Mariano Rivera and The Final Engagement Team Up to Help Children

Mariano Rivera is arguably the best closing pitcher of all time. He is a 9 time All Star player, a 4 time World Series Champion in almost as many years, and stands a great chance of becoming one of the only closers to be inducted into the hall of fame.

However, things haven't always been so magnanimous for Rivera. The son of a fisherman, Rivera grew up in Panama City, Panama, playing baseball with his friends. Lacking the necessary equipment, they made use of cut up milk cartons for gloves, and used tree branches for bats.

In 1990, a 21 year old Rivera would be picked up at a local Panama Oeste game by a Yankees scout, and the rest is history. Over the years Rivera moved his way up through the minor leagues to his first major league appearance in 1995. He slowly made the transition from starter to set-up to closer, where he found his chance to shine. He has battled slumps and injuries, but still always managed to impress fans and other athletes alike with his calm and perseverance.

In most recent news, Rivera has teamed up with Michael C. Fina and Hearts on Fire for an engagement promotion with the New York Yankees. The promotion benefits his youth foundation, which seeks to provide the necessary support and equipment for underprivileged children to have the opportunity to play baseball. $1 for every entry to the contest (which is free), will go to his fantastic foundation to help children of all ages.

The winner of the competition gets to propose to their significant other in Yankee Stadium on September 18^th, with a $40,000 engagement ring from Hearts on Fire, The World's Most Perfectly Cut Diamond.

This seems fitting to me because just like Mariano's career, any relationship takes a dream, dedication and a willingness to overcome difficulty or hard times. And, in the end, the reward is indescribable and worth every moment of the struggle. Enter to win the chance to ask the person you love to marry you in these incredible circumstances, and at the same time support a great cause. All entrants need to do is fill out a form, and write a 250 word essay explaining why they think they should win.