Archives for October 2012

Midwest League Fines Benefit Caritas, Inc.

October 29, 2012

The Beloit Snappers have donated $420.00 to Caritas, Inc. as part of the Midwest League’s On-Field Behavior Policy.

Each season, the Midwest League asks its member teams to select a deserving group or organization in their respective community to receive a portion of the money collected from fines handed out as part of the league On-Field Behavior Policy. Past organizations selected have included Beloit Turner High School Baseball Program, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Beloit Memorial High School Baseball Program, Beloit Youth Hockey Association, Stateline Youth Sports Complex, Rock County Habitat for Humanity and the YMCA’s Partners of Youth Program.

“We are very excited to help Caritas,” stated Snappers General Manager Matt Bosen. “Though no one wants to condone negative behavior on the playing field, to be able to take the fine money and donate it to a program that will put food on so many families’ tables this Thanksgiving, it is a very rewarding program. Through the program, our players learn how to take a negative experience and learn from it. The lessons they learn benefit their personal development and the greater good of the community.”

This annual donation is just one of the many ways the Snappers and Midwest League Teams make efforts to give back to their communities. The Snappers are very involved in the Stateline Community, donating to hundreds of different causes each and every year.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Beloit Snappers. Click here to view the original story.

RiverDogs volunteer with Fields to Families

October 27, 2012

Each month during the off-season, the Charleston RiverDogs close the office to complete one day of volunteer service with a local nonprofit organization. In October, the Charleston RiverDogs Front Office Staff spent their monthly Staff Volunteer Day with the nonprofit organization Fields to Families. Members of the staff gleaned vegetables from a local farm to donate to local food banks and soup kitchens.

“It was awesome to get out there and get our hands dirty,” says RiverDogs Director of Media Relations & Broadcasting Sean Houston. “It was rewarding, and fun, and I hope we get to do it again soon.”

Fields to Families is a nonprofit organization, founded in 2006, that helps the hungry in the Charleston community gain access to nutritious fruits and vegetables.

Fields to Families’ operates as a three step process. The organization depends greatly on local farms who generously offer unused fruits and vegetables to Fields to Families, which are then harvested by volunteers, like the RiverDogs staff. Those fruits and vegetables then make their way to Lowcountry organizations that feed the hungry, including food pantries, soup kitchens, Meals on Wheels, shelters and churches. It is these recipient agencies who complete the process and distribute the harvested foods to the hungry and needy.

The RiverDogs staff spends the day volunteering with Fields to Families.

Director of Media Relations, Sean Houston and Sales Representative, Annie Fuller.

Scrappers Receive HandsOn Volunteer Network Corporate Partner in Service Award

October 25, 2012

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers have been chosen to receive the HandsOn Volunteer Network Corporate Partner in Service Award. The award recognizes a corporation that has demonstrated a commitment to the Mahoning Valley by promoting corporate responsibility through financial resources and extensions of service opportunities to its employees. The Corporate Partner in Service Award recipient has had measurable impact on local organizations by a commitment to service through corporate engagement programs and the philosophy of giving back to the Mahoning Valley.

Scrappers General Manager Jordan Taylor states, “The Mahoning Valley Scrappers are honored to have been chosen as the 2012 recipient of the HandsOn Volunteer Network Corporate Partner in Service Award. One of the primary goals of the franchise is to play an active role in the community through donations and community involvement of our Front Office”.

HandsOn Volunteer Network awards will be presented during the HandsOn Volunteer Network Awards Celebration on Thursday, November 8, 2012 with a dinner and program at the Avalon Golf and Country Club, Squaw Creek, beginning at 5:30pm. Call the HOVN office at 330-782-5877 to make reservations. Tickets are $30 per person.

Season tickets for the 2013 Scrappers season are now on sale. Contact the front office at 330-505-0000 for more information.
This article originally appeared on the official website of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers. Click here to view the original story.

Syracuse Chiefs help raise $1,600 to assist with pet overpopulation problem

October 17, 2012

Strikeouts by team’s bullpen lead to donation for SANS

For the fifth consecutive year Spay And Neuter Syracuse (SANS) has received a hefty check from Beaver Lake Animal Hospital, with help from the Syracuse Chiefs relief pitchers.

Earlier today at Alliance Bank Stadium, Dr. Sandra Fitzpatrick of Beaver Lake Animal Hospital presented a $1,600 check to Spay And Neuter Syracuse (SANS).

Prior to the 2008 season Dr. Fitzpatrick approached the Syracuse Chiefs with an idea to raise money to help stop the pet overpopulation problem in the area and to raise awareness that it does exist.

Dr. Fitzpatrick pledged to donate $10.00 for every strike out of the visiting team recorded by a Syracuse Chiefs relief pitcher at Alliance Bank Stadium that season and has continued the program every year since. The Chiefs bullpen tallied 160 home strikeouts during the 2012 campaign.

“It is my pleasure to have teamed with the Syracuse Chiefs relief pitchers again this season to help strike out the overpopulation of pets,” said Dr. Fitzpatrick. “I’m very appreciative of the opportunity that the Syracuse Chiefs have provided to raise awareness for SANS and this very important topic.”

“The Syracuse Chiefs commend both Dr. Fitzpatrick and SANS for their efforts to make a positive impact on our community,” said Chiefs General Manager John Simone. “We are very pleased that this program has continued for five seasons and we look forward to being a part of it for many years to come.”

Monies raised will go directly to Spay and Neuter Syracuse (SANS), a low cost spay and neuter clinic located in Syracuse and the only one of its kind in Onondaga County. The clinic has spayed and neutered over 10,000 animals since its inception November 2005.

SANS is a volunteer based 501(c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to reducing the pet overpopulation problem by spaying and neutering unowned cats and dogs and animals belonging to persons of low income. To donate to Spay And Neuter Syracuse, please call (315)422-7970. Visit their website at www.spayandneutersyracuse.com.

Beaver Lake Animal Hospital, a full service animal hospital, is located in Baldwinsville, New York. They can be reached by phone at (315)635-6241 or on the web at www.beaverlakeanimalhospital.net.

Syracuse SANS Donation — Scooch and Chiefs Assistant GM Mike Voutsinas helped Dr. Sandra Fitzpatrick of Beaver Lake Animal Hospital present a check to Christine Berry, President of SANS.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Syracuse Chiefs. Click here to view the original story.

Sandersville Elementary celebrates ‘Hit the Books’ win

October 12, 2012

Sandersville Elementary School students held a celebration Friday after winning the Lexington Legends/Chick-fil-A “Hit the Books” Reading Program contest for 2012.

In “Hit the Books,” a baseball diamond is used to record credit for a student’s reading. For every book a student reads, a teacher places his or her initials on a base. When the student has all three bases and home plate initialed by the teacher, the student may bring a “Hit the Books” bookmark to the Legends’ box office at Whitaker Bank Ballpark to exchange it for two tickets.

The 2012 season was the 12th for Legends baseball, and also marked the 12th year that the Legends have been associated with the “Hit the Books” program. About 125,000 central Kentucky students have participated.

During the 2012 season, Sandersville Elementary students redeemed 260 bookmarks – more than any other school. All 800 students and faculty were rewarded with a free chicken nugget party, with the Legends’ Big L and the Chick-fil-A cow serving as hosts.

“Hit the Books reading incentive program is designed to encourage kids to read books in and away from school,” said Sarah Piester, the Legends’ director of community relations. “We believe the program generates a greater enjoyment of reading while tying it to baseball. We were thrilled with the number of students who participated overall and could not be more proud of Sandersville Elementary students for their accomplishment.”

Sandersville Elementary School students celebrated their win in the Lexington Legends/Chick-fil-A Hit the Books Reading Program with a chicken nuggets party Friday at the school. The Chick-fil-A cow and the Legends “Big L” served as hosts. (Photo: Lexington Legends – Sarah Piester)

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Lexington Legends. Click here to view the original story.

RiverDogs Staff Raise Funds for American Heart Association

October 8, 2012

The Lowcountry Heart Walk is the American Heart Association’s mission in action. This annual celebration promotes physical activity and heart healthy living in a fun, family and dog friendly environment. There is a Survivor Reception for Cardiovascular & Stroke survivors and their caregivers. More than 5000 walkers are anticipated to participate in this non competitive one or three mile walk event. As our signature fundraising event, the Lowcountry Heart Walk is raising critical dollars for the American Heart Association’s lifesaving mission.

The Charleston RiverDogs front office staff started a Heart Walk team with a collective fundraising goal of $1,500. By the day of the Heart Walk, the RiverDogs staff were able to donate a total of $1,675 for the American Heart Association.

On September 29th, a police-estimated 5,200 people — men and women of all ages and ethnicities — gathered to celebrate survival, “miracles” and raised a projected $650,000 to help more fight the No. 1 killer of Americans, cardiovascular disease and defects. The walk also focuses on lifestyle change to improve heart health.

This year’s Heart Walk chairwoman, Anita Zucker, said the event helps highlight the Heart Association’s goal to reduce deaths from cardiovascular disease and strokes by 20 percent by 2020.

“To reach this goal, we must start in our communities across the nation,” urges Zucker. “Thank you for committing today to stand for positive change in our community. Today is the day we begin to walk more, eat better and live longer.”

Sales Representatives Annie Fuller and David Cullins and Director of Media Relations at the starting line of the 2012 Heart Walk

Virginia Eagle supports military families

October 4, 2012

The Pulaski Distributing company donates $1,000 to the Military Family Support Center

PULASKI, VA – The Pulaski Mariners are pleased to announce that Virginia Eagle Distributing has donated $1,000 to the Military Family Support Center of Salem, Virginia. Both organizations have partnered with the Mariners during the 2012 season.

The donation was a result of the Mariners Homerun Promotion, in which Virginia Eagle and Budweiser made a donation of $50 for each homerun hit by the Mariners at Calfee Park. The 2012 Mariners hit a combined 17 homeruns during the season to reach an $850 total, and Virginia Eagle donated an extra $150 for a grand total of $1,000.

The Military Family Support Center is located in Salem, Virginia, and focuses on the welfare and needs of military families of service men and women. They provide goods, information, and socialization for military families of active and reserved service men and women in the area. For more information on how to help, see the Military Family Support Center’s website at milfamily.org.

For any questions, please contact the ballpark at 540-980-1070 or email the Mariners at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Pulaski Yankees. Click here to view the original story.

Miracle Field Play Begins for Fall

October 3, 2012

The Braves Miracle Field of Rome kicks off its fall season beginning Saturday October 20th. The Rome Braves and Rome Floyd Parks & Recreation Authority are in need of volunteers for the season that runs through November 17.

The younger division will play each Saturday at 12:30pm and the older division will play at 1:30pm. A pre-season practice will be held on Saturday October 13th.

For those interested in playing, the registration fee which includes your uniform and end of season reward remains $50 per player. Scholarships are available.

If you have any questions, please contact Tammy Bryant with RFPRA at 706-234-0383 or Erin Elrod with the Rome Braves at 706-368-9388.

Click here to download a registration form now.
This article originally appeared on the official website of the Rome Braves. Click here to view the original story.