Zimmerman’s recognition is for both his efforts in the community as well as his prowess on the fiels. His commitment to the community is best illustrated through his work with the ziMS Foundation, which he founded in 2006, his first full season in the Major Leagues. The ziMS Foundation aims to raise money for MS awareness and programs benefitting those afflicted with multiple sclerosis, an ailment that Ryan’s mother suffers from. Serving as president, Ryan is actively involved in making decisions and donates his time, money and image to promoting the Foundation. In 2011 the ziMS Foundation hosted its sixth annual golf tournament and gala in Ryan’s hometown of Virginia Beach, and during the 2010 season began hosting the annual “Night at the Park” fundraiser at Nationals Park. He also sits on the Board of Trustees for the MS Society, National Capital Area Chapter, and has hosted members of the MS Society’s Kidventure program – a recreation and education program for children who have a parent with MS – at Nationals games beginning in the 2007 season.

Ryan’s community outreach extends beyond the ziMS Foundation. He visits local children’s hospitals several times each season, and frequently brings his rookie teammates with him to teach the importance of giving back. Additional volunteer activities include various Washington Nationals Dream Foundation initiatives, youth baseball clinics, D.C. Public Library literacy campaigns, and assisting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. A former baseball player at the University of Virginia, Ryan recently made a donation of $250,000 to the UVA Athletics Department for improvements to their baseball program.

Zimmerman’s record on the field is just as impressive as his record off of it. A career .288 hitter, Ryan is a former All-Star, Gold Glove Award winner, and won back to back Silver Slugger Awards in 2009 and 2010. Ryan tied the Major League lead by playing in all 162 games in 2007, and is regarded as one of the best fielders, as evidenced by his 2009 ESPN Web Gem Award. Ryan is the Nationals career leader in home runs, RBIs, hits, and games played, and ranks in the team’s top ten in several other categories.

“Phi Delta Theta and Ryan Zimmerman have a lot in common.   While the Fraternity and its members collectively work together to raise funds to battle ALS because it is a cause close to our heart honoring our Brother, Lou Gehrig, Ryan does the same to support those afflicted with MS as it is a cause close to his.  This combined with the fact that he is a heck of a 3rd baseman, make him more than worthy to be the 56th winner of the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award” says Sean Wagner, spokesman for the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award Committee and Associate Executive Vice President of Phi Delta Theta.