• Stories by Subject
  • Stories by State
  • COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS

BLUE ROCKS DONATE NEARLY $750,000 TO LOCAL CAUSES

October 21, 2010

Team’s Efforts with Marketing Partners & Fans Touch Thousands

The Wilmington Blue Rocks continued their commitment of giving back to the community throughout the 2010 season. The year saw the team, in tandem with its marketing partners and fans, raise $744,721.99 worth of contributions to local charities, schools and community organizations. The sum includes many different types of contributions including cash, tickets and services.

“We take pride in being able to contribute at this level to youth and charitable organizations in the greater Wilmington area,” said Blue Rocks general manager Chris Kemple. “I’m certain that we could not have done this without assistance from our 2010 marketing partners and fans that also played a large role in raising these funds.”

Below is a breakdown of the team’s efforts in the community during the campaign:

Cash Donations – $19,115

The Wilmington Blue Rocks were able to donate $19,115 to local organizations in 2010. These donations included Little League sponsorships, specialty game-worn memorabilia auctions, ticket kickbacks, and a sponsorship with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Delaware.

During select games, the Blue Rocks wore special jerseys or hats. That apparel was then auctioned and raffled off during those games. Some items were auctioned off online as well. Below are a few examples:

Boots on the Ground – Blue Rocks wore Camo hats
Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition – Blue Rocks wore Pink jerseys
B+ Foundation – Blue Rocks wore Throwback jerseys

Other organizations that benefited from this included: The Ronnie Williams Foundation, the ING DIRECT Kids Foundation, United Cerebral Palsy of Delaware, and the Kelly Heinz-Grundner Brain Tumor Foundation.

Ticket Donations – 66,798 tickets, Value – $601,182

Each year, the Blue Rocks are able to accommodate almost every donation request. Through those donation requests, school programs, and by offering bulk tickets to select local organizations (Kind to Kids, USO Delaware, Delaware Police Departments, and more), the Blue Rocks were able to donate almost 67,000 tickets for the 2010 season.

Centerplate Concession Stand Money – $63,149.99

During the 2010 season, local organizations had the opportunity to work the concession stands during Blue Rocks games. In exchange, Centerplate, the concessionaire for the Wilmington Blue Rocks, gave them a portion of the revenue from that game. Throughout the season, over $63,000 was donated to these organizations for their efforts.

Non-Ticket Donations – $21,575

These donations are for extraordinary cases that call for something extra special. Non-ticket donations consist of:

Luxury Suites
Experience Items (first pitches, on-field inclusion)
Autographed Items (bats, baseballs)
Merchandise/Promo Items
Blue Rocks Baseball Camp Scholarships
Used Baseballs/Gloves/Equipment

Advertising Donations – $8,500

During home games, the Blue Rocks allowed select non-profits to promote themselves or upcoming events. This promotion was executed through the use of the RocksVision video board, the public address system, and by providing concourse tables.

Speaking Appearances

The Blue Rocks Front Office donated over 50 hours of their time to speak at community events. These events included speaking to children at local elementary schools, high schools, and colleges about careers in sports, and speaking to local organizations about the Blue Rocks.

Player Appearances

Wilmington Blue Rocks Players made many appearances over the 2010 season. Some of these appearances included visiting the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children (at least once a month), a youth detention center, local schools, United Cerebral Palsy’s summer camp, as well as other local summer camps.

Mascot Appearances – $7,500

Rocky Bluewinkle visited 196 community events this year. (Spanned over 240 hours; Value of free or discounted appearances – $7,500).

In-Stadium Fundraising at Frawley Stadium – $23,700

The Blue Rocks opened up Frawley Stadium to select charitable organizations during home games, and enabled them to raise money for their respective causes. Money was raised by selling t-shirts, raffle tickets, and by collecting donations. There have also been a number of check presentations before Blue Rocks games during the 2010 season.

K’s for Kids: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware donated money every time a Blue Rocks pitcher recorded a strikeout at home. At the end of the season, Delaware Guidance Services for Children and Youth, Inc. was presented with a $5,000 check.
Stolen Base Learning Initiative: SBLI Life Insurance donated money for each Blue Rocks stolen base during a home game. At the end of the season, BooksFirst! was presented with a $5,000 check.
Stolen Bases for Happy Faces: New Castle County Chamber of Commerce donated $5,000 to the Bear Babe Ruth Baseball League Miracle League Field project.
B+ Score for the Cure: AstraZeneca donated money for each Blue Rocks run scored at home. At the end of the season, the B+ Foundation was presented with a $5,000 check.

Miscellaneous

Make-A-Wish Night: On Aug. 31, the Blue Rocks hosted Make-A-Wish Night. Wish Kids were treated like stars. They were able to participate in some unique activities before and during the game, and they received lots of autographs and free stuff.
Challenger Little League: The Blue Rocks continued the tradition of working with the Challenger Little League to host its season’s Opening Ceremonies. Each player was introduced individually, and all teams get to play on Judy Johnson Field.
Stadium Tours: The Blue Rocks offer stadium tours for free. Tours are usually 30 minutes long. In 2010, the Blue Rocks hosted 60 tours, many to community organizations with little to no funding.
Toy Drive: The Blue Rocks were once again, able to contribute toys to the Mary Campbell Center. Rocky Claus surprised guests at the Mary Campbell Center’s youth and children holiday party with a sack full of donated toys.

Tackling Childhood Obesity

The Wilmington Blue Rocks are committed to tackling the epidemic of childhood obesity. To do so, the Blue Rocks have partnered with local programs like Nemours Health and Prevention Services, Titus Sports Academy (CHAMPIONS program), and Girls on the Run. Through these partnerships the Blue Rocks have been able to reward kids who participate in health/fitness-related extracurricular activities.

One of the many visits by Blue Rocks players and team mascot Rocky Bluewinkle to A.I. duPont Hospital included (left-to-right): Rocky, Ivor Hodgson, Buddy Baumann, Barry Bowden, Adrian Ortiz. (Photo by Dave Arthur)

Tagged as : Baseball Camps/Instruction, Boys and Girls Clubs, Carolina League, Challenger Little League, Charity Auctions/Raffles, Children's Health and Development, Community Benefit Report, Delaware, Donations, Education/Teacher Support, Equipment Donations, Family Relief/Resources, First Responders, Fundraising Opportunities, Hospital Visits, Kansas City Royals, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Mascot Appearances, Promoting Health/Fitness, Supporting the Community, Ticket Donations, Toy/Clothing Drives, United Cerebral Palsy, USO, Volunteering, Wilmington Blue Rocks, Youth Sports { }

Welcome to clubphilanthropy.com!

Minor League Baseball clubs have been actively involved in their communities for many years. For the first time, their activities and contributions will be chronicled on this site.

Clubs don’t publicize all of their activity, so these stories represent a mere fraction of the contributions MiLB clubs make to their communities every year.

Categories

  • ►Aberdeen Ironbirds (3)
  • ►Akron RubberDucks (32)
  • ►Albuquerque Isotopes (24)
  • ►Altoona Curve (22)
  • ►Amarillo Sod Poodles (18)
  • ►Arkansas Travelers (2)
  • ►Asheville Tourists (5)
  • ►Auburn Doubledays (4)
  • ►Augusta GreenJackets (29)
  • ►Batavia Muckdogs (15)
  • ►Beloit SkyCarp (19)
  • ►Biloxi Shuckers (23)
  • ►Binghamtom Rumble Ponies (4)
  • ►Birmingham Barons (16)
  • ►Bluefield Blue Jays (5)
  • ►Bluefield Ridge Runners (3)
  • ►Boise Hawks (9)
  • ►Bowie Baysox (28)
  • ►Bowling Green Hot Rods (13)
  • ►Bradenton Marauders (22)
  • ►Bristol Pirates (4)
  • ►Bristol State Liners (1)
  • ►Brooklyn Cyclones (22)
  • ►Buffalo Bisons (46)
  • ►Burlington Bees (6)
  • ►Burlington Royals (3)
  • ►Burlington Sock Puppets (2)
  • ►Carolina Mudcats (21)
  • ►Cedar Rapids Kernels (39)
  • ►Charleston Dirty Birds (2)
  • ►Charleston RiverDogs (100)
  • ►Charlotte Knights (30)
  • ►Charlotte Stone Crabs (6)
  • ►Chattanooga Lookouts (3)
  • ►Clearwater Threshers (43)
  • ►Clinton LumberKings (5)
  • ►Colorado Springs Sky Sox (20)
  • ►Columbia Fireflies (48)
  • ►Columbus Clippers (9)
  • ►Connecticut Tigers (14)
  • ►Corpus Christi Hooks (36)
  • ►Danville Braves (16)
  • ►Danville Otterbots (2)
  • ►Dayton Dragons (161)
  • ►Daytona Tortugas (21)
  • ►Delmarva Shorebirds (61)
  • ►Down East Wood Ducks (3)
  • ►Dunedin Blue Jays (15)
  • ►Durham Bulls (19)
  • ►El Paso Chihuahuas (23)
  • ►Elizabethton River Riders (1)
  • ►Elizabethton Twins (5)
  • ►Erie SeaWolves (12)
  • ►Eugene Emeralds (10)
  • ►Evansville Otters (1)
  • ►Everett AquaSox (15)
  • ►Fayetteville Woodpeckers (22)
  • ►Florida Fire Frogs (3)
  • ►Fort Myers Miracle (25)
  • ►Fort Wayne TinCaps (58)
  • ►Frederick Keys (19)
  • ►Fredericksburg Nationals (28)
  • ►Fresno Grizzlies (17)
  • ►Frisco RoughRiders (31)
  • ►Grand Junction Rockies (2)
  • ►Great Falls Voyagers (2)
  • ►Great Lakes Loons (28)
  • ►Greeneville Flyboys (1)
  • ►Greeneville Reds (1)
  • ►Greensboro Grasshoppers (5)
  • ►Greenville Drive (146)
  • ►Gwinnett Stripers (53)
  • ►Hagerstown Suns (3)
  • ►Harrisburg Senators (16)
  • ►Hartford Yard Goats (12)
  • ►Hickory Crawdads (26)
  • ►Hillsboro Hops (13)
  • ►Hudson Valley Renegades (16)
  • ►Idaho Falls Chukars (6)
  • ►Indianapolis Indians (35)
  • ►Inland Empire 66ers (13)
  • ►Iowa Cubs (7)
  • ►Jackson Generals (9)
  • ►Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (47)
  • ►Jersey Shore BlueClaws (152)
  • ►Johnson City Cardinals (5)
  • ►Johnson City Doughboys (2)
  • ►Jupiter Hammerheads (2)
  • ►Kane County Cougars (41)
  • ►Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (20)
  • ►Kingsport Axmen (1)
  • ►Kingsport Mets (2)
  • ►Lake County Captains (11)
  • ►Lake Elsinore Storm (5)
  • ►Lakeland Flying Tigers (12)
  • ►Lancaster JetHawks (7)
  • ►Lansing Lugnuts (3)
  • ►Las Vegas Aviators (9)
  • ►Lehigh Valley IronPigs (43)
  • ►Lexington Legends (69)
  • ►Louisville Bats (29)
  • ►Lowell Spinners (15)
  • ►Lynchburg Hillcats (17)
  • ►Mahoning Valley Scrappers (42)
  • ►Memphis Redbirds (8)
  • ►Midland RockHounds (5)
  • ►MiLB (37)
  • ►Mississippi Braves (34)
  • ►Missoula Paddleheads (19)
  • ►Mobile BayBears (6)
  • ►Modesto Nuts (10)
  • ►Montgomery Biscuits (2)
  • ►Myrtle Beach Pelicans (40)
  • ►Nashville Sounds (33)
  • ►New Hampshire Fisher Cats (33)
  • ►New Orleans Baby Cakes (5)
  • ►New York Boulders (5)
  • ►Norfolk Tides (20)
  • ►Northwest Arkansas Naturals (49)
  • ►Norwich Sea Unicorns (2)
  • ►Oklahoma City Dodgers (82)
  • ►Omaha Storm Chasers (53)
  • ►Orem Owlz (3)
  • ►Ottawa Titans (1)
  • ►Palm Beach Cardinals (4)
  • ►Pawtucket Red Sox (67)
  • ►Pensacola Blue Wahoos (63)
  • ►Peoria Chiefs (12)
  • ►Portland Sea Dogs (52)
  • ►Princeton Rays (8)
  • ►Princeton Whistlepigs (1)
  • ►Pulaski River Turtles (1)
  • ►Pulaski Yankees (18)
  • ►Quad Cities River Bandits (24)
  • ►Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (9)
  • ►Reading Fightin Phils (76)
  • ►Reno Aces (45)
  • ►Richmond Flying Squirrels (40)
  • ►Rochester Red Wings (28)
  • ►Rocket City Trash Pandas (11)
  • ►Rocky Mountain Vibes (2)
  • ►Rome Braves (27)
  • ►Round Rock Express (38)
  • ►Sacramento River Cats (25)
  • ►Salem Red Sox (14)
  • ►Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (8)
  • ►Salt Lake Bees (38)
  • ►San Antonio Missions (18)
  • ►San Jose Giants (39)
  • ►Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (60)
  • ►Somerset Patriots (22)
  • ►South Bend Cubs (65)
  • ►Spokane Indians (30)
  • ►Springfield Cardinals (42)
  • ►St. Lucie Mets (19)
  • ►St. Paul Saints (8)
  • ►State College Spikes (27)
  • ►Staten Island Yankees (16)
  • ►Stockton Ports (19)
  • ►Sugar Land Space Cowboys (6)
  • ►Syracuse Mets (16)
  • ►Tacoma Rainiers (6)
  • ►Tampa Tarpons (35)
  • ►Tennessee Smokies (25)
  • ►Toledo Mud Hens (47)
  • ►Trenton Thunder (28)
  • ►Tri-City Dust Devils (2)
  • ►Tri-City ValleyCats (31)
  • ►Tulsa Drillers (28)
  • ►Vancouver Canadians (28)
  • ►Vermont Lake Monsters (22)
  • ►Visalia Rawhide (7)
  • ►West Michigan Whitecaps (8)
  • ►West Virginia Black Bears (1)
  • ►West Virginia Power (11)
  • ►Wichita Wind Surge (12)
  • ►Williamsport Crosscutters (54)
  • ▼Wilmington Blue Rocks (31)
    • BLUE ROCKS AND ROWAN UNIVERSITY ENHANCE PARTNERSHIP ONCE AGAIN IN 2022
    • Celebrating Wilmington's Top Five Black Players
    • Wilmington Blue Rocks Annual Judy Johnson Night Helps Keep His and Negro League Baseball’s Legacy Alive
    • JPMorgan Chase and the Blue Rocks Partner to Honor Essential Businesses, Non-Profits, and First Responders
    • Blue Rocks and Blue Coats Joint Campaign Raises $6,500
    • Brandywine Valley SPCA To Host Second Drive-thru Pet Food Pantry at Frawley Stadium
    • Kayla Knotts Named Blue Rocks Teacher of the Year
    • Brandywine Valley SPCA Drive-thru Pet Food Pantry to be Held Next Week at Frawley Stadium
    • Blue Rocks and Blue Coats Partner on Delaware Together Campaign
    • Nemours Children's Health System Seeks PPE & Cleaning Supply Donations
    • PPE Donation Drive Set For April 4-5 At Frawley Stadium
    • ChristianaCare Seeks Blue Rocks Fans' Support In COVID-19 Fight
    • Blue Rocks Urge Fans To Support Local Food Establishments
    • Blue Rocks Announce Holiday Card Contest Winner
    • Blue Rocks Staff Volunteer in Harvey Hanna Coat Drive
    • Rocky Bluewinkle Goes Trick-or-Treating With Local Kids
    • Blue Rocks Win Carolina League's Matt Minker Award For Community Service
    • Blue Rocks and JPMorgan Chase & Co. Partner for Military Monday Promotion
    • Blue Rocks Win Carolina League's Matt Minker Award For Community Service
    • Blue Rocks to Help Raise Money for Hurricane Harvey Victims
    • Blue Rocks Announce 2016 Holiday Card Contest Winner
    • Blue Rocks Announce 2014 Holiday Card Contest Winner
    • Blue Rocks honored with Minker Award
    • Blue Rocks & Bank of America To Donate $4 For Every All-Star Hitting Challenge Ticket
    • Habitat for Humanity to Hold 50/50 Drawings at Blue Rocks Home Games
    • Scout Patch Design Contest Underway
    • Blue Rocks 2012 Holiday Card Contest Underway
    • ROCKY AIDS IN GIRLS SCOUT'S GOLD AWARD PROGRAM
    • BLUE ROCKS DONATE NEARLY $750,000 TO LOCAL CAUSES
    • ROCKY DELIVERS HOLIDAY CHEER
    • Blue Rocks Donate Nearly Half a Million for Local Causes
  • ►Winston-Salem Dash (32)
  • ►Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (84)
  • ►Worcester Red Sox (48)