Archives for August 2010

Stockton Ports raise close to $8,000 for St. Joseph’s Foundation Breast Health Services

The Stockton Ports held their fourth annual breast cancer awareness night on August 27 at Banner Island Ballpark. This was the most successful “Pink with the Ports” event that the Ports have hosted since beginning the fundraiser in 2007. With over 4,100 fans in attendance for the night’s game, support for St. Joseph’s was overwhelming.

This event hit close to home with the Ports this year. Becki Scarsone, wife of Ports manager Steve Scarsone, is a recent breast cancer survivor, and has early self-detection and the overwhelming love and support of family and friends to thank for her recovery. The goal of the “Pink with the Ports” event was to raise as much money possible for St. Joseph’s Foundation Breast Health Services. The Ports also wanted to stress the importance of catching cancer early, and that doing self-exams could make all of the difference.

Prior to the game against the San Jose Giants, the Ports hosted a “Bombs 4 Bombs Home-Run-a-thon” to help raise even more money for St. Joseph’s. This event was a first for the Ports. Both teams gathered on the field to participate in a friendly home run competition. Each team consisted of about 15 people, and everyone was thrown 10 pitches each. Pledges were made by fans and Ports Alumni prior to the event, so every home run hit earned money for St. Joseph’s Medical Center. Former Oakland Athletics hall-of-famer Rickey Henderson participated in the event, and dance team members from the University of the Pacific were on the field dressed in pink dance tops cheering on both teams.

One dollar from every ticket sold to that night’s game was donated to the foundation’s breast health services. Ports players and coaches also wore special pink jerseys, belts, and socks. The jerseys were auctioned off after the game and that money was also given to St. Joseph’s. Another unique fundraiser that the Ports hosted weeks leading up to Pink Night consisted of selling pink paper baseballs for $1. Messages were written on the baseballs and were made into a “Pink Wall” that was displayed at the front of the ballpark on “Pink Night”. Ports players and coaches also donated memorabilia that was used in a raffle to benefit St. Joseph’s.

Former Oakland A’s hall-of-famer Rickey Henderson participated in the Ports “Bombs 4 Bombs Home-Run-a-thon” benefitting St. Joseph’s Medical Center.
The women of St. Joseph’s raised breast cancer awareness during “Pink Night” on August 27.

Miracle Donate $6,500 to Help Fight Breast Cancer

On August 21, 2010 the Fort Myers Miracle played host to the Bradenton Marauders on Breast Cancer Awareness night at The Bill. The night consisted of a double header against the Marauders with a silent auction that took place during the second game. 21st Century Oncology sponsored this night with all proceeds from the auctions going to Partners for Breast Cancer Care. The Miracle players wore pink jerseys to signify and promote breast cancer awareness. Following the end of the game, fans that won jerseys in the silent auction were lead onto the field to receive their jersey right from the player’s back. This provided fans with the opportunity to take pictures and have their jersey signed by the Miracle team. Other auction items included golf packages, hotel getaway packages, autographed baseballs, bats and pink bases.

Partners for Breast Cancer Care is a Southwest Florida based non-profit organization that helps qualified men and women with the diagnosis and treatment cost of breast cancer. Helping over 7,000 men and women since their start in 2004, Partners for Breast Cancer Care has become a staple in the Southwest Florida Community and a friend to the Fort Myers Miracle.

The Miracle fans donated over $6,500.00 to Partners for Breast Cancer Care through various silent auction items, raffles and jewelry sales that went on during the game. This was the first year the Miracle teamed up with Partners for Breast Cancer Care and 21st Century Oncology. With the success of this year’s auction the Miracle are excited to see what next year will bring.

Breast Cancer survivors walk before the game
chari Miracle Manager Jake Mauer with the family that won his jersey in the silent auction

Timber Rattlers Garden for the Community

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers have taken on a community project this season that requires a green thumb. Rattlers Vice President of Marketing, Angie Ceranski witnessed a growing number of companies in the area planting vegetable gardens for a variety of reasons with the common initiative being the promotion of sustainability and locally grown food. She felt an undertaking like this would further demonstrate the Timber Rattlers’ support for the community while bringing food to the tables of families less fortunate.

In late May, the Timber Rattlers planted a vegetable garden just beyond the fence off the left field corner of Time Warner Cable Field. Led by Angie’s efforts, a handful of staff members and a couple generous contributors have helped make this project possible.

Lakeshore Cleaners, a local landscape company, prepared the garden plot and provided their special mix of compost. Shroeder’s Fox Valley Greenhouse, De Pere, provided the starter plants. And Home Depot (Appleton West) donated the garden fence.

Produce from the garden continues to be donated, throughout the growing season, to St. Joseph’s Food Program (‘Grow a Row’ program) and the Salvation Army. Both organizations provide food to area families need.

A photo journal to log the progress of the garden is available at: http://www.tratsgarden.blogspot.com/.

Signage at the garden site creates awareness of the garden’s purpose.
Work in progress just beyond the left field fence.

The Latin American Association Receives Gwinnett Braves August Grant

The Gwinnett Braves announced today that the Latin American Association (LAA) is the recipient of the Gwinnett Braves August grant. The $1,000 grant was used to buy supplies for the LAA’s second annual Back to School Supplies Drive.

Fully staffed by volunteers led by LAA’s Director of the Youth and Volunteer Program, the Back to School Supplies Drive was held at LAA’s main building prior to school opening. The event was attended by nearly one thousand children who, accompanied by a parent, exchanged free tickets given to them at the entrance for free school supplies that included backpacks, notebooks, folders, crayons, pencils and pens.

“Words cannot express the immense gratitude the LAA family feels towards the Gwinnett Braves,” said Millie Irizarry, Chief Executive Officer of the Latin American Association, upon notification of this award. “While their sportsmanship continues to motivate our children, the Gwinnett Braves have also chosen to support one of our very dear events. Thanks to their contribution, the LAA’s supply drive provided nearly one thousand children with much needed essentials for school work. The Gwinnett Braves have helped us send these children and their families another message of hope which will be unforgettable to them and also to us.”

The G-Braves will honor the LAA in an in-game presentation on Sunday, August 29th when the team takes on the Norfolk Tides at 2:05 p.m. Volunteers, staff and families served by LAA will also be in attendance and are invited to a pregame Q&A with a G-Braves player.

Organizations interested in applying for a Gwinnett Braves grant can visit the Community page on gwinnettbraves.com for more information.

About the Latin American Association
The Latin American Association’s (LAA) mission is to help Latino families achieve their aspirations for academic, social and economic advancement. They accomplish this through direct programs and integrated community partnerships that focus on youth academic achievement, education and prevention, and services to families with urgent needs. Last year alone, over 60,000 individuals and their families sought assistance from the LAA. For more information on the LAA visit thelaa.org.

T-Yanks Team Up with Metropolitan Ministries

Saks Salon Gives At Risk Children a Back to School Treat

Have you ever lived with constant fear of not knowing where you were going to sleep at night, or where your next meal was going to come from? This fear is a reality for thousands of children within the Tampa Bay area every day.

Metropolitan Ministries, along with the Tampa Yankees, and Saks Fifth Avenue not only put a smile on 35 childrens’ faces today, but gave them all back to school makeovers with a day at the Saks Salon and Spa. The makeovers included haircuts for every child, along with manicures for all the girls. What a treat!

” This is a great experience for the kids to come out and get pampered for the day. They get to feel like a regular kid, prepping, and getting ready to go back to school.” States AnaMaria Mendez Community Relations Coordinator of Metropolitan Ministries.

Saks has hosted this event for the past 13 years. This is the third year that they have actually brought the children into the store instead of doing the event onsite at Metropolitan Ministries. This event put off the reality they are living with for a few hours so they can have a great time just being a kid!

The Tampa Yankees mascot, “Blue”, made an appearance for the big day, and passed out backpacks filled with TY hats, folders, and kidz packs. The kids absolutely loved all of their goodies, and the thrill of taking pictures with “Blue.”

Metropolitan Ministries has been serving the Tampa Bay community for 38 years. There are over 20,000 homeless in the area, many of them being children. Metropolitan Ministries is helping as many as 150 families a day, providing them opportunities to get back on their feet. Last year there were over 200 children that resided with their families at Metropolitan Ministries.

Metropolitan Ministries truly are making a difference within our community and changing many children’s lives one day at a time.

“To care for the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless in our community through services that alleviate suffering , promote dignity, and instill self sufficiency… as an expression of the ongoing ministry of Jesus Christ.”– Mission Statement of Metropolitan Ministries

Link to original article by Kristin McComas
Tampa Yankees mascot, “Blue”, passed out backpacks filled with TY hats, folders, and kidz packs.

THUNDER FANS DO “GOOD DEEDS”

On Saturday, August 14, the Trenton Thunder hosted the first ever “Good Deed Game” with over 200 fans participating by making at least one donation to the four drives held outside the stadium.

The event featured a blood drive to benefit the Community Blood Council of New Jersey, a school supplies drive to support the learning center at the East Trenton Chapter of Habitat for Humanity, a non-perishable food drive to benefit the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank and a toiletries drive to support HomeFront.

Of the over 200 fans who made donations, 25% supported one organization, 40% made two donations, 31% supported three drives and 4% donated to all four.

“We always say we have the best fans in baseball and their giving nature really backed up that statement,” said Thunder Director of Community Relations Patience Purdy. “It was a lot of fun to see families with little kids getting excited about making a donation to help others.”

The Community Blood Council of New Jersey Blood Mobile collected 20 pints of blood, enough blood to potentially save 60 lives.  The 20 pints collected is the highest of the three drives held at Waterfront Park this year.

The Mercer Street Friends Food Bank collected 814 pounds of nonperishable food.  Mercer Street Friends notes that the amount is enough to supply a family of four with food for two months.  In the last two years, Thunder fans have donated over 1,700 pounds of food for the food bank through Trenton Thunder drives.

While quantifying the amount of school supplies collected is difficult, Patty Hughes, the Development Coordinator for Habitat for Humanity Trenton Area said, “The Habitat volunteers were overwhelmed with the response from the game attendees.  They mentioned that the bags of school supplies filled their car.  Please know how much the HFH-TA staff and the community appreciates the generosity of the Trenton Thunder and the fans.  The work and the commitment of all of the non-profits in Mercer County is amazing in these tough economic times. ”

HomeFront, an organization that helps families break the cycle of poverty, collected over 250 personal care items – shampoo, conditioner, lotion, bandaids, bar soap, toothpaste tubes and other toiletry items that will be put to use in their Family Preservation Center and other residences.

“Trenton Thunder fans are fun people with great big hearts!  The personal items that were collected cannot be bought with food stamps and provide a lot of comfort to people in genuine need,” said Anita Hanft, Director of Mission Advancement for HomeFront.

The Thunder provided incentives to fans who supported these local non-profit organizations.  Fans who donated to any one of the causes received a ticket to the Thunder’s Fan Appreciation Night vs. Akron on Thursday, September 2 at 7:05 pm.  People who donated to any two of the drives received the game ticket and a Thunder hat.  Individuals who supported three causes got the ticket, hat and on September 2nd they will be recognized on the field and throw a ceremonial pitch before the game. Those who support all four drives got everything plus a food voucher.

Miracle Game Day Volunteer Awarded Scholarship

The Fort Myers Miracle are proud to announce that Rebecca Garcia has been awarded the Florida Marlins / Florida State League scholarship. Each year the Miracle and the 11 other teams in the Florida State League partner with the Florida Marlins and award one deserving person from each club a $1,500 educational scholarship.

Garcia, a Fort Lauderdale native, is currently a senior at Florida Gulf Coast University and slated to graduate in December, with a degree in Sports Management and Marketing. She is in her first summer as a game day volunteer with the Miracle, learning the finer points of the team’s extensive game day operations. She also has been very active in the nightly operation of the team’s merchandise shop.

“Rebecca is a fine representative of our strong game day volunteer group this season. She has taken on many roles and has been eager to learn about the business side of minor league baseball,” said Miracle General Manager Steve Gliner. “We feel she is a deserving recipient and I know she will use it to further her major.”

The Florida Marlins have sponsored the program with the Florida State League the past 11 years through their Community Foundation and the Executive Director, Nancy Olson. The foundation has now contributed $95,000 to this program.

The award is based both on financial need and grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. To be eligible for the scholarship, students must be a member of the team’s gameday operations team, an employee of, or the child or grandchild of an employee of the participating club during the 2010 Florida State League Season, and must be at least a high school junior by the 2010 Fall Term.

“I have learned so much this summer. I can’t even begin to describe my experience and all the knowledge I have gained from the Miracle staff”, said Garcia.

League President Chuck Murphy stated; “This program is one of the best things we do in this League and I congratulate the General Managers on their dedication and emphasis in administering this program. The purpose of the program is to send a message that an education is key to success in life.”

RiverDogs and Charleston RBI Hit Home Run with 2010 Season

As the Charleston RiverDogs have roared through the 2010 season, their paw print in the community has extended far beyond the confines of Riley Park, specifically through Major League Baseball’s Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program.

For the third year in a row the RiverDogs have partnered up with MLB and the local Boys and Girls Club of the Trident Area to establish the Charleston RBI program, putting together two Charleston Yankees teams, an age 13-15 squad and a 16-18 year-old team.

Charleston RBI is a youth outreach program designed to:

  1. Increase participation and interest in baseball and softball
  2. Encourage academic participation and achievement
  3. Increase number of talented athletes prepared to play in college and minor leagues
  4. Promote greater inclusion of minorities into the mainstream of the game
  5. Teach the value of teamwork

The senior squad (ages 16-18) finished up their regular season on Saturday, July 10. Led by head coaches Herm Winningham and Lerone Johnson, who doubles as head administrator of the Charleston program, the team finished the 2010 regular season campaign on high note. Coach Winningham helped the players improve all aspects of their games, having previously been an assistant coach with the RiverDogs and played nine years in the major leagues, even winning a World Series with the Cincinnati Reds in 1990.

The veteran club participated in the 2010 KPMG RBI Southeast Regional Tournament in Jupiter, Fla. from July 29- Aug. 1 along with three other teams from the region. The senior team did not advance past the Regional round however, finishing with a 0-3 record, as the Atlanta team withdrew from the tournament. The Southeast Regional was won by the senior team based out of Tampa.

The tournament, hosted by the Florida Marlins RBI program, was played at Roger Dean Stadium, home of the Jupiter Hammerheads and Palm Beach Cardinals. The winner of the Southeast regional earned a spot in the RBI World Series, which is currently being played at Roger Dean Stadium as well through Aug. 14.

The junior Charleston Yankees, led by head coach Timothy Easchues and assistant coach Charles Kinard, played a high level of baseball throughout their season. The junior league has seen their talent pool significantly increase in recent years as the RBI program has spread its message on a much broader scale throughout the Charleston area.

The junior squad finished the Regional tournament with a 0-4 record. In their losing efforts the Charleston team showed tremendous heart and determination, dropping three of four contests by a combined five runs. The Florida Marlins RBI team advanced from the Junior bracket.

Though their seasons came to a close in Jupiter, both the Junior and Senior teams had an experience they are likely to remember for a long time. The host Marlins RBI program held a bowling night for all the participating teams Thursday night prior to the tournament’s first games.

After Saturday’s games, the players from both teams remained at Roger Dean Stadium to take in a Palm Beach Cardinals’ game. Following the Palm Beach 3-1 victory over Clearwater, the Charleston teams had a chance to meet with Palm Beach Cardinals manager and Major League Baseball veteran Luis Aguayo.

Aguayo, a native of Puerto Rico, played in the major leagues from 1980-1989, including stints with the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians. The former big league infielder offered tips and advice on success and achieving goals both on and off the baseball diamond.

Six players from the junior Charleston Yankees club have been selected to participate in the 2010 Perfect Game Showcase in Atlanta, Ga. from Aug. 21-22. Perfect Game USA’s mission is to further the development and career of the talented high school baseball player.

These six players will participate in a baseball combine at the world-class East Cobb Complex in Marietta, Ga. intended to showcase their talents for the scouts and college coaches in attendance.

Perfect Game USA has a track record of sending top prospects into the collegiate and professional ranks. Perfect Game alumni include former RiverDogs and Major League players Carl Crawford, Elijah Dukes, Austin Jackson and BJ Upton.

The RBI program recently took center stage when it helped kick off the All-Star Game celebration in Los Angeles this past week. With the success of the program amongst older teenagers, MLB has recently shifted gears to bring more attention to the Jr. RBI Program, focusing on children ages 5-12.

The second annual Jr. RBI Classic, held from Friday, July 9 to Monday, July 12, featured eight baseball teams and four softball teams made up of 11 and 12-year-olds from all around the country. The celebration culminated with the RBI program presented a check to the Boy and Girls Club of America prior to the MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 13.

Gwinnett Braves take a break at Eagle Ranch

Gwinnett Braves players took a time off from baseball Monday for fishing and fellowship with the youngsters at Eagle Ranch children’s home in Hall County.

The players joined the youngsters at Eagle Ranch’s 10-acre lake, enjoying the surprisingly cool and overcast weather. Pitcher Todd Redmond took rod and reel in hand and said the fishing and meeting the young residents was a welcome break from the mound.

“Any time you get out and fish is a fun time, especially coming out and fishing with the kids,” Redmond said. “It helps everybody, it helps get my mind off baseball and helps the kids more than anything.”

Eagle Ranch girls had an arts and crafts session with wives and family members of some of the players during the once a year visit. Wes Timmons, Matt Young, Cory Gearrin, Vladimir Nunez and Scott Proctor were other Gwinnett Braves players who came out to visit.

Eagle Ranch assistant councilor Greg Owens said the visit was about relationship building, and building character.

“A lot of the stuff we work on is building character through sports and participation and team activities,” Owens said.

Owens said around 64 boys and girls from eight to 18 years of age now reside at the ranch, set up in 1985 on a 270 campus in south Hall County to provide help to children in crisis with counseling and education.

Link to original story by Jerry Gunn.

Gwinnett Braves players join the youngsters at Eagle Ranch’s 10-acre lake

League of Dreams Takes Flight

The Cedar Rapids “League of Dreams” celebrated opening night June 15, 2010 at Jones Park. All participants were 2nd and 3rd graders from five local schools severely affected by the flood of 2008. The league consisted of six teams that played a total of twelve games that culminated on July 21st.

The “Cedar Rapids League of Dreams” is an outgrowth of the Jones Park Baseball Project which was announced last fall in response to the flood that devastated Cedar Rapids in 2008. The Jones Park Project was formed to upgrade the number and quality of baseball fields in Cedar Rapids. Now, the “League of Dreams” gives 75 kids a chance to play on one of those fields. The league was designed to help schools, children, and families hit the hardest by the flood to participate in a fun, relaxed, and informative baseball program.

The 75 youngsters and 6 coaches who comprised the new League of Dreams visited Perfect Game Field Thursday, July 1 for a Cedar Rapids Kernels pre-game ceremony. Jim Ecker from Perfect Game, Tom Barbee, President of the Kernels Foundation, and Mike O’Neil with the Parks and Recreation Department, presided over the ceremony.
The teams played a game on Perfect Game Field and enjoyed a picnic at Veterans Memorial Stadium on July 27th to wrap-up the season.

The youth baseball league, sponsored by the Cedar Rapids Kernels, Perfect Game USA, Rawlings Sporting Goods, Minor League Baseball Charities, the Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation Department, with a big assist from the Baseball Tomorrow Fund, offered 75 girls and boys the chance to play baseball this summer at no cost. The newly formed League of Dreams will become an annual event each summer.

Perfect Game USA employee Jim Ecker gives instructions to League of Dream players prior to a game at Perfect Game Field

Charleston RiverDogs Donate $20,000 to MUSC Storm Eye Institute

The Charleston RiverDogs have yet again left a large paw print on the fight against blindness and retinitis pigmentosa.

Prior to the Thursday, July 29 contest against the Greenville Drive at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park, RiverDogs General Manager Dave Echols presented a check for $20,000 to Dr. Ed Wilson and Dr. Craig Crosson of the MUSC Storm Eye Institute.

The donation comes primarily from the RiverDogs’ 11th annual Kindness Beats Blindness auction, which was held on June 26 of this year.

The auction came as a result of RiverDogs President Mike Veeck’s daughter, Rebecca, being diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a group of inherited diseases causing retinal degeneration.  Veeck and his wife, Libby, have dedicated themselves and most of their charitable efforts toward fighting blindness.

“To work hand-in-hand with the Charleston community for such a worthy cause is something we, as an organization, really look forward to every year,” said Echols. “Seeing first-hand the effect this disease can have on a family adds a level of personality and affection to our auction efforts.”

With proceeds amounting in the thousands each of the 11 years of the auction, the team and the Charleston community as a whole have raised more than $400,000 towards preventative research for the degenerative disease.

For more information on the MUSC Storm Eye institute and their effort to battle RP and other degenerative retinal diseases visit www.muschealth.com/eyes.

Charleston RiverDogs General Manager Dave Echols (center) presents a ceremonial check in the amount of $20,000 to the MUSC Storm Eye Institute’s Dr. Ed Wilson (left) and Dr. Craig Crosson (right) prior to the club’s July 29 contest against the Greenville Drive at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park. (RiverDogs photo by Andy Lange.)