Archives for December 2011

RiverDogs Front Office Staff Volunteer Days

Each month during the off-season, the Charleston RiverDogs close the office to complete a day of volunteer service with a local nonprofit organization. Since October, the RiverDogs have worked with Susan G. Komen For the Cure and Lowcountry Food Bank. On December 20, the RiverDogs staff spent the day volunteering at the Pet Helpers Adoption Center.

The team met with Erica Marcus, Volunteer and Off-Site Adoption Coordinator, to tour the facility and learn more about the work of Pet Helpers, before getting started. Throughout the morning, the RiverDogs staff assisted the Pet Helpers staff by unloading and washing the event van, raking leaves off the walking trails, preparing dog treats, and playing and walking the adoptable dogs. “I really enjoy our Staff Volunteer Days. It’s a very rewarding experience and a great way to really make a difference in our community,” commented Sean Houston, RiverDogs Director of Media Relations.

Pet Helpers is a private, non-profit 501c 3 Adoption Center and Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic that serves communities across the Lowcountry. Their mission is to end the euthanasia of all adoptable cats and dogs by keeping all animals until adopted; providing low cost spay/neuter surgeries; offering humane education programs; pursuing animal cruelty prosecution; and initiating animal welfare legislation. For more information on how to donate, volunteer, or adopt a pet, please visit www.pethelpers.org

Top Row (from left to right): Director of Food and Beverage, Josh Gilkey; Director of Community Relations, Lauren Allio; Sales Representative, Annie Fuller; Director of Media Relations, Sean Houston; and Box Office Manager, David Cullins.
Bottom Row (from left to right): Assistant General Manager, Harold Craw; Director of Promotions, Noel Blaha; and Assistant General Manager, Andy Lange.

Fisher Cats Staff Gives Back During Holiday Season

Manchester, NH – Fisher Cats front office members were in the holiday spirit as they volunteered their time and resources for several community organizations this week. On Thursday, they spent the day volunteering with non-profit organizations for the Fisher Cats Day of Caring. Earlier in the week, the team participated in the Salvation Army’s Adopt-a-Family program, contributing gifts to brighten the holidays of a local family.

“This is one of the most enjoyable weeks for our team every year,” said Rick Brenner, Fisher Cats President. “Getting to work with these organizations on such worthy causes is a privilege for our entire staff. We are honored to be able to partner with them as they enhance the holiday season for so many families.”

The annual Fisher Cats Day of Caring arranges for staff members to spend the day with a non-profit organization each December. This year, some of the staff headed to New Horizons for New Hampshire to assist its staff with the preparation of holiday food deliveries. At the Manchester Animal Shelter, another group helped the morning crew of workers with their daily chores, including walking and feeding dogs and cats and general cleaning around the shelter.

Prior to the Fisher Cats Day of Caring, the entire staff contributed a bundle of gifts as they adopted a family for the holidays. In conjunction with the Salvation Army, staff provided toys, clothing, and Fisher Cats tickets and merchandise to a family in need in southern New Hampshire.

Participation in these programs has been a holiday tradition for the Fisher Cats front office for several years. During that time, the team has worked with several non-profits organizations.

Opening Day is Thursday, April 12, 2012, at 6:35 PM against the New Britain Rock Cats, Double-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. Fisher Cats 2012 Mini-Ticket Plans and Season Tickets are on sale now at the Fisher Cats Ticket Office at 1 Line Drive, Manchester, NH 03101, online at www.nhfishercats.com, or by calling the Fisher Cats at 603-641-2005.
This article originally appeared on the official website of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Click here to view the original story.

Lehigh Valley Toyota Tundra Food Drive

LehighValleyIronPigs_2011-12-14

The Lehigh Valley Toyota Dealerships will be collecting non-perishable food items this holiday season, during the 2nd annual Lehigh Valley Toyota Tundra Food Drive in support of local food bank, Second Harvest Food Bank of Lehigh Valley and Northeast Pennsylvania. The 2011 edition of the Lehigh Valley Toyota Tundra Food Drive is scheduled to culminate on Monday, December 19 at 11:30AM, when a convoy of Toyota Tundra pick-up trucks will deliver the collected non-perishable food items to the Second Harvest Food Bank warehouse in Allentown.

Included in the Lehigh Valley Toyota Dealers is Krause Toyota in Fogelsville, Bennett Toyota in Allentown and Milham Toyota in Easton. When asked about the importance of the Tundra Food Drive Milham Toyota Owner Kurt Koch stated that “It is very important to the Lehigh Valley Toyota Dealers that we put our best efforts in supporting hunger relief initiatives in the Lehigh Valley. We are so proud to be working hand and hand with our partner the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the local media and the great people at Second Harvest to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to get a warm meal this holiday season.”

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs will be supporting the 2011 Lehigh Valley Toyota Tundra Food Drive by way of food collection and providing special appearances by Lehigh Valley IronPigs mascots. “We are thrilled to partner with the Lehigh Valley Toyota Dealers to support Second Harvest Food Bank this holiday season. The Toyota Tundra Food Drive is a great opportunity to help those in need in our local community; we encourage our fans to participate by bringing donations to their local Lehigh Valley Toyota Dealership or the Majestic Clubhouse Store at Coca-Cola Park” said Lehigh Valley IronPigs General Manager Kurt Landes of partnering with the Lehigh Valley Toyota Dealers in the annual food drive.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Lehigh Valley and Northeastern Pennsylvania provides food and grocery products to more than 66,000 individuals each month through a network of more than 200 member agencies. These agencies include emergency pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and child care, rehabilitation, and senior citizen centers. “Donations from community food drives provide much needed variety to the product that we can offer to our members. Variety is not only the “spice of life,” it can lead to improved nutrition for program participants. We greatly appreciate the Lehigh Valley Toyota Dealers contribution to our efforts to end hunger” said Ann McManus, Director of Second Harvest Food Bank.

“As a proud member of the Lehigh Valley Toyota Dealers we are honored to donate food to Second Harvest Food Bank during the Toyota Tundra Food Drive” said Chris Zerfass, General Manager of Bennett Toyota in Allentown. “Second Harvest Food Banks mission aligns with our desire to help people in need of food and to distribute that food right here in the Lehigh Valley.”

These thoughts were echoed by Bob Krause, Owner of Krause Toyota in Fogelsville who insisted that “the Lehigh Valley Toyota Dealers are very proud to be a driving force towards hunger relief in the Lehigh Valley. With the support we have received from our customers we are excited to have collected supplies for Second Harvest Food Bank. We are hopeful that this will make a difference in the lives of Lehigh Valley residence in need and for better times ahead.”

The Lehigh Valley Toyota Dealers is comprised of Bennett Toyota in Allentown, Krause Toyota in Fogelsville and Milham Toyota in Easton. Second Harvest Food Bank of Lehigh Valley and Northeastern Pennsylvania is located at 2045 Harvest Way in Allentown.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Click here to view the original story.

RiverDogs Wrap Up 2nd “Inning” of Reading Initiative

The Charleston RiverDogs and the Charleston County School District have completed the second inning of their “Reading and Running With the RiverDogs” program, which emphasizes the fun and benefits in daily reading and exercise activities.

In the program’s second year, the number of participating schools has increased from nine to twelve local elementary schools. Participating schools for the 2011-2012 school year are Burns, Chicora, Goodwin, Mary Ford, Mitchell, Dunston, Hursey, Sanders-Clyde, North Charleston, Pinehurst, Memminger and James Simons elementary schools.

“The program is an excellent way for children to learn about the importance of reading and exercising, while associating the two with Charlie T. RiverDog” said RiverDogs General Manager Dave Echols. “The RiverDogs are pleased to have this direct association with the Charleston County School District, and we hope to continue to increase participation each year.”

Two third-grade classes from each school participate in the program, which consists of four six-week “innings” with first, second and third place ribbons awarded in each individual class after the completion of each inning and at the conclusion of the program. After an inning is finished, the class with the most points in each school holds the school’s trophy and bragging rights until the next winner is determined after the following inning.

Children receive points each time they reach a designated reading or fitness goal. One point is awarded for every 20 minutes a child spends reading and for every 20 minutes exercising, while two points are awarded if the exercise is done for the good of another (washing a car, raking leaves, walking a neighbor’s dog, and the like).

Each child’s points log must be accumulated outside of class and class assignments. Parents must sign off on the kids’ reading/exercising log. In order to further help the effort, Charlie will visit the kids each inning to pump them up about exercising and reading, and RiverDogs’ staff members will read to the classes during each inning. At the end of each inning and the entire program, Charlie will hand out prizes for the children’s hard work.

Charlie visits M.C. Hursey Elementary School in North Charleston, SC. (photo courtesy of the Charleston RiverDogs)

Staten Islanders Take the Plunge

The 5th Annual Staten Island Polar Bear Plunge was held on December 4th 2011 at the Great Kills Beach.  While the sun was shining and the temperature sat at a brisk 53 degrees, the water in the Atlantic Ocean still ran shivers down your spine.

This event was a fundraiser to raise money for the Special Olympics of New York that serves more than 30,000 athletes across all 5 New York boroughs. While the crowd varied from the youngest plunger of 11 years old, to high school participants, adults, athletes, college students and community volunteers, more than 700 people took the plunge at noon into the icy ocean.  Some participants dipped their toes in while others fully submerged and continued to splash around in the water after the initial plunge was over.

Among the participants were Jill Wright of the Staten Island Yankees who did not wear a wetsuit for fear of cheating and made sure to dive into the ocean like a true sport and supporter of the Special Olympics. While Jill was the only brave heart of the Staten Island Yankees to take the plunge, other volunteers helped take pictures, run registration, and set up and break down the event. Volunteers included: Michael Kitlas, John DeLuca, Heidi Silber, Matt Magnani, Ryan Woodley, Chris Anderson, Kerry Haley and of course, Scooter the Holy Cow.

The event was expected to raise over $100,000 and fun was had by all.

Taking the plunge, in action!
Local high schools participants along with Scooter, Plunge Bear and Chicken