HOST FAMILY PROGRAM
What is a host family?
The Washington Wild Things are looking for host families for the 2024 season. Host families invite a player or member of the team into their home for the season (late April through early September). Each host family provides a player with a stable, clean and healthy environment to live in while in southwestern Pennsylvania. A host family is asked to supply a private bedroom, access to bath facilities and laundry accessibility.
To ensure a good experience for both host families and players, the Wild Things take extra care in matching players with prospective hosts. Some of the considerations include:
- Most host families will host one player. However, host families with the ability to host two players or more are accepted.
- Host families should be aware that the players will be away on road trips for half of the summer and that they will leave in the early afternoon and return after night games while the team is at home. Returns from road trips can also be in the overnight hours.
- A good home environment can help contribute to better on-field performance of the player and influence the remainder of the player’s professional career. The players and host families form connections that last a lifetime.
- Host families receive tickets for the entire year, along with an end-of-year ceremony on the field, invitation to the pre-season Meet the Team event and more benefits.
Why become a host family?
Here are what some host families have shared with us regarding their experience:
- Keli Salisbury - “We've had the honor of being a host family for nearly a decade now, and each year brings amazing new memories and friendships. Not only do we get to enjoy 50 professional baseball games a year, but we get to experience new cultures and traditions with each player. From learning how to cook Dominican food and game nights around the dining room table, to off day corn hole tournaments and road trips to cheer on the team at away games, being a host family is the highlight of our summers.”
- Alissa Kline - “My family has been hosting Wild Thing players since 2009! Throughout the years, our players have been role models to my kids and we greatly enjoy having the players around! We've had players get signed as well as come back the following year! We always look forward to the phone call when it's that time of year! It's been a wonderful experience being a Host Family!”
- Ralph Harlan Jr. - “2023 was my first year hosting and I adopted two players. It was an amazing experience and I highlyrecommend it. I loved watching the games all season long and I can't wait for 2024 season to start. Let's go Wild Things!”
- Mark and Nan Campbell - “We have been hosting Wild Things players since 2012. We wish we had started earlier when the kids were younger! We’ve truly enjoyed meeting every single one and have formed close bonds with a few and have attended weddings, met their children and visited them in their hometowns. We are honored to be a small part in their journey.”
- Whitney and Ron Caltumo - “Our family became a host family in the 2023 season. We went back and forth about having a stranger in the house, but ultimately, we decided to give it a go. We had three different players throughout the course of the season due to contract buyouts, cuts, etc. It was a very emotional season, as you truly do not realize, or have a way to prepare, for how attached everyone gets to each other. We enjoyed being a bigger part of the team and seeing our players at the stadium; if we weren't welcoming a new addition to the family, we would have continued this year. It truly was a great experience, and the kids definitely loved having a "big brother" in the house and at the games!”
How do I become involved?
For more information on being a host family or to sign up to become on, please contact Kyle Dawson
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 724-250-7654
