TEAM AT IRION FURNITURE MAKERS GOES TO BAT
FOR CADE AND PHILS' CHAIRMAN BILL GILES
Philadelphia, PA - When it comes to making museum-quality, traditional American furniture, Irion Furniture Makers of Christiana, Pennsylvania, is in a league of their own. How fitting the all-star studio volunteered to hand craft a one-of-a-kind baseball bat for Phillies Chairman Bill Giles, one of the most prominent figures in Major League Baseball, and his wife, Nancy, as they are honored April 27 by CADE: Helping Children Make Smart Decisions .
Bill and Nancy Giles, who are receiving the First CADE Community Service Award, were among the co-founders of CADE, Philadelphia's leading, elementary school-based drug, alcohol, and violence education and prevention program. The special ceremonial bat, made entirely by hand from a tightly-grained piece of rare Pennsylvania tiger maple, will be presented at CADE's April 27 awards event at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
"We specialize in American classics and welcomed he opportunity to make an American classic for such a wonderful couple and a great organization, with a typically stylish Irion twist," says Irion co-owner and master furniture maker Kendl Monn, who led the bat-making team. "We even chose a wood that embodies the strength and spirit of Bill and Nancy, and all those involved in CADE."
Even though the commemorative bat is destined for the mantle or show case rather than the diamond, Monn and Irion master wood turner Jonathan Sanbuchi, made it to exacting major league specs. Of course, they couldn't resist hand etching into the barrel, in green, Bill and Nancy's signature, along with the distinctive Phillies red "P" and the trademark Irion fire-branded, scallop shell logo.
A second Irion Phillies-CADE bat, which will be offered as an auction item at the CADE reception before the April 27 awards ceremony, is crafted from stunning Pennsylvania tiger ash, boasting a lively, honey-burst pattern. Monn and some of his other team mates will be at the CADE event, but not before attending the Phillies-Rockies game that afternoon. If they're lucky, maybe the Irion Slugger prototype will get some real Major League playing time.