Archives for December 2013

All Aboard the Fit Track Program

December 17, 2013

RailRiders’ Community Program Encourages Healthy Lifestyle

Moosic, Pa. – “All aboard” has taken on a whole new meaning. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) are coming down the stretch run for registration in their new Fit Track Program for the 2014 season. Fit Track is designed to enhance schools’ physical education programs and educate children, grades K-5, on the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle. Area schools are encouraged to register for the free program. Registration concludes Friday, Dec. 20 and is limited to the first 15,000 students.

“We are delighted to do whatever we can to promote a healthy lifestyle among our children,” said RailRiders president/GM Rob Crain. “The habits for making healthy decisions begun at a young age can last a lifetime. We hope this program will trigger more and more smart choices.”

Fit Track focuses on three main healthy behaviors: being active at least 60 minutes per day; making healthy food choices; and getting at least eight hours of sleep a night. The RailRiders encourage kids to follow Fit Track by rewarding them with free admission to select SWB RailRiders home games and the chance for pre-game recognition at PNC Field.

For participating in the Fit Track program, each child will receive a RailRiders jump rope, meant to serve as a tool to get kids active outside of school. Jump ropes will be distributed to schools immediately following the return of the school’s registration form to the RailRiders front office, or during the kick-off assembly if applicable. The flexible program allows each school to create a four, eight or 12-week program.

CLICK HERE for registration forms and more information. All contact information is listed on the registration form. For any additional information or questions, please contact community relations manager Rachel Mark at 570-969-2255 ext. 3140 or rmark@swbrailriders.com.

The RailRiders’ 2014 season begins on Thursday, April 3 when the club kicks off a seven-game road trip at Syracuse against the Chiefs (Washington Nationals).The home slate commences a week later on Thursday, April 10 when the Chiefs visit PNC Field for a four-game series and homestand. For season ticket information or to book a ballpark group outing, call (570) 969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.

– SWB RailRiders – All Aboard! –

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees. Click here to view the original story.

Reckless Kelly & Ryan-Sanders Announce Double-Play Charity Effort

December 17, 2013

6th annual Celebrity Softball Jam & Inaugural Pitchin’ Party announced

ROUND ROCK, TX – Award-winning roots-rock band Reckless Kelly, in conjunction with Ryan-Sanders Entertainment, announced a pair of events today that will benefit youth baseball and softball for years to come.

The duo’s signature event, Reckless Kelly’s Celebrity Softball Jam, will be held on Sunday, May 11 at Dell Diamond. Tickets for the 6^th annual event go on sale this Friday, December 20 at 10AM.

RK and RSE also announced the inaugural Reckless Kelly’s Pitchin’ Party, to be held at The Belmont Austin on Tuesday, January 28^th. Building off of the response received over the years through the annual Celebrity Softball Jam, RK is throwing a first-ever downtown Austin charity event in support the Reckless Kelly Charitable Youth Foundation. Reckless Kelly’s Pitchin’ Party will have celebrity guests, an acoustic show by Reckless Kelly and Friends, once-in-a-lifetime auction items, and other special surprises. Go to www.RecklessKelly.com/PitchinParty for more details and to purchase tickets.

Why the need for two events this year?

“This year we decided we really wanted to raise the bar,” said Cody Braun of Reckless Kelly. “The Mabson Field project could be a game changer for kids locally along with similar programs and leagues around the country.”

Proceeds from both events will go towards installation of an artificial turf playing surface at East Austin’s Mabson Field, a youth baseball/softball field located in the heart of one of the most under-resourced neighborhoods in Austin. The field serves boys & girls ages 4 -12 in RBI Austin and the Greater East Austin Youth Association (GEAYA). Through a partnership with AstroTurf and generous contributions from MLB’s Baseball Tomorrow Fund, the Nolan Ryan Foundation, the Round Rock Express, Ryan-Sanders Sports Turf Services and the Reckless Kelly Charitable Youth Foundation, the $270,000 project will be completed by spring 2014.

“This is a huge project, not just in terms of its physical and financial nature, but what it can do for the community,” said Reese Ryan, CEO of Ryan-Sanders Baseball. “We’ve got a great group of partners on this and it’s going to be something everyone can really be proud of.”

RECKLESS KELLY CELEBRITY SOFTBALL JAM

The Celebrity Softball Jam combines nine innings of fun-filled, athleticism-optional softball with a talent-packed postgame concert on two stages in centerfield.

Tickets can be purchased online at RKCSJ.org, by phone at 512.255.BALL (2255) or in person at Dell Diamond box office. Early bird tickets are offered at a discounted price of just $10 until December 31. Starting January 1 tickets will available for $20. Gates open at noon on May 11 with the softball game starting at 1 p.m. The postgame concert is slated to start at 3 p.m. with two stages.

The long list of musicians and athletes that have participated in the past include Kevin Fowler, Randy Rogers, Los Lonely Boys, Mickey & the Motorcars, Hayes Carll, Muzzie Braun, Dale Watson, Charlie Robinson, Wade Bowen, Bruce Robinson & Kelly Willis, Cody Canada & the Departed, Kyle Park, The Trishas, Midnight River Choir, Pauline Reese, Kyle Petty, Norm Charlton, Bret Boone, Kevin Millar, Eric Winston, Brooks Kieschnick, Jesse James Leija, Curtis Thigpen, Ahmad Brooks, Kirk Dressendorfer and Greg Swindell. The 2014 line-up will be announced this spring.

Led by brothers Willy and Cody Braun, the band wanted to create a signature event with friends from the worlds of music and sports combining America’s pastime and music to benefit Austin’s youth. In five years, the Reckless Kelly Celebrity Softball Jam has raised over $150,000.

The Celebrity Softball Jam is a natural extension of band members’ love of the game (and singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” in more than a dozen Major League ballparks). It was conceived by a perfect match: Reckless Kelly, whose members are keenly enthusiastic about baseball and the Round Rock Express, which had long had an interest in bringing music to Dell Diamond.

The Reckless Kelly Celebrity Softball Jam, created and produced by Reckless Kelly in conjunction with Ryan-Sanders Entertainment, is a registered 501C-3 through the Reckless Kelly Charitable Youth Foundation. Ryan-Sanders Entertainment is a division of Ryan-Sanders Baseball, owner/operator of the Round Rock Express (Texas Rangers Triple-A affiliate) and Ryan-Sanders Sports Services. They also operate Dell Diamond.

For more information on the 6th Annual Celebrity Softball Jam, visit www.RKCSJ.org.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Round Rock Express. Click here to view the original story.

P-Nats Front Office Raises 2K to Support “Movember”

December 16, 2013

Team Nationals Mo Bros’ Network Ushered in $2,000 Towards Global Charity, Movember

Woodbridge, VA-In support of Movember, a global charity which raises funds and awareness to assist in proliferating men’s health, male members of the Potomac Nationals front office along with their female counterparts, dubbed Mo Sistas, are proud to announce its Team Nationals Mo Bros yielded a $2,000 donation to support the Movember movement.

Throughout Movember, the P-Nats front office encouraged Nationals fans, family, friends, colleagues, and business partners to join this worldwide initiative in an effort to place the spotlight on men’s health issues including prostate and testicular cancer as well as mental health challenges.

By wearing a mustache for an entire month, Team Nationals Mo Bros members were able to spark a conversation about the Movember charity, and in turn its purpose and impact, while soliciting funds to support this great cause.

Those who donated then grew their own “Mo” and spread the network’s Movember message.

From one mustache to another, funds were sprouted that will be used to facilitate Movember’s effort to catalyze the awareness and education of men’s health issues across the world.

“In Minor League Baseball, I’ve been a part of many fundraising efforts, and in this case, Movember was certainly a terrific way for our staff to raise funds for a great cause, and through their excellent effort, we were able to hit our donation goal,” said Potomac Nationals Vice President/General Manager, Josh Olerud.

“We had a blast participating, and it was a great way to boost off-season cohesion among our front office members. We look forward to building off our first Movember, and creatively we will get even more fans involved next year.”

To generate the Movember buzz among members of the P-Nats fan base, the Nationals rewarded their faithful for donating to the charity with prize packages that included 2014 Opening Day tickets, Pfitzner Stadium food vouchers, P-Nats hats, first pitch opportunities, and player autographs.

As Movember organizers tally the final global contribution to the movement from over 200,000 Mo Bros and Mo Sistas which is expected to be in excess of $20 million, the Potomac Nationals are counting down to the start of Movember 2014 which is only ten and a half months away.

ABOUT MOVEMBER

An official global charity, Movember’s vision is to have an everlasting impact on the face of men’s health. During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of millions of moustaches on men’s faces around the world. Through the power of the Mo, vital funds and awareness are raised to combat prostate and testicular cancer and mental health challenges.

The Movember Effect
Globally, the funds raised by our Mo Bros and Mo Sistas support world-class men’s health programs that combat prostate and testicular cancer and mental health challenges. These programs, directed by the Movember Foundation, are focused on awareness and education, living with and beyond cancer, staying mentally healthy, living with and beyond mental illness and research to achieve our vision of an everlasting impact on the face of men’s health.

Movember- A Global Movement
Since its humble beginnings in 2003 in Melbourne, Australia, Movember has grown to become a truly global movement inspiring more than 3 Million Mo Bros and Mo Sistas to participate across 21 countries worldwide. Movember is also aware of Mo Bros and Mo Sistas supporting the campaign and men’s health causes in other parts of the world, from Moscow to Rio de Janeiro, and everywhere in between.

In 2012, over 1.1 million Mo Bros and Mo Sistas around the world joined the movement, raising USD $147.0 million. In the US, over 209,000 Mo’s raised $21.0 million.

Find out more about the Movember Movement at www.Movember.com.

The Potomac Nationals of the Carolina League play at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Virginia, and are the Class-A Advanced affiliate of the Washington Nationals. P-Nats 2014 season tickets and mini plans are now on sale. Sponsorship opportunities for the 2014 season and beyond are available. Plan your corporate outing now for the 2014 season to see the future stars of the Washington Nationals at The Pfitz as the P-Nats offer discounted group rates and all-inclusive picnic options. Visit the P-Nats online at www.potomacnationals.com or call the Potomac Nationals Ticket Office at 703-590-2311 for more information!

— Potomac Nationals —

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

Gwinnett Braves Award November Grant to Nothing but the Truth

December 11, 2013

“Thanksgiving” themed grant will help fund Weekend Food Bag Ministry program

The Gwinnett Braves have awarded their $1,000 grant for the month of November to the Nothing but the Truth organization, announced on Monday, December 9. The “Thanksgiving” themed grant is aimed at assisting organizations that work to end hunger and/or homelessness.

Based in Dacula, GA, Nothing but the Truth serves food insecure children across Gwinnett County and beyond through its Weekend Food Bag Ministry. The program assists students in Title I schools that have been identified by their counselors as being in a crisis situation and in need of additional food over the weekend and during extended school breaks.

Each Friday, volunteers with Nothing but the Truth supply school counselors with bags filled with kid-friendly items that are sent home with the students in their book bags. Since starting the program in December 2010, Nothing but the Truth has served 18 Gwinnett County schools, one Barrow County school and three Clayton County schools, sending home approximately 360 food bags each week.

The grant awarded to Nothing but the Truth will go directly toward the purchase of food for the Weekend Food Bag Ministry program. In addition to the funds provided, the Gwinnett Braves have extended the partnership further by supplying volunteers to pack food bags once a month.

“It is an honor to work with local Title I schools to help students who are food insecure,” said Scarlett Rigsby, Executive Director of Nothing but the Truth. “No one wants to think of students going home on Friday from school and having little or nothing to eat over the weekend. Unfortunately this is a reality among way too many of our students. This grant from the Gwinnett Braves helps us serve 18 schools and provide food for 360 students per week through our Weekend Food Program.”

About Nothing but the Truth: Nothing but the Truth is a faith-based organization in Gwinnett County that serves the community through three major areas of ministry: the Weekend Food Bag Ministry, the Multi-Housing Ministry and Community Outreach Events. For more information on how you can donate money or volunteer your time, contact Scarlett Rigsby at 770-845-3029 or scarlett@nothingbutthetruth146.org.

This story originally appeared on the Gwinnett Braves website. Click here to view the original story.

AGH Penguin Virtual Swim Announced

December 4, 2013

You can still participate if you won’t be in town

Berlin, Md. – Planners of the 20^th Annual Atlantic General Hospital Penguin Swim just announced a new feature of the event, the Virtual Swim. Now, Shore residents can still participate in the popular fundraising event for the acute care community hospital, even if they plan to be out of town on New Year’s Day.

“We wanted to do something different for this year’s event, since it’s our 20^th Anniversary,” said Sal Fasano, Penguin Swim co-chair. “And, we thought this would also be a way to include those who can’t attend because the event falls mid-week.”

The Virtual Swim works similarly to the actual plunge. Participants will still register and fundraise, either as individual penguins or as part of a team. And, they will still jump into the water – just not into the Atlantic Ocean at 91^st Street in Ocean City. To commemorate their jump, virtual penguins can snap a photo and share it with the Penguin Swim’s online community on Facebook and Twitter using #OCPenguinSwim.

More information and instructions for participation can be found on the official Penguin Swim website at www.Penguinswim.atlanticgeneral.org.

The Details:

20^th Annual Penguin Swim

Princess Royale Hotel Atrium

91^st Street and the Ocean

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

2-4 p.m. Advance Check In

Wednesday, January 1, 2014
11:30 a.m. Check In and Registration Begins

1 p.m. Swim

www.Penguinswim.atlanticgeneral.org

Proceeds from the event, gathered through corporate sponsorships and participant fundraising, support the strategic plans undertaken by Atlantic General Hospital to uphold their mission to improve individual and community health. Atlantic General Hospital is a 501(c) 3 organization.

About Atlantic General Hospital

Atlantic General Hospital has been providing quality health care to the residents of Worcester, Wicomico, Somerset (Md.) and Sussex (Del.) Counties since May 1993. Built by the commitment and generosity of a dedicated community, the hospital’s state-of-the-art facility in Berlin, Md. combines old-fashioned personal attention with the latest in technology and services. Atlantic General Health System, its network of more than 25 primary care provider and specialist offices, care for residents and visitors throughout the region. For more information about Atlantic General Hospital, visit www.atlanticgeneral.org.

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

Sign your little slugger up for 2014 Youth Camps!

December 3, 2013

The Mud Hens Youth Baseball Camps are back for the 2014 season! There will be two separate three-day camps, a one-day camp for kids, an adult/child one-day camp, and a special needs baseball clinic. Details on each camp can be found at www.mudhens.com/camps. These camps will sell out, so make your reservation early to guarantee a spot!

Toys for Tots Collection Drive Underway at McCoy

December 2, 2013

Want to help make a child’s holiday? This year’s Toys for Tots drive is underway at McCoy Stadium. Fans who donate a new toy for our Toys for Tots Collection Drive will receive a 10% discount voucher good for purchases made in the PawSox Team Store. Collections will be made at the PawSox Team Store at McCoy Stadium Monday-Friday from 9:00am – 4:00pm and Saturday from 10:00am – 2:00pm until December 14th.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Pawtucket Red Sox. Click here to view the original story.