Archives for August 2017

Volcanoes Celebrate Cancer Awareness Weekend

KEIZER, Ore. – The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes kick started the team’s 16th annual Cancer Awareness Weekend on August 4 when they continued their four-game series against the Everett AquaSox at 6:35 p.m. at Volcanoes Stadium.

The Volcanoes held a pregame ceremony where several cancer survivors met the Volcanoes starters along the first base line and formed a semi-circle behind the pitcher’s mound.

Once everyone gathered around the bump, Dr. Bud Pierce of Hematology Oncology of Salem spoke on the field about the evening’s festivities and the state of cancer research.

On Thursday, Pierce, a founder of Cancer Awareness Weekend, said the partnership with the Volcanoes to establish the event has been quite beneficial for the Salem-Keizer community.

“Lisa [Walker] was a patient of ours and was the driver for this idea, and I thought it was a great idea so we partnered. … We together have created a special event for the Volcanoes, our community and our patients with their families,” Pierce said.

The Volcanoes will continue to celebrate and honor cancer survivors as well as those lives that were lost to the disease when the Volcanoes play the AquaSox this evening at 6:35 p.m. and tomorrow evening at 5:05 p.m.

At the conclusion of the fifth inning, everyone in attendance will to hold up “We Remember” cards, if they so choose, with a name or names of someone or multiple individuals who have been touched by cancer written on them.

Pierce said the goal of this weekend is to unite the community and celebrate life.

“It’s really about coming together and spending time together. Cancer is a fearsome disease in our time … and somehow stepping away from that intensity and coming together around the great American pastime just not only makes it more bearable, [but it also] makes life better.”

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

Timber Rattlers About to Go Solar

GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are turning the roof of the U. S. Cellular Picnic Pavilion into an energy source for Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Eland Electric will begin to install 88 solar panels on Monday, August 7.

“We saw this as an opportunity to go green and are excited to partner with Eland Electric,” said Timber Rattlers vice president Aaron Hahn. “We have been looking at this for a while and the time seemed right to go ahead with this project.”
The estimated savings is expected to be about $4,000 per year, which is the equivalent to an entire season of running the videoboard at the ballpark.

The solar panels are manufactured by SolarWorld Americas in Hillsboro, Oregon. They will be installed on the south side of the roof of the pavilion and drivers heading northbound on I-41 will be able to see the progress of the project.

“It is great to see another local organization understand the economic and environmental benefits of a renewable energy system,” said Eland Electric Project Manager Jesse Michalski. “This will provide those benefits for the next 25-plus years.”

The project should take two weeks and will be installed by the time the team begins their next homestand on Friday, August 18 against the Quad Cities River Bandits.

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

FIFTH THIRD BANK STEPS UP TO THE PLATE WITH BIGGER DONATIONS ON “STAND UP TO CANCER NIGHT”

LANSING, Mich. – Fifth Third Bank Western Michigan and the Lansing Lugnuts are teaming up to help fight cancer when the Bank hosts a special Stand Up To Cancer Night at Cooley Law School Stadium on Saturday, August 12. Fifth Third will offer fun, interactive fan activities during the game as part of the bank’s ongoing commitment to raise awareness and contributions to support cancer research.

Among the in-game promotions planned include:

  • A $5,300 donation to Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) that the bank will make for every strikeout that the home team accomplishes during the game. This is an increase from the $530 donation per strikeout last year.
  • Fifth Third will also donate $5.30 to SU2C for every eligible public use of the hashtag #howifight on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, up to $500,000 during the promotion period.*
  • A special mid-game stretch is planned when fans can show their support for loved ones who have fought or are fighting cancer by holding up, in unison, special customized SU2C game placards.

Since teaming up with SU2C in 2013, Fifth Third has contributed more than $7.2 million in donations to help fund innovative cancer research and support SU2C’s mission to bring new cancer treatments to patients quickly and save lives now. SU2C has helped receive two drug approvals in the last seven years, a process that can typically take between 12-15 years for just one drug.

“Stand Up To Cancer’s teams of researchers and scientists are making significant breakthroughs in cancer research,” said Tom Ruis, Vice President, Fifth Third Bank. “With the help of the Lugnuts fans, and Fifth Third customers, we hope to get one step closer to ‘striking out’ this disease once and for all.”

Tickets can be purchased at the Lugnuts website, lansinglugnuts.com. On top of the other donations, Fifth Third will also give $1 to SU2C for each person who attends the game.

Stand Up To Cancer, a division of the Entertainment Industry Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, is a breakthrough initiative that raises funds to accelerate innovative cancer research, enabling scientific collaboration in order to get new therapies to patients quickly. Fifth Third supports this collaborative approach and is committed to finding different ways to improve people’s lives and better our communities. As such, Fifth Third began working with SU2C in 2013 when the Bank introduced its Fifth Third SU2C debit and credit cards, which raise funds to support SU2C research through every qualifying purchase made using those cards. Fifth Third Bank is the only card issuer to offer the SU2C payment cards. Visit 53.com/su2ccards for full details.

*$5.30 donation to SU2C for every eligible public post with the hashtag #howifight on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, from 7/1/17-12/31/17, up to $500,000. Only one hashtag use per username, per Monitored Social Media Site, per day will be counted.

About the Lansing Lugnuts
The Lansing Lugnuts, Class-A Affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, are in their 22nd season in Michigan’s Capital City. The Lugnuts make their home at beautiful Cooley Law School Stadium, built in 1996 with an award-winning renovation in 2015/16, and continue to be a key component in revitalizing Lansing’s downtown while providing fun, affordable, family entertainment to fans in Mid Michigan and beyond. Find them online: www.lansinglugnuts.com.

About Fifth Third Bank
Fifth Third Bancorp is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. As of June 30, 2017, the Company had $141 billion in assets and operated 1,157 full-service Banking Centers and 2,461 ATMs in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Georgia and North Carolina. Fifth Third operates four main businesses: Commercial Banking, Branch Banking, Consumer Lending, and Wealth & AssetManagement. As of June 30, 2017, Fifth Third also had a 17.7 percent interest in Vantiv Holding, LLC. Fifth Third is among the largest money managers in the Midwest and, as of June 30, 2017, had $330 billion in assets under care, of which it managed $34 billion for individuals, corporations and not-for-profit organizations through its Trust and Registered Investment Advisory businesses. Investor information and press releases can be viewed atwww.53.com. Fifth Third’s common stock is traded on the Nasdaq® Global Select Market under the symbol “FITB.” Fifth Third Bank was established in 1858. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender.

About Stand Up To Cancer
Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) raises funds to accelerate the pace of research to get new therapies to patients quickly and save lives now. SU2C, a division of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, was established in 2008 by film and media leaders who utilize the industry’s resources to engage the public in supporting a new, collaborative model of cancer research, and to increase awareness about cancer prevention as well as progress being made in the fight against the disease. As SU2C’s scientific partner, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and a Scientific Advisory Committee led by Nobel Laureate Phillip A. Sharp, PhD, conduct rigorous, competitive review processes to identify the best research proposals to recommend for funding, oversee grants administration, and provide expert review of research progress.

Current members of the SU2C Council of Founders and Advisors (CFA) include Katie Couric, Sherry Lansing, Lisa Paulsen, Rusty Robertson, Sue Schwartz, Pamela Oas Williams, Ellen Ziffren, and Kathleen Lobb. The late Laura Ziskin and the late Noreen Fraser are also co-founders. Sung Poblete, PhD, RN, has served as SU2C’s president and CEO since 2011.

For more information on Stand Up To Cancer, visit www.StandUpToCancer.org.

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Tame your Mane: Great Clips Charity Cuts 8/13

Are split ends throwing you a curve? On Sunday, August 13 the Great Clips Charity Cuts event aims to help you tame that mane while enjoying great baseball action at Fifth Third Field!

Great Clips stylists will be providing free haircuts on the Main Concourse during the game, with donations being accepted to benefit Children’s Miracle Network.

The Toledo Mud Hens take on the Rochester Red Wings on Sunday, August 13 at 6:05 p.m.

GAME TICKET ($12) – BUY TICKETS

What you get:

  • August 13 Mud Hens game ticket
  • Postgame Fireworks
  • Postgame Kids Run the Bases

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

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VALLEYCATS PARTNER WITH SLIDIN’ DIRTY ON HOME RUN DERBY TO BENEFIT THE MICHAEL J. FOX FOUNDATION

TROY, NY – The Tri-City ValleyCats have partnered with local restaurant Slidin’ Dirty to host the ‘Slidin’ Dirty Derby,’ a home run derby contest featuring multiple fundraising opportunities to benefit the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

The charitable home run derby will take place prior to the New York-Penn League All-Star Game on Tuesday, August 15 at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium in Troy. There will be eight participants, and the event will be timed similar to the MLB Home Run Derby.

One of the derby spots will be auctioned off online to one lucky fan, and that person will join six of the top home run hitters in the New York-Penn League, along with Slidin’ Dirty employee Josh Goodbred.

Slidin’ Dirty will donate $10 for each home run hit during the contest, and 60 on-field passes will be sold online for fans to stand in the outfield and catch the balls not hit over the fence. Fans must have a ticket to the New York-Penn League All-Star Game to be eligible.

All of the proceeds from the Slidin’ Dirty Derby will benefit the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, which funds an aggressive agenda aimed at developing improved therapies for those living with Parkinson’s disease.

To bid on a spot in the derby, or purchase an on-field pass, visit tcvalleycats.com/allstargame

The New York-Penn League All-Star Game will feature some of the top talent in short-season professional baseball, many of whom will reach the major league level. Gates open at 4:00 p.m. for the All-Star Game festivities, and tickets are available online at tcvalleycats.com/allstargame, by phone at 518-629-CATS (2287), or at the Joseph L. Bruno Stadium Box Office.

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

Hometown Heroes Celebration Night at Fifth Third Field

The Dayton Dragons and the Dayton Development Coalition will host the second of two Hometown Heroes™ Celebration Nights Saturday, August 5 at Fifth Third Field when the Dragons play the Lansing Lugnuts at 7:07 p.m.

“Hometown Heroes™ Celebration Nights represent something truly special about the Dayton Region,” said Jeff Hoagland, DDC President and CEO. “Our desire to thank those who serve our country, combined with a true American pastime, has created an incredible night dedicated to our Hometown Heroes. We want to thank them for their service and let them know, no matter where they are stationed, Dayton will always welcome them home.”

The Celebration Nights are the highlight of the year-long Hometown Heroes™ program, which honors our community’s service men and women affiliated with Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Springfield, Ohio Air National Guard Base. The DDC and the Dragons, with the generous support of local businesses, began the program 14 years ago as a way for the community to support the thousands of military families in the region.

Colonel Adam Willis, the commander of the Air Force Reserves 445th Airlift Wing. and Colonel Bradley McDonald, the Wright-Patt installation and 88th Air Base Wing commander at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base., will throw out a first pitch.

Fans in attendance will have the opportunity to help welcome home members of the Air Force who have recently returned home from deployment, as well as recognize Selected Exceptional Airmen. In addition, Colonel McDonald will also swear in 15 new Air Force recruits during the game.

The Association of Defense Communities recently recognized Dayton as a Great American Defense Community, in part for the Hometown Heroes™ programs at the Dragons, Victoria Theatre Association, Dayton Art Institute, and Dayton Air Show. Hometown HeroesTM, working in close partnership with Dayton Hoopla/First Four events, UD & WSU Men’s Basketball, and the Fraze Pavilion, offers year-long events honoring our military community.

During the national anthem, which will be performed by Air Force Band of Flight/MSgt Alyson Jones, the Wright Patterson Air Force Base Honor Guard will present the colors.

On the plaza, there will be a Security Forces Humvee, an Air Force Recruit Van, and the 445th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron will showcase equipment used on evacuation missions. The Dragons Entertainment staff will hand out mini flags, and fans can sign “Thank You” cards to send to troops overseas.

More Information: The Dayton Dragons are the Midwest League affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and play a 70-game home schedule at beautiful Fifth Third Field in downtown Dayton, easily accessible from Interstate 75. Individuals and groups seeking information about Dayton Dragons group tickets, lawn tickets, the season ticket wait list, sponsorship opportunities or booking a Dragons speaker are encouraged to contact the Dragons by calling (937) 228-2287, by email at dragons@daytondragons.com, or on the web at daytondragons.com

The Dayton Development Coalition (DDC) is the leading economic development organization for the 14-county Dayton region. Working closely with public and private regional partners, its mission is to retain, expand and recruit jobs. The DDC and the Dayton region ranked as the nation’s top metro for its size for economic development in 2008, 2009 and 2012 and runner-up in 2010, 2011, 2014 and 2015. With the State’s largest single-site employer in its backyard, the DDC also focuses on advocating for the critical missions at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and supporting the work of the United States Air Force. The DDC was ranked as America’s top military community, and was presented with the 2015 Community Excellence Award from the Association of Defense Communities. It was designated as one of the ADC’s Great American Defense Communities in 2016 – a testament to the collaborative efforts in support of Wright-Patt, America’s #1 Air Force Base as ranked by the Air Force Times (2014). For any questions regarding the DDC, contact Shannon Joyce Neal at (937) 231-5436.

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

Tampa Yankees Announce HOPE Week 2017

TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Yankees will participate in HOPE Week (Helping Others Persevere & Excel) from Tuesday, August 8th through Saturday, August 12th, 2017.

HOPE Week is a community program, created by the New York Yankees in 2009, designed to bring to light five remarkable stories intended to inspire individuals into action in their own communities. The initiative is based on the fundamental belief that acts of goodwill provide hope and encouragement to more than the recipient of the gesture. Visit www.hopeweek.com for more information.

Throughout HOPE Week, the Tampa Yankees will reach out to individuals, families and organizations worthy of recognition and support, surprising honorees with a day celebrating their accomplishments.

Tuesday, August 8th – The Tampa Yankees will attend the Lighthouse Center for Creative Learning (a school for children with autism) and hang out with kids, including playing catch and reading, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Students and families from the center are invited to attend the 7:00 p.m. game vs. the Clearwater Threshers and take the field with the T-Yanks as part of the Baseball Buddies Program.

The Lighthouse Center for Creative Learning has been “helping students find their way for more than 15 years!” For more information, visit www.come2lighthouse.com.

Wednesday, August 9th – The Tampa Yankees will visit A Kid’s Place of Tampa Bay and hang out with the kids, playing games from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

“A Kid’s Place provides residential services to children from birth to age 18, who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect or abandonment and to provide a variety of services which meet the social, educational, medical, and psychological needs of the child.” – www.akidsplacetb.org.

Thursday, August 10th – The Tampa Yankees plan to visit Trinity Café and assist in serving lunch from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Trinity Café opened in 2001. Its mission is “to restore a sense of dignity to the homeless & hungry while serving a nutritious meal. We faithfully treat all of God’s children with dignity, compassion, love, and respect.” – www.trinitycafe.org.

Friday, August 11th – The Make-A-Wish Foundation will attend the 7:00 p.m. game between the Tampa Yankees and St. Lucie Mets and accept donations. The foundation will also participate in the Baseball Buddies Program, giving kids the opportunity to go on the field and meet players. A representative from the Make-A-Wish Foundation will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. More information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation can be found at www.wish.org.

Saturday, August 12th – HOPE Week will conclude with the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation’s “Cut for a Cure” campaign as well as “Blue’s Back to School Party.”

Tampa Yankees players, staff and fans will be able to help pediatric cancer research by having their heads shaved, beginning at 5:00 p.m. Pediatric cancer survivors will be on hand to shave the heads of participants and will then get to participate in the Baseball Buddies program prior to the 6:30 p.m. game vs. the St. Lucie Mets. Click here for more information and to donate to “Cut for a Cure.”

Fans are also invited to join Blue for a back-to-school party. The first 1,000 kids 14-and-younger will receive a T-Yanks drawstring bag, courtesy of OneMain Financial. The night will end with a post-game fireworks show.

To purchase single game tickets, fans can visit the George M. Steinbrenner Field Box Office or go online to www.tybaseball.com. Tickets start at $5 for upper reserved seating, $8 for lower reserved seating, and parking is always free.

The Tampa Yankees are the Single-A Advanced Affiliate of the New York Yankees. For more information, call (813) 673-3055 or visit www.tybaseball.com.

Baby Cakes host peanut allergy-friendly game

It’s hard to imagine a baseball game without peanuts, but in a new collaboration between Minor League Baseball and AUVI-Q (epinephrine injection, USP), fans that suffer from peanut allergies can enjoy America’s national pastime with less concern.

The New Orleans Baby Cakes will host a “Peanut-Free Game Day” on Thursday, August 24 when they face the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. To make the ballpark safer to sufferers of peanut allergies, the peanut free-game will feature no in-park sales of peanuts or products containing peanut ingredients.

As one of the most common food allergies, peanut sensitivity can lead to reactions ranging from mild irritation to anaphylactic shock, with peanut allergies becoming more prevalent in children.

“With peanut allergies on the rise, AUVI-Q will support our overarching commitment to our fans,” said David Wright, Chief Marketing & Commercial Officer for Minor League Baseball. “We hope that all families, regardless of existing allergies, can experience a Minor League Baseball game to its fullest during designated peanut-free nights.”

“We’re proud to support MiLB to help provide a safer environment for those who suffer from severe peanut allergies to enjoy one of our nation’s favorite pastimes,” said Dr. Eric Edwards, a life-threatening allergy sufferer and co-inventor of AUVI-Q. “AUVI-Q is committed to providing information and resources to help educate the public about life-threatening allergies and encourage a community of inclusion and acceptance.”

AUVI-Q is an FDA-approved prescription medicine used to treat life-threatening allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, in people who are at risk for or have a history of serious allergic reactions. AUVI-Q is the first and only EAI with an auto-retractable needle and includes innovative features such as voice instructions. AUVI-Q is not a substitute for emergency medical treatment.

Potomac Nationals, MiLB, & AUVI-Q Partner on “Peanut-Free Day” at Pfitzner Stadium on 8/10/17

Woodbridge, VA—In conjunction with Minor League Baseball and AUVI-Q, the Potomac Nationals are excited to announce a “Peanut-Free Day” at Pfitzner Stadium on Thursday, August 10th. The game between the P-Nats and Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Chicago Cubs) will help fans that suffer from peanut allergies enjoy America’s national pastime with less concern.

Per the release here from Minor League Baseball, AUVI-Q has been named the “Official Epinephrine Auto-Injector (EAI) of Minor League Baseball. The partnership includes participating clubs, including the Potomac Nationals, hosting peanut-free games at their respective ballpark.

On “Peanut-Free Day” at Pfitzner Stadium, 8/10/17, gates will open at 11:00am, while first pitch is scheduled for 12:05pm.

The Potomac Nationals of the Carolina League play at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Virginia, and are the Carolina League affiliate of the Washington Nationals. The Potomac Nationals have claimed five Carolina League Championship titles (1982, 1989, 2008, 2010, and 2014) and nine CL Northern Division Championships. Sponsorship opportunities for the P-Nats’ 2017 season and beyond are available, as well as all-inclusive corporate outings to watch the future stars of the Washington Nationals at The Pfitz. For more information on Potomac Nationals 2017 single game tickets, season tickets, mini plans, group outings, and picnic packages, visit the P-Nats online at www.potomacnationals.com or call the Potomac Nationals’ Extreme Custom Collision Ticket Office at 703-590-2311.

— Potomac Nationals —

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

Celebrate at the Pride Party in Hensville Park, Aug. 24

Join us on Thursday, August 24, for the first ever pregame Pride Party in Hensville Park. The pregame event will feature live entertainment on the Hensville Park stage. It’s part of our Holy Toledo Thursday celebrations presented by Toledo.com.

ENTERTAINMENT

Kids with Knives – Hensville Park stage – 5:30 to 7 p.m.

PRIDE T-SHIRTS

Mud Hens Pride t-shirts will be available for sale during the Pride Party in Hensville Park.

The Mud Hens will take on the Clippers on Thursday, August 24 at 6:35 p.m.

GAME TICKET ($12) – BUY TICKETS

What you get:

  • August 24 Mud Hens game ticket

Click the links to check out the menus and make reservations:

NINE at Hensville: ninehensville.com | Chef Tony has put together a menu that he describes as “traditional Americana” where he uses local ingredients from area farms and producers to create made-from-scratch dishes with a modern taste and composition. NINE is housed in the former Folger Butcher Shop, a historic 1865 building. Exposed brick, reclaimed wood and handcrafted tables give NINE a casual vibe that fits a fun, downtown, neighborhood restaurant.

Fleetwood’s Tap Room: fleetwoodshensville.com | Have a drink at Hensville’s new craft beer bar, located on the first floor of the Fleetwood Building across the street from Fifth Third Field. Fleetwood’s Tap Room features 48 beers on draft, a wide selection of whiskeys, an eclectic menu, and an outstanding outdoor patio that overlooks Hensville Park.

BirdCage Bar & Grill: birdcagebarandgrill.com | The BirdCage Bar and Grill is located on the Club Level at Fifth Third Field and provides incredible views of the on-field action! Your ticket to the Mud Hens game gives you entry to the BirdCage, where you and your guests will enjoy a great dining experience created by Chef Tony House, featuring a display of hand-carved meats, antipasti, classic salad, and seasonal entrees.

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

Dragons and Vectren Present 2017 “Community All-Stars”

The Dragons and Vectren will honor Juliann Price during the unique “Community All-Stars” program on Friday, August 4, at 7:07 p.m. when the Dayton Dragons take on the Great Lakes Loons at Fifth Third Field.

The Dayton community is a great place to live, work and play. But what makes Dayton truly great are the people that call Dayton home. We have great people and great organizations in our community that do incredible things each and every day. Throughout the season, the Dragons and Vectren will honor five “All-Stars” with a special inning break tribute in recognition of their service.

Juliann’s Story

Normally, most of us scroll through our Facebook feed just to see if anything out there is interesting enough to get us to stop for a moment. But last summer, Juliann Price stumbled across a Facebook post that was more than interesting. It immediately altered the course of her life.

Juliann saw a post from her friend telling the story of Barbara Perlman. Barbara was in need of a kidney transplant and was running low on time. The call to action was simple enough, just get your blood tested to see if you’d be a potential match.

Most people would’ve felt something for Barbara’s story, but quickly gone back about their day. After all, who would give one of their kidneys to a complete stranger they’ve never met? Juliann felt something different when she saw the post, however. She was compelled to get the blood test and see if she could help.

“Something just spoke to me,” Juliann said. “I had never thought about doing anything like this before, but when I found out about her need, I just made up my mind on the spot and never turned back. I was going to help, whether it was her or someone else down the road.”

As it would turn out, Juliann was enough of a match with Barbara that they sent her to New York City for further testing last August. Those follow-up tests showed a match of 4.3 on a scale of 5, which was more than enough to go through with the transplant operation.

So on November 10, 2016, Juliann was wheeled into surgery where she gave up 1 of her 2 kidneys to allow Barbara a chance to continue living a normal life.

The surgery was very successful, and both ladies are living normal lives. They have also become great friends. The pair talk nearly every day on the phone and plan to reunite once again on November 10, 2017…a date they jokingly refer to as their “Kidney-versary.”

For showing us all what it means to truly help a fellow human being in their time of need, Juliann has been selected as a Dragons Community All Star.

The Dragons Community All Star program, made possible by the generous support of Vectren, showcases amazing citizens and organizations that have gone above the call of duty to improve the quality of life in the Miami Valley all summer long. To nominate someone or learn more, visit daytondragons.com/communityallstar.

More Information: The Dayton Dragons are the Midwest League affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and play a 70-game home schedule at beautiful Fifth Third Field in downtown Dayton, easily accessible from Interstate 75. Individuals and groups seeking information about Dayton Dragons group tickets, lawn tickets, the season ticket wait list, sponsorship opportunities or booking a Dragons speaker are encouraged to contact the Dragons by calling (937) 228-2287, by email at dragons@daytondragons.com, or on the web at daytondragons.com.

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

Scrappers Sock Out Hunger on August 11

Dr. James LaPolla, Jr. DPM and the Howland Health & Wellness Committee will be sponsoring a sock giveaway on Friday, August 11 when the Scrappers take on the Staten Island Yankees at Eastwood Field. The first 1,000 fans will receive a pair of Scrappers branded socks. Anyone who brings in a canned food donation will also receive a free ticket voucher for an upcoming Scrappers game. All donations will go directly to the Bolindale food pantry inside of The Boldindale Christian Church (2749 Fairview Ave. SE, Warren, OH 44484).

The food pantry at The Bolindale Christian Church serves 60-70 families twice a month. According to the 2008-2013 U.S. Census Bureau, 31.2% of the residents of Bolindale live below the poverty level and 54.3% are receiving food stamps.

The Bolindale community is also a focus of the Creating Healthy Communities initiative spearheaded by the Trumbull County Combined Health District. Grant monies were used to purchase additional lighting to improve the safety and visibility of the park and upgrades have been made to the park by repairing playground equipment and adding several pickleball courts.

The goal of the Howland Health and Wellness Committee is to promote healthier lifestyles and workplaces in the township. The Township has received the Healthy Ohio Healthy Community award from the Ohio Department of Health in 2015 and 2016. For information regarding the committee contact Township trustee Dr. James LaPolla at james.lapolla@howlandtownship.org.

There will also be a post-game firework show following the game on August 11.

Buy August 11 Tickets

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

Blue Jays Bowling Tournament Raises $12,820

DUNEDIN-FL, The Dunedin Blue Jays 2017 Charity Bowling Tournament sponsored by Achieva Credit Union raised $12,820 for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay. 250 local baseball fans participated in the event, joining the entire Dunedin Blue Jays team at Maple Lanes Countryside Bowling Alley in Clearwater for a day of bowling, raffles, silent auctions, and prizes during the team’s fourth annual tournament. Since 2014, the event has raised over $35,000 to support the well-being of local families through Ronald McDonald House Charities.

“The Blue Jays are incredibly grateful for the support of Achieva and the many other sponsors of the event, our players for dedicating their time to helping the local community, and most of all for the two hundred and fifty fans who helped make this year’s event a success,” Kathi Beckman, the Blue Jays Manager of Community Relations, said following the event.

This year’s event set a new record for total dollars raised, surpassing the $11,339 raised during the team’s 2016 bowling tournament. Over $4,500 of the final $12,820 total was raised by the participants of the bowling tournament, each contributing $25 for two games of bowling, a catered lunch, and the opportunity to meet and greet the Blue Jays team. 40 local businesses from the Dunedin area contributed as Lane Sponsors at the event, raising $4000 of the total. The event’s silent auction, which included packages donated by local businesses as well as apparel and memorabilia donated by teams throughout the Toronto organization, raised over $2,400. A 50/50 raffle and Opportunity To Win raffles combined to raise just under $1000.

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

Tides to renovate youth field in the fall

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 Orkin, 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.

“We’re thrilled to be able to add an additional field renovation to our schedule this year” said Tides General Manager Joe Gregory. “We’ve had such phenomenal success with this program in the spring that we decided to add another field makeover in the fall, and our entire organization is looking forward to helping out another worthy community.”

Those interested in having the Tides make over 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’s field should receive this enhancement. The deadline to submit this information is August 18, with online voting taking place on the Tides’ Facebook page from August 21-25.

2017 is the sixth year the Tides have renovated a local youth field. Since the program was introduced in 2012, the Tides have renovated nine local fields: Ocean View Little League (Norfolk), Smithfield Recreation Association (Smithfield), Bennett’s Creek Little League (Suffolk), Phoebus Little League (Hampton), Shore Little League (Nassawadox), Cradock Little League (Portsmouth), Little Creek National (Norfolk), Gloucester Youth Baseball (Gloucester) and Surry County Pony Baseball (Surry).

The project is made possible thanks to 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. The Youth Baseball Fund is partially financed by scoreboard announcements at Harbor Park throughout the season, and those wishing to make a donation directly to the Youth Baseball Fund can do so via norfolkides.com under the “community” section.

Volunteers from Safelite AutoGlass will join the Tides staff in assisting with the field renovation efforts, which will take place in late September.

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

Randy Rogers Joins Lineup for Reckless Kelly Celebrity Softball Jam

ROUND ROCK, TX – Look Out Yonder and fans will see a new addition to the musical lineup for the 9th annual Reckless Kelly Celebrity Softball Jam. Texas crooner Randy Rogers will be Actin’ Crazy when he takes the stage at Dell Diamond, joining Wade Bowen, Roger Creager, Cody Canada & the Departed and the boys of Reckless Kelly.

Rogers has been performing with the Randy Rogers Band for the past 15 years, steadily building a following that has expanded beyond their Texas roots. Their newest album Nothing Shines Like Neon is a collection that showcases the band’s taut musicianship as well as Rogers’ earnest vocals and insightful songwriting. In 2015, Rogers teamed up with fellow Jam performer Bowen on the critically acclaimed album Hold My Beer Vol. 1.

The Reckless Kelly Celebrity Softball Jam combines an athleticism-optional and antic-filled softball game with hours of live, musical entertainment on two stages.

The event will kick off at 1 p.m. with the softball game featuring former major leaguers Josh Beckett, Norm Charlton, Brooks Kieschnick and Glenn Wilson along with former Longhorns and NFL players Quan Cosby and Kasey Studdard. Following the game, fans will be invited onto the outfield for a concert featuring 20+ acts.

KGSR’s Andy Langer will once again take over the mic alongside fellow media stars Addie Broyles, Anne Hudson, Brendan Anthony, Charlie Hodge, Eric Raines, Bob Ballou and Ricky Doyle.

All proceeds from the event will benefit The Nolan Ryan Foundation and the Reckless Kelly Charitable Youth Foundation, with a focus on supporting youth sports programs in Central Texas. Since its inception, the Reckless Kelly Celebrity Softball Jam has raised over $350,000 for area youth leagues, including the funding of a $150,000 renovation of Mabson Field in East Austin, TX.

Tickets for the 9th Annual RKCSJ are on sale now for just $20 and can be purchased online at RKCSJ.org. Tickets will go up to $25 on September 1.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit RKCSJ.org. For up to the minute event info, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.