Archives for January 2014

Tides organization to renovate local youth field

January 15, 2014

The Norfolk Tides today announced the return of a contest in which a local youth field will be renovated by Tides groundskeepers and front office staff. Proudly presented by Goodwill, this field makeover will include an upgrade to the playing surface and an improvement to existing dugouts, with the recipient of the makeover being determined by a fan vote on the Tides’ Facebook page.

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“After the overwhelming community support we’ve received over the first two years of this program, we are thrilled to be continuing this project again” said Tides General Manager Joe Gregory. “Our entire staff looks forward to helping out these worthy organizations, and we enjoy doing our part to ensure children can be proud of where they play baseball.”

Those interested in having the Tides makeover their facility should submit a picture of their field to Heather McKeating at hmckeating@norfolktides.com. Along with the photo, fans are asked to include a brief description of why their league should receive this enhancement. The deadline to submit this information is February 7, with online voting taking place on the Tides’ Facebook page from February 17 to February 21.

2014 is the third year in which the Tides will be renovating a local youth field. Over the first two years of the program, the Tides have helped renovate five local fields – Ocean View Little League (Norfolk), Smithfield Recreation Association (Smithfield), Bennett’s Creek Little League (Suffolk), Phoebus Little League (Hampton) and Shore Little League (Nassawadox).

“Goodwill is proud to get behind such an amazing program, and we know the importance of supporting local initiatives like this one” said Goodwill Community Relations Manager Danielle Cronin. “Goodwill delivers employment services to moms and dads throughout Hampton Roads every day, which we refer to as Family Strengthening. If mom and dad have the right supports in place at home, the likelihood of being and staying successfully employed is greater. Keeping kids positively influenced through a sport like baseball is critical to the success of everyone – individuals, families and communities.”

The project is made possible thanks to Goodwill and the Tides Youth Baseball Fund, a program established by the Tides in 1990 as a way to raise money for youth baseball and softball programs in Hampton Roads. In addition to assisting with field renovations, the Youth Baseball Fund also helps local teams and leagues with travel expenses. Those wishing to make a donation directly to the Youth Baseball Fund can do so by clicking HERE.

The Tides open their 2014 regular season at Harbor Park on Thursday, April 3 with a four-game series against division rival Charlotte. Season tickets, group tickets, picnics and patios are currently available for the 2014 season. For pricing and additional information, stop by the Harbor Park Box Office, visit norfolktides.com or call (757) 622-2222.

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

Unique Fun(d)raiser!

January 14, 2014

Let Us Help Your Group

CORPUS CHRISTI – Does your club, association or organization need to raise money?

NEST, Storm Chasers Present 12th Annual Essay Contest

January 10, 2014

Students in 7th and 8th grade write about “Why I Want to Go to College”

OMAHA, Neb. – The Nebraska Educational Savings Trust (NEST) and the Omaha Storm Chasers have officially kicked off the 12th-annual “Why I Want to Go to College” essay contest, Nebraska State Treasurer Don Stenberg and the Storm Chasers announced this week.

Full Contest Rules Here

Students in 7th and 8th grade both in and outside the state of Nebraska may send their entries until the March 28 deadline. Essays must be 750 words or less, describing the student’s educational goals and dreams for the future. Entries must be typed, double-spaced on 8 1/2 by 11″ paper and must be the student’s original work. Each entry must be accompanied with the required cover sheet found at http://www.treasurer.org/cs/writing-contest/2014/2014writingContestCoverSheet.pdf.

Judging will be conducted by faculty and students in the College of Education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. The essay contest awards 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners in each of Nebraska’s three congressional districts, with winners earning prizes of $2,000, $1,000 and $500 toward a NEST College Savings Plan.

All winners from Nebraska, which will be notified in early May, will receive four box seat tickets and earn recognition prior to the Storm Chasers game on May 11 against the New Orleans Zephyrs. Each winning student will get an opportunity to meet Nebraska State Treasurer Stenberg during their visit to Werner Park.

For complete rules and information on the Essay Contest, check http://www.treasurer.org/cs/writing-contest/2014/. Entries must be postmarked by March 28 and sent to:

Omaha Storm Chasers

Attn: Andrea Stava

12356 Ballpark Way

Papillion, NE 68046

2013 Winners

1^st Congressional District – Nebraska

Sophie Anne Glaubius, Wisner-Pilger Junior-Senior High, Wisner, Neb.
Treslyn Hubbard, Norfolk Junior High, Norfolk, Neb.
Adam Zastrow, St. Peter’s Catholic School, Lincoln, Neb.

2^nd Congressional District – Nebraska

Samantha Moulton, Elkhorn Ridge Middle School, Elkhorn, Neb.
Mallory Bretsen, Alice Buffett Middle School, Omaha, Neb.
Claire Scanlan, Platteview Central Junior High, Springfield, Neb.

3^rd Congressional District – Nebraska

Marisa Hutchinson, Valentine Middle School, Valentine, Neb.
Britley Schlueter, Wood Lake School, Wood Lake, Neb.
Mitchell Leininger, Moving Mountains Home School, Auburn, Neb.

Out-of-State

Micki Miller, Family of Christ Christian School, Lutz, Fla.
Zoe Jee, Harry C. Fulton Middle School, Fountain Valley, Calif.
Mary Elizabeth Hartness, North Habersham Middle School, Clarkesville, Georgia

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Omaha Storm Chasers. Click here to view the original story.

Express CEO Reese Ryan to Host HeartGift Patient

January 6, 2014

Belize Child to arrive in Austin January 6 at Austin Bergstrom International Airport

AUSTIN, Texas (January 3, 2013) -The HeartGift Foundation, which provides life-saving heart surgery to children from developing countries, is preparing for the arrival of the nonprofit organization’s 200th patient.

Courtney, an almost two-year-old girl from Belize, will arrive January 6 in Austin, TX and will undergo life-saving surgery January 14 at Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas. Her medical care team will be led by HeartGift physicians, Drs. Stuart Rowe and Kenneth Fox.

“Without surgery Courtney would develop difficulty exercising, then difficulty breathing, and then would ultimately die. But with the help and generosity of HeartGift, Courtney will receive a second chance of living a full life,” explained Fox.

Courtney will stay with Reese Ryan, CEO of the Round Rock Express baseball team and son of famed baseball pitcher Nolan Ryan. The Ryan family has been very involved with HeartGift patients in both Austin and the Dallas Fort Worth area, but this is their first time to host a patient in their home. “We appreciate the opportunity to introduce our daughters to families in need from around the world. It will be a blessing for us to be able to open our home and share in this life changing experience for this family” said Ryan.

“When the HeartGift Foundation was incorporated in 2000, it was hard to envision that we could save the lives of 200 children with heart problems,” said Dr. John “Chip” Oswalt, co-founder and chairman of HeartGift. “As we approach this milestone, it gives me pause to look back on the 200 precious lives saved. As the years pass we will reach more milestones, enlist many more volunteers, and save many more children-one heartgift at a time.”

About HeartGift

HeartGift brings children from around the world to the United States for surgery to correct life-threatening heart defects.

Founded in Austin, the HeartGift Foundation has chapters in Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and New Orleans. All medical services are provided for free. Patients’ families do not pay a penny.

Since its inception, HeartGift has helped children from 28 countries: Belize, Bolivia, Cameroon, China, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Haiti, Honduras, Iraq, Jamaica, Kenya, the Republic of Kiribati, Kosovo, Liberia, Macedonia, Malawi, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Palestine, the Philippines, Syria and Uganda.

These children come to the states because their home countries lack adequate health care; they leave with repaired hearts and a new sense of hope for the future.

To learn more about HeartGift, visit www.heartgift.org

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

Sea Dogs to Hold 14th Annual Food Drive

January 2, 2014

Trade Your Canned-Goods for Tickets When You Make a Ticket Purchase

Portland, Maine- The Portland Sea Dogs, in partnership with the Maine Credit Union League, will hold their 14th annual Food Drive which will run from now through Friday, January 31st. All the collected food items will be donated to the Good Shepherd Food Bank.