Archives for November 2016

Cedar Rapids Kernels 2016 Community Report

Cedar Rapids, IA – The Cedar Rapids Kernels are proud to release their first comprehensive community report. This report highlights the organization’s 2016 off the field efforts such as charitable donations, the Al Smith League of Dreams and the popular Kernels Summer Reading Program.

In conjunction with the “Take the Lead” community relations initiative, the Kernels want to show their commitment to being the community beacon for education, social and recreational programs in Cedar Rapids and surrounding communities.

Notable achievements this year include 150 community appearances by the team mascot Mr. Shucks, contributing donations totaling $314,744 and local children reading 2,618,750 total minutes in the Kernels Summer Reading Program.

Ryne George, the Kernels Community Relations Manager, says, “As a front office staff we all love Eastern Iowa and enjoy finding ways to give back. This report is a great example of what we do as an organization. We are looking to expand our efforts in 2017 and can’t wait to do even more for this great community.”

Click here to view the Kernels 2016 Community Report.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels are the Midwest League affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. For more information, visit www.kernels.com and follow the Kernels on social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

JetHawks Foundation to Host Inaugural Hot Stove Banquet

Lancaster, CA – The Lancaster JetHawks, High-A Affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, are pleased to announce their first ever Hot Stove Banquet, benefitting the Lancaster JetHawks Baseball Foundation. The Banquet will be held on Thursday, January 26th at the University of Antelope Valley Grand Ballroom, starting with a cocktail reception and silent auction from 5:00-6:30, followed by a program and dinner at 6:30. The program will be baseball themed, featuring a baseball guest speaker who will be announced in the coming weeks.

Proceeds from the Banquet and the Silent Auction will benefit the newly formed JetHawks Baseball League, which in partnership with the Antelope Valley Boys & Girls Clubs will provide over 100 local youth with the opportunity to play baseball on a team right here at The Hangar. The youth will be outfitted with jerseys, gloves, hats and helmets, play their games on the same field as the JetHawks, all at no cost to themselves or their families.

Tickets for the Hot Stove Banquet will be $50 for an individual or $350 for a table of 8. Table sponsorships and individual tickets for the Banquet are available by calling the JetHawks offices at 661-726-5400 or Click to Reserve Your Spot Today.

The Lancaster JetHawks start their 2017 season at home on April 6th against the Visalia Rawhide. Group tickets and ticket packages are available now at jethawks.com or by stopping by the JetHawks offices, located at 45116 Valley Central Way in Lancaster.

Download a Hot Stove Order Form Here

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

New PawSox Scholars Program to Provide College Scholarships to Area Middle Schoolers

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Representative Carlos Tobon (State Representative for Pawtucket’s District 58), Mayor James Diossa (Mayor of Central Falls), Ethan Hoke (PawSox Scholar from Central Falls), Dr. Charles Steinberg (PawSox President), Charlisa Kollie (PawSox Scholar from Pawtucket), Mayor Don Grebien (Mayor of Pawtucket), and Representative Jean Philippe Barros (State Representative for Pawtucket’s District 59).

PAWTUCKET, RI – The Pawtucket Red Sox and the PawSox/Skeffington Charitable Foundation today announced the creation of the PawSox Scholars program, in which two middle school students each receive college scholarships of $10,000 from the PawSox/Skeffington Charitable Foundation. The funds will be paid directly to the colleges of their choice for tuition and books upon matriculation.

The children include one from Pawtucket and one from neighboring Central Falls.

Charlisa Kollie, 13, an 8th-grader at Pawtucket’s Samuel Slater Junior High School, and Ethan Hoke, 14, an 8th-grader at Central Falls’ Dr. Earl Calcutt Middle School, were selected from among 196 applications. The two school systems oversaw the administration of the application process.

“The PawSox Scholars program funds the dream of college,” said PawSox President Dr. Charles A. Steinberg, who made the announcement. “We know that children face destructive temptations in adolescent life, and we hope that the PawSox Scholars program is an incentive to stay the straight and narrow in both scholastics and citizenship.”

The Pawtucket and Central Falls school systems invited eighth graders to submit applications, including essays. School administrators narrowed the field, and PawSox officials selected the two winners from among the finalists.

“We all know that children are the heartbeat of our community, and that education is the equalizer,” said Pawtucket Mayor Don Grebien. “We are grateful to the PawSox Foundation for providing this opportunity of a college education, and for being such a generous community partner.”

“We are so proud of Charlisa Kollie and all of our Pawtucket students,” said Pawtucket Superintendent Patti DiCenso. “This program can dramatically change the lives of our children. It provides hope-an essential element of a child’s education.”

“All of us in Central Falls owe a debt of gratitude to the PawSox Foundation,” said Central Falls Mayor James Diossa. “This scholarship not only sends a message to Ethan Hoke, it sends a message to all of the children of our community. It says, ‘We believe in you, we support you, and we will do whatever we can to ensure that you acquire a great college education.'”

“Ethan wrote a beautiful essay about his love of Central Falls,” said Central Falls Superintendent Victor Capellan. “At his young age, he demonstrated the wisdom that one good deed begets another. It was touching and inspiring to read his thoughtful words.”

“Only through partnership can an innovative program come to fruition,” Steinberg said. “We thank Mayor Grebien and Mayor Diossa, as well as the School Boards and Superintendents for their extraordinary spirit of cooperation.”

PawSox Chairman Larry Lucchino and Steinberg led the creation of similar programs in San Diego (Padres Scholars) and Boston (Red Sox Scholars). In 2011, the Red Sox Scholars program was Major League Baseball’s first-ever recipient of the Commissioner’s Award for Philanthropic Excellence.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

D-Braves present donation to Danville Cancer Association

DANVILLE, Va. – The Danville Braves presented a donation of nearly $1,300 to the Danville Cancer Association Thursday morning. The D-Braves raised $1,271.70 through the auction of game-used jerseys worn on the team’s Colon Cancer Awareness Night during the 2016 season.

“We’re proud to continue to support the Danville Cancer Association,” said Danville Braves General Manager David Cross. “The work that the Danville Cancer Association does to help support cancer patients in the area has a big impact on local families.”

2016 marked the sixth year in which the D-Braves wore and auctioned cancer awareness jerseys.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

RiverDogs Partner with Stingrays and Battery to Provide Relief from Hurricane Matthew

CHARLESTON, SC – In the face of disaster, Charleston has continually shown its strength to come together as a community in support of those in need. In the spirit of unity in the Holy City, the Charleston RiverDogs, South Carolina Stingrays and Charleston Battery will partner to raise money for those affected by October’s Hurricane Matthew. The clubs will host an online auction with the proceeds benefitting the One SC Relief Fund.

The online auction, which will open on Wednesday, November 2 at 12 noon, will culminate at the Stingrays’ home game on Sunday, November 6 at the North Charleston Coliseum with the puck set to drop at 3pm. Fans can access the online auction starting on Wednesday through Bidr, an online auction site that allows one to bid on items remotely using a phone, tablet or desktop. Bidding will close at the conclusion of the second period in Sunday’s contest against Elmira. The online auction can be found at https://my.bidr.co/events/lowcountryhurricanerelief/

“Our thoughts and prayers are with those still recovering from the after effects of Hurricane Matthew,” said RiverDogs President and General Manager Dave Echols. “This collaboration is a great way for the RiverDogs along with the Stingrays and Battery to use our collective platforms to do something good for our community.”

The RiverDogs will auction VIP experience packages for their upcoming Legends in the South Alumni Baseball game, the second annual event that features Braves and Yankees alumni squaring off at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park. Auction winners will have the opportunity to meet the baseball legends in person along with packages that include watching the game from the dugout, appearing in the game as a player and dining with some of the all-time greats leading up to the event.

Other RiverDogs packages include two tickets to the Ballpark Festival of Beers, RiverDogs merchandise, a behind-the-scenes tour of The Joe, and a Fireworks package that includes two tickets to every Friday home game in 2017.

“The Stingrays are excited to partner with the Riverdogs and the Battery to help those affected by Hurricane Matthew,” said Stingrays President Rob Concannon. “The Charleston community is very important to all of us.”

The Stingrays’ auction items include a signed team jersey, four Premium Level six game Ticket Plans for the 2016-17 season, a chance to ride on the “Fan Zam”, an exclusive pre-game bench experience, and Stingrays merchandise.

“The coordination of the Battery, RiverDogs and Stingrays in this effort to help the victims of Hurricane Matthew demonstrates the unified spirit in Charleston and across South Carolina. We’re proud to participate in this relief effort and wish all those still recovering well,” said Battery President Andrew Bell.

Charleston Battery contributions to the auction include two Carolina Challenge Cup series tickets, four Family Four Packs, a 2016 jersey, Films on the Field ticket package, and merchandise.

RiverDogs season tickets, half-season ticket packages and mini plans are now available for the 2017 campaign. The RiverDogs begin the season on April 6 when they host the Lexington Legends at Joseph P Riley, Jr. Park. Ticket information can be secured by contacting the box office at (843) 577-DOGS (3647) or online at www.riverdogs.com.

–RIVERDOGS–

Home Runs for Heroes Nets Local Charities $30,000 from OceanFirst Foundation

LAKEWOOD, NJ – The BlueClaws and OceanFirst Foundation celebrated another successful season of the Home Runs for Heroes program on Wednesday at FirstEnergy Park as OceanFirst Foundation presented the nine participating organizations with checks totaling $30,000 representing each of the 30 home runs hit at FirstEnergy Park this year.

The nine organizations (see below) were each paired with one inning and each BlueClaws home run in one particular inning meant a $1,000 donation to a charity.

Organization Inning Home Runs Total
Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski, II Memorial Fund 1st 3 $3,000
National Guard State Family Readiness Council 2nd 5 $5,000
Navy-Marine Relief Society 3rd 2 $2,000
GI Go Fund 4th 1 $1,000
Army Emergency Relief 5th 6 $6,000
Chariot Riders – Horses for Heroes 6th 4 $4,000
Catholic Charities 7th 2 $2,000
American Recreational Military Services (ARMS) 8th 4 $4,000
Vetgroup 9th + Extras 3 $3,000

Among BlueClaws players, Jose Pujols raised the most money. The 20-year old hit 12 home runs at FirstEnergy Park this year, more than any player in BlueClaws history. Jan Hernandez hit five home runs in Lakewood and Jiandido Tromp, who was promoted at the All-Star break, hit four home runs in Lakewood.

For more on OceanFirst Foundation, click here.

– BlueClaws –

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.