The New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, today announced that $157, 861.68 was raised for charity at the Granite State Baseball Dinner, presented by Northeast Delta Dental, on November 20, 2010. Monies raised through dinner ticket sales, raffle tickets and silent and live memorabilia auctions benefit the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock (CHaD), the Ted Williams Museum and the Fisher Cats Foundation.
“We are thrilled to have held another successful evening of fundraising and entertainment with so many friends, fans, business partners and volunteers at the Granite State Baseball Dinner, presented by Northeast Delta Dental,” said Fisher Cats owner and chairman of the Fisher Cats Foundation board Art Solomon. “Thanks to the courtesy of our special guests and the generosity of our community, many wonderful memories were made to go along with meaningful financial contributions toward the worthy charities.”
“On behalf of everyone at CHaD, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the entire Fisher Cats organization, the Ted Williams Museum and the hard working volunteer committee members who helped make the Granite State Baseball Dinner a resounding success,” said Paul Merguerian, MD, Director of CHaD. “As New Hampshire’s only comprehensive, full service children’s hospital, we are extremely grateful for the Fisher Cats’ generous commitment to the children and families of NH. It is because of acts of generosity and kindness like this that we are able to provide the very best care for all our state’s children regardless of their family’s ability to pay. Thank you Fisher Cats-you are number one in our book.”
CHaD, the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, is New Hampshire’s only NACRI approved, comprehensive, full-service, family-centered children’s hospital. CHaD offers compassionate care for the most critically ill and injured children throughout New Hampshire and Vermont, and beyond, regardless of a family’s ability to pay. The proceeds received from the Granite State Baseball Dinner help CHaD further its mission to provide each child the best care, in the right place, at the right time, every time. CHaD’s facilities include a comprehensive, full-service hospital in Lebanon, which is also home to northern New England’s only Level-I Pediatric Trauma Center, and outpatient facilities offering a full array of specialty care in Lebanon, Manchester, Nashua and Dover. In southern New Hampshire alone, there are 53 specialists in over 16 pediatric specialties delivering care close to home for kids with chronic and acute illnesses. As a part of the renowned Dartmouth Medical School, with its stellar reputation for innovative research, CHaD’s physicians are among the first to know about advancements in technology and clinical practice, which translates to the best care for patients.
The goal of the Ted Williams Museum is to preserve and build on the rich tradition and heritage of our national pastime in a mission of outreach and education. The proceeds received from the Granite State Baseball Dinner are instrumental in ensuring the museum’s continued existence and in providing for numerous youth baseball programs and scholarships for deserving student athletes. The Museum also provides assistance to charitable organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club, the Children’s Dream Fund, the Pediatric Cancer Foundation and many more.
“We are so thrilled to be a part of a truly special event that brings fans and their sports heroes together, all for a selfless and commendable cause,” said Ted Williams Museum and Hitters Hall of Fame Executive Director Dave McCarthy. “We’d like to thank our partners the New Hampshire Fisher Cats and CHaD, and everyone who generously opened up their hearts to help us in furthering our mission of celebrating baseball through outreach and education.”
The Fisher Cats Foundation is a statewide charitable organization dedicated to bettering the lives of young people by supporting CHaD and providing scholarships to college-bound New Hampshire and Massachusetts students. In 2010, the Fisher Cats Foundation awarded $30,000 in scholarships to 12 high school seniors and has awarded a total of $110,000 in scholarships since 2007. With proceeds from the Granite State Baseball Dinner, the Fisher Cats Foundation also makes contributions to local and regional non-profit organizations such as City Year, the American Red Cross, the Monarchs Care Foundation, the Bella Tucker Fund and many more.
The Johnson City Sports Foundation has completed another successful season managing the 2010 Appalachian League Champion Johnson City Cardinals. The foundation will once again fulfill its goals by reinvesting excess revenues into the community by providing funding to local youth educational and athletic endeavors. The JCSF was able to distribute over $20,000 in grants to fourteen area non-profit organizations despite facing another year of economic challenges. “Once again we are privileged to have the opportunity to financially contribute to these organizations that serve the youth in our community” said Mark Fox, President of the Johnson City Sports Foundation. “After several years of consecutive giving the economy has proven that these funds will not always be guaranteed, but we are still happy to give back.”
