, NJ, where they were set to play the Colorado Rock Cats. Students and staff who were in attendance took to the field prior to the game. There, they posed for pictures with Boomer, the Thunder’s mascot, and watched as the footage shot earlier in the day was shown on the stadium’s large screens. Then, it was time to take their seats, sit back, enjoy a hot dog and some Cracker Jacks, and take in America’s Pastime on a warm summer night! Although the Thunder ended up losing the game after going into extra innings, NHA, its students, and the community at large continue to be the clear winners!