DA BRONX, NY – We are currently living in a nation that is doing its best to cancel culture. Statues are being demolished, schools are ignoring the teachings of the past and holiday remembrances are being changed.
The Honorable Eliezer Rodriguez is having none of that. He is the founder of Project Club Clemente, a Bronx organization that he created on Sept. 30, 2000. Elie’s mission isn’t to inform the public of Clemente’s on field accomplishments, it centers on The Great One’s values, faith, friendship, love, loyalty, community and commitment.
The Honorable Eli brings to life the famous quote of The Great One. Clemente’s words, “If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you and you don’t do that, you are wasting your time on this earth.” That’s what Club Clemente is all about.
This past December 31st, Rodriguez and his wife, the Honorable Fiordaliza A. Rodriguez, held their annual breakfast and remembrance event honoring Roberto Clemente at the Castle Hill YMCA. The purpose of the yearly event is to honor the life and legacy of The Great One. This year’s event celebrated the 20 year anniversary of The Flight for Humanity. It was at that time when Rodriguez and Clemente’s son Roberto Jr. delivered 16,000 lbs. of aid to Nicaragua to complete the mission which took Clemente’s life back in 1972.
Being honored at this year’s event was ex-Bronx Assemblyman, Jose Rivera. The 89-year-old was a huge supporter of The Flight for Humanity.
Rivera’s words of, “People gathering here are people dedicated to the Bronx, dedicated to the community, dedicated to making life better for all of us.”
Rodriguez’s vision is to build a museum in the Bronx called the Clemente Pavillion, to honor Clemente’s legacy and highlight all Hispanic MLB players.
Rodriguez, also a poet and word player, created the term, “A Clemente,” which translates to, “Do a good deed, we’ll thank you for it!” “A Clemente” is what Rodriguez and his family do, along with Roberto Velez, the Executive Director of Project Club Clemente.
