Nine military-based, local non-profit organizations received a total of $33,000 from OceanFirst Foundation as part of the 2012 Home Runs for Heroes program in conjunction with the BlueClaws and WOBM.
Through the program, which just concluded its fourth season, each time the BlueClaws hit a home run at FirstEnergy Park, $1,000 is donated from OceanFirst Foundation to one of nine organizations. Each organization is tied into one particular inning. This year’s leaders were Army Emergency Relief of Fort Dix and Fort Monmouth (first inning) and National Guard State Family Readiness Council (second inning), which each received $7,000 for seven home runs hit in their respective innings.
The four-year total for the program is now $108,000. Checks were presented to the organizations at a FirstEnergy Park ceremony on September 18th.
“Ocean First Foundation is proud to partner with the Lakewood BlueClaws and WOBM to honor and support local veterans and the servicemen and women who protect and serve our country here at home and abroad. We had another great year of home runs and OceanFirst Foundation is proud to support these great organizations,” said Katherine Durante, Executive Director of OceanFirst Foundation.
BlueClaws 1B Chris Duffy and 3B Maikel Franco each hit seven home runs at FirstEnergy Park to account for $14,000 of the $33,000 donated this season. 1B Jim Murphy, who hit seven home runs in Lakewood in 2009 and 11 more in 2011, has accounted for $18,000 in donations and is the program’s all-time leader.
“This program has been enormously successful over the last four years,” said BlueClaws General Manager Geoff Brown. “We’re very grateful to OceanFirst Foundation for their generosity in this program and we are thrilled we can help these wonderful organizations.”
2012 Home Run / Fundraising Totals:
| Organization | Inning | Home Runs | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Army Emergency Relief (Ft Dix/Monmouth) | First | 7 | $7,000 |
| National Guard State Family Readiness Council | Second | 7 | $7,000 |
| Navy/Marine Relief | Third | 5 | $5,000 |
| VETGROUP | Fourth | 0 | $1,000 |
| American Recreational Military Services | Fifth | 1 | $1,000 |
| Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski, II Memorial Fund | Sixth | 3 | $3,000 |
| Catholic Charities | Seventh | 3 | $3,000 |
| American National Red Cross, Jersey Coast Chapter | Eighth | 4 | $4,000 |
| Chariot Riders | Ninth/Extra | 2 | $2,000 |
This article originally appeared on the official website of the Lakewood BlueClaws. Clock here to read the original story.