Volunteers clean Park Street near Comerica Park on June 25 during an All-Star cleanup downtown. About 1,000 volunteers helped clean the city as part of the All-Star Super Makeover.All-Star warm-up
Volunteers are real all-stars for Detroit
Unpaid workers will do everything from greeting guests at the airport to cleaning up for the event.
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"He doesn't even know half the things I sign him up for," Arnita Chappell says of her husband, Rufus, both All-Star volunteers.
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To Arnita Chappell, a smile really is what the credit card commercials call it -- priceless.
"It does my heart good," the Southfield resident said. "My passion and my love is in Detroit. They have everything they need -- they just don't know they've got it."
Chappell hopes to spread that feeling next week as one of about 1,500 volunteers who will help host the 76th Major League Baseball All-Star Game at Comerica Park. Clad in matching golf shirts and fanny packs, the army of faces will do everything from greet visitors to pick up trash for more than 100,000 people attending All-Star events.
Officials say the volunteers are invaluable to organizers and guests, but they also have the opportunity to boost the image of Detroit.
"It makes such a difference when someone takes an extra moment to help you and to smile at you and to give you some information," said James Townsend, executive director of Metro Detroit's Tourism Economic Development Council. "Everyone is responsible for our region's image. Our whole economy will be affected by how well we treat people."
Last weekend, about 1,000 other volunteers helped clean the city as part of the All-Star Super Makeover.
Chappell is one of 500 people who will serve as ambassadors, greeting visitors at the airport, hotels and other places and helping them with directions, dining and other questions. Her husband, Rufus Chappell, is among about 1,000 others who will volunteer at Cobo Center for the John Hancock All-Star FanFest, a five-day event with interactive attractions, clinics, showcases and entertainment.
The Chappells are no strangers to volunteering. Despite a full-time job and three children, Arnita Chappell said she volunteered more than 2,000 hours last year, with her husband by her side for most of them. In recent weeks, the couple has helped at Rockin' the Rooftop during the Freedom Festival fireworks and at the Comerica TasteFest.
"He doesn't even know half the things I sign him up for," she said.
"If someone asks him, 'Hey, what are you doing Saturday?' he says, 'I don't know, I have to ask my wife.'"
Many of the volunteers share that public spirit.
"I like to say nice things about Detroit," said Dean Philo, 45, of Taylor, who grew up in Northwest Detroit. "This will give me the opportunity to see people coming in."
In addition to his All-Star work, Philo is volunteering for the Super Bowl in February. He also volunteered for the U.S. Amateur golf championship at Oakland Hills in 2002.
"I like to give a little back to the community," Philo said.
All-Star volunteers will get their exact duties beginning tomorrow, said volunteer coordinator Dwain Lewis. An orientation will be held on Wednesday for FanFest volunteers and Thursday for ambassadors, where they will receive schedules and assignments.
Volunteers were assigned to job categories based on earlier sessions and screenings, Lewis said.
"We asked them to tell us their strengths," he said. "We said, 'If you live downtown, tell me about the great restaurants in the area. If you live in Dearborn, what's the best route to take to Detroit?'"
As a part-time flight attendant with Northwest Airlines, Arah Carrington said her people skills will be useful as a FanFest volunteer.
"Being used to hosting out-of-town visitors, I thought I could use that to help," said Carrington, 64, who can see Comerica Park from her downtown home. "It will be fun to sell the city on a positive note."
Carrington was one of the approximately 1,000 volunteers who helped clean graffiti and litter from Detroit's streets last week.
"I'm just hoping that all come, enjoy and have a super great time," she said. "I'm going to do my best to make sure it happens."
Jo Trainor is in it for the game. The Troy resident, who will serve as an ambassador, has volunteered with the Junior Olympics and the Ryder Cup.
"Sports brings so many people together of all walks of life, especially in the Metro Detroit area," said Trainor, a Lions season-ticket holder who coaches church-league softball. "People were crying after hockey was canceled, and deflated after Game 7 of the NBA Finals. But now we've got two great events coming here in a short amount of time."
Trainor also helps recruit volunteers with the Detroit Super Bowl XL Host Committee. She said she wants to tell visitors that "the city is coming back."
"We're a great place to be. I just really want to make people feel comfortable about coming to the city. Sports is a way to do that."
Not all the volunteers are familiar with the city. About 50 people, whom All-Star organizers call "Fest Heads," will arrive in Detroit this week from places as far as Philadelphia and Houston. Most began donating time at All-Star Games years ago, following the game across the country to host cities.
Richard Krug's tour began 10 years ago when the All-Star Game came to his hometown of Philadelphia.
"I love baseball, I like working with people, and I love kids," said Krug, 67, a retired schoolteacher.
Krug plans to arrive in Detroit on Wednesday morning with his granddaughter and wife after watching his Philadelphia Phillies face the Pittsburgh Pirates tonight.
Camille McDonald of Troy is focused on the home team: the Tigers.
Her family is drawn to the sport, she says. One son is a Tigers trainer, the other a bat boy. Her husband works as office manager for St. John's Episcopal Church, located across from Comerica Park.
"They are living my dream," said McDonald, 56. "They didn't used to let girls be bat boys."
So she signed up for the next best thing: helping out at FanFest with a chance to run into one of the Tigers players.
"It's going to be a historic event," she said. "I'm looking forward to meeting all the people."
You can reach Kendra Snyder at (248) 647-8605 or ksnyder@detnews.com.
As All-Star Game volunteers, Rufus Chappell will help out with FanFest at Cobo Center, and his wife, Arnita, will be an ambassador.
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