Segra Stadium to Host 2nd Annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb

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FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — The 2nd Annual Fayetteville 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb will be held on the morning of Saturday, September 12th at Segra Stadium. Opening ceremonies will begin at 8:45 a.m. and the climb will start at approximately 9:15 a.m.

The 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb is a way to honor and remember the FDNY firefighters, police, and EMS who selflessly gave their lives on that tragic day. Each participant will pay tribute to those brave souls by climbing the equivalent of the 110 stories of the World Trade Center. Your individual tribute not only remembers the sacrifice, but symbolically completes their heroic journey to save others. Through community participation we can ensure that each of the 343 firefighters, 60 police officers, and 10 EMS are never forgotten.

Registration fees are $30/per person and include your entry to the climb and a t-shirt. Anyone interested in climbing MUST REGISTER ONLINE by September 10th. We will not have walk-up registration this year to limit touch points at the entrance. Check-in for the event will begin at 7:45 a.m. All proceeds from the stair climb will benefit programs provided by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to support the families of your local fallen firefighters and the FDNY Counseling Services Unit.

To register, please visit the Fayetteville 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb Facebook page HERE.

The Rick Herrema Foundation To Receive $10,000 Donation for Summer Camps

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FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Playing, learning, and growing: that’s what summer camp is all about at The Rick Herrema Foundation’s 50 acre green space called ‘Rick’s Place,’ located just minutes from Fort Bragg. The Fayetteville Woodpeckers are proud to give a donation of $10,000 to The Rick Herrema Foundation for camp participants to enjoy three weeks of activities, without the extra worry or burden of expenses and safety concerns due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Woodpeckers presented a check in the amount of $10,000 to The Rick Herrema Foundation from their primary outreach program of the club’s official team charity, The Community Leaders Program, which focuses on military and youth sports causes. This donation will sponsor the supplies and activities budget for the upcoming three weeks of summer camps. With the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Rick Herrema Foundation is elevating safety and sanitation measures to protect the campers and their well-being, while having fun in an outdoor, safety-conscious environment. The summer camps are specifically designed for children with military connections, ages 8 to 14 years old. This summer, campers will learn survival skills, land navigation, ax throwing, and wood working, as well as other fun, socially distant activities during their time at Rick’s Place. Additionally, The Community Leaders Program has sponsored scholarships to cover the cost for camp participants whose families may be financially challenged.

The Community Leaders Program is made possible through the generosity of our corporate partners: SEGRA, AEVEX, ASUS, The Walsingham Group, CarolinasDentist, and Blanton’s Air, Plumbing, and Electric.

For more information about Rick’s Place and The Rick Herrema Foundation, click HERE. You can find more information on The Community Leaders Program HERE.

$2,790 Raised For Second Harvest Food Bank Through CommUNITY First Initiative

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FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Fayetteville Woodpeckers are pleased to announce the results of their month-long participation in the MiLB CommUNITY First campaign. The national initiative, developed by Minor League Baseball in conjunction with Feeding America, encouraged participating teams and their fans to raise funds for local food banks and to honor individuals risking their lives on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With a grand total of $2,790 raised, the Woodpeckers placed first in fundraising in the Carolina League and second nationally out of more than 100 participating teams throughout Minor League Baseball. Fans donated $1,145 from April 28th through May 31st. The Fayetteville Woodpeckers Fund, the team’s official charity, matched the total amount raised. As one of the top five teams in fundraising through this initiative, MiLB Charities added an additional $500 donation.

The proceeds from this fundraiser will benefit the Woodpeckers’ local food bank, Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeast North Carolina, located in Fayetteville. In southeast North Carolina, 1 in 6 people face hunger; 1 in 4 of these are children. Second Harvest Food Bank is the leading hunger relief oganization in the southeastern region of the Tar Heel state; serving Bladen, Cumberland, Duplin, Harnett, Hoke, Robeson, and Sampson counties.

CommUNITY First not only addressed food insecurity, the initiative also aimed to honor those on the front lines fighting COVID-19. For every $10 raised, the Woodpeckers pledged to donate one ticket to a future home game this season or in 2021 to a local hero of the pandemic. The Woodpeckers will work with local partners to distribute 279 tickets to front-line workers in our community.
Minor League Baseball’s CommUNITY First campaign collectively raised $54,070 for Feeding America food banks around the country. As a result, participating teams will donate over 5,400 tickets to heroes fighting COVID-19.

 

Fayetteville Woodpeckers Join Minor League Baseball’s CommUNITY First Campaign

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FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Fayetteville Woodpeckers announced today they are joining MiLB CommUNITY First, a new national initiative developed by Minor League Baseball in conjunction with Feeding America, to raise funds for local food banks and to honor individuals risking their lives on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Woodpeckers fans are encouraged to visit MILB.com/CommUNITYFirst starting today, April 28th through May 31st to donate. Once on the site, fans can choose their donation amount and the Fayetteville Woodpeckers as the recipient of their donation to direct funds to Fayetteville’s Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeastern North Carolina. For every $10 raised, the Woodpeckers will donate one ticket to a future home game this season or in 2021 to a local hero of the pandemic. Additionally, the club has pledged to match up to $3,000 of the donation amount contributed to this initiative from their team charity, The Fayetteville Woodpeckers Fund.

“We admire Minor League Baseball’s activity during this challenging period,” said Mark Zarthar, President of the Fayetteville Woodpeckers. “They have continued to engage with baseball fans throughout the nation and support the small businesses that are MiLB clubs. The CommUNITYFirst initiative will leverage the scale of our platform to both feed the hungry and honor those on the front lines. We are proud to partner with MiLB and Feeding America.”

School closures, rising unemployment and poverty due to quarantine and extended stay-at-home orders have disproportionately impacted people already at risk of hunger and could result in an estimated additional 17.1 million people experiencing food insecurity in the next six months, according to Feeding America. As the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization with a network of more than 200 affiliates, Feeding America has projected a $1.4 billion shortfall in the next six months alone.

In response, contributions from Fayetteville Woodpeckers fans and Minor League Baseball will help ensure families and individuals across the country most impacted by the pandemic are fed and cared for during these uncertain times. Join the national campaign by donating and selecting Fayetteville Woodpeckers at https://milbstore.com/products/milb-community-first and use #MILBCommUNITYFirst on social media to show your support.

 

Fayetteville Woodpeckers & Piedmont Natural Gas Unveil STEM Scholarship Program

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FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Fayetteville Woodpeckers announced today they are teaming up with Piedmont Natural Gas to provide three $1,000 college scholarships to local high school seniors who plan to pursue a career in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) field.

In support of high school seniors who have had their final year cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Woodpeckers and Piedmont Natural Gas have created this scholarship program for our community’s young adults who are planning to continue their education at the collegiate level. In addition to academic excellence, volunteerism, and 2020 enrollment at an accredited institution of higher education, one of the eligibility requirements is participation in at least one sports team and/or extracurricular activity during their high school education.

“Piedmont Natural Gas is committed to promoting education and careers in STEM, which is why we’re honored to partner with the Woodpeckers on these scholarships,” says Tammy Thurman, Community Relations Manager for Piedmont Natural Gas. “We take pride in supporting and providing opportunities to bright young minds in our community.”

Those who are interested in applying for the Fayetteville Woodpeckers STEM Scholarship Program, presented by Piedmont Natural Gas, can go online to www.piedmontng.com/woodpeckers for a complete list of eligibility requirements and instructions. The application deadline is May 1, 2020.

Woodpeckers 2019 Community and Charitable Giving Report

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Since it’s inception in March of 2019, the Fayetteville Woodpeckers Fund has implemented the Fayetteville Woodpeckers’ desire to make a tangible impact on the Greater Fayetteville community through their official team charity. Investing over $71,000 in charitable giving, in-kind donations, and volunteer hours in their inaugural season, the Woodpeckers set out to establish a winning record not only in baseball games, but in their commitment to helping the community surrounding Segra Stadium.

The core program of this initiative, The Community Leaders Program, emphasizes a focus on youth sports and military causes. With the volunteerism and funds contributed by the Woodpeckers’ 2019 Community Leaders Corporate Partners (Segra, AEVEX, ASUS, Walsingham Group, Inc., and CarolinasDentist), we were able to accomplish the following projects below in 2019.

Youth Sports

  • Sponsored uniforms for 21 youth baseball and softball teams throughout Cumberland County, including the Buddy Baseball Program for special needs children.
  • Purchased and installed a new scoreboard for the Buddy Baseball Program at their home field in Massey Hill. The previous scoreboard was damaged during Hurricane Matthew.
  • Provided new Nike PG3 basketball shoes for both Men’s and Women’s varsity basketball teams at E.E. Smith High School.

Military

  • Funded 50 scholarships for military children to attend summer camp at Rick’s Place. Rick’s Place is a veteran owned 50-acre park just outside Fort Bragg that provides support for active duty and veteran soldiers and their families. In addition, the Woodpeckers provided all 250 campers with a t-shirt to wear during the duration of camp.
  • In conjunction with the USO of North Carolina and with the help of over 70 volunteers from our corporate partners, the Bird Bath Kits initiative was launched. Over 1,000 Bird Bath Kits, which included various personal care hygiene items, were packed at Segra Stadium and then delivered to elementary and middle schools on Fort Bragg as part of our back to school project.
  • Purchased a new irrigation system to benefit the community garden established for veterans therapy at Rick’s Place. This garden has a variety of flowers, vegetables, and herbs that veterans and their families are able to plant, tend, and harvest free of charge.

Other 2019 Charitable Initiatives: 
Paint the Park Purple, Alzheimer’s Awareness Night – On Saturday, July 27th, 2019, the Woodpeckers partnered with McKee Homes to host Alzheimer’s Awareness Night at Segra Stadium. The team wore custom purple jerseys that were auctioned off in-game, raising over $8,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association of Eastern North Carolina. The first 2,000 fans through the gates that night receieved custom purple Woodpeckers shirts to wear during the game, while awareness/educational videos played throughout the evening.
Fayetteville Woodpeckers Fund Jersey Auctions – The Woodpeckers held two other impactful jersey auctions that benefited the club’s charity in 2019. The first was a Patriotic jersey for our Independence Day Celebration game on July 3rd and the second was our end-of-season Inaugural home jersey set. These funds were used to help with the above Fayetteville Woodpeckers Fund initiatives.
Falcon Children’s Home Christmas Initiative – The Woodpeckers purchased 120 toys for children (infant to 19 years old) to open during the annual Falcon Children’s Home Christmas Party in December.
Childhood Cancer Awareness, Hailey Keller’s Home Run for Life & Jacob Moore’s Woodpecker for a Day – The Woodpeckers were honored to have Hailey and Jacob be a part of our Inaugural season. Hailey celebrated her five year anniversary of being cancer free by hitting a “home run” and running the bases during one of our inning breaks to a standing ovation. Jacob signed a one-day contract and enjoyed a full day of team training and fun as an honorary Woodpecker. Jacob has defied the odds and continues to fight while living with terminal neuroblastoma.

In addition to the above, the club fulfilled over 200 in-kind donations to organizations throughout Fayetteville and the surrounding communities. Our favorite red-cockaded woodpecker Bunker also made over 100 appearances throughout the region, putting a smile on the face of children and keeping our fans in good spirits!

 

Blanton’s Announced as Sixth Community Leaders Program Partner

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FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Fayetteville Woodpeckers, Class-A Advanced affiliate of the Houston Astros, announced today their heightened partnership with Blanton’s Air, Plumbing, & Electric heading into the upcoming 2020 season. The new agreement includes two pivotal aspects that current and future Woodpeckers fans will enjoy, while promoting the level of dedication to community involvement that fans have come to expect from their hometown baseball team.

Blanton’s has signed on to be the team’s sixth Community Leaders Program Corporate Partner. The program is a part of the Fayetteville Woodpeckers official team charity, The Fayetteville Woodpeckers Fund. The Community Leaders Program works with corporate partners to make a tangible impact on the Greater Fayetteville community with an emphasis in Youth Sports and Military causes. Since its inception in March 2019, the charity has invested over $70,000 in philanthropic efforts. Blanton’s joins Segra, AEVEX, ASUS, Walsingham Group, and CarolinasDentist in this partnership.

“The Blanton’s team is proud and excited to become an official Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing partner of the Fayetteville Woodpeckers,” says Shanna Blanton, Blanton’s Chief Branding Officer. “As Community Leaders, our love and passion for Fayetteville will continue to grow as we enter the 2020 season and beyond.”

Additionally, groups of twenty or more will enjoy the option of celebrating their special occasion in the newly branded Blanton’s Picnic Zone. Featuring upgrades to the current design of the popular Segra Stadium seating location, fans will watch the Woodpeckers play the All-American pastime with their group of family, friends, or coworkers in style. Blanton’s also plans to continue their ‘Very Important Veteran’ campaign they began in 2019 where individuals can nominate local Veterans to attend a Woodpeckers Game in specially marked seating in the ballpark.

“I love seeing a locally-owned company like Blanton’s stand behind our mission of making a tangible impact on the Fayetteville community”, says Chaz Dawson, the Woodpeckers’ Director of Sales. “Blanton’s has supported us since the beginning, making the decision to partner with us even when the stadium was still under construction. I look forward to continuing our partnership and ultimately the impact this will have on our city’s young athletes and military families”

The Woodpeckers open their second season of play against the Frederick Keys on Thursday, April 9th at Segra Stadium.

ABOUT BLANTON’S AIR PLUMBING ELECTRIC
Specializing in heating, cooling, plumbing, and electrical services since 1951, the Blanton’s Air, Plumbing, & Electric family of highly skilled, home service professionals has been proudly building a tradition of outstanding service. Blanton’s is 100% dedicated to bringing their core values to life through a shared commitment to being kind, doing the right thing, and growing every day. Working this way is what fuels their business to consistently create extraordinary experiences and to do whatever it takes – to wow their customers. For more information, please visit https://www.blantonsair.com/

ABOUT THE HOUSTON ASTROS
The 2017 World Champion Houston Astros have been Houston’s hometown baseball team since 1962, when the Colt .45s first took the field in Colt Stadium. Three years later, the team became the Houston Astros as a tribute to America’s “Space City” and will be entering their 58th season in Major League Baseball. In 2013, the Astros moved to the American League West Division, becoming the first franchise to move from the National League to the American League. The Astros are also the only team in MLB history to have won both an American and National League pennant. For 81 regular season games a year, the Astros can be found on their home field at Minute Maid Park, where families and friends come together to enjoy America’s favorite pastime in one of baseball’s most comfortable and fan-friendly ballparks. In addition to striving for success on the field, the Astros take pride in their local community and are committed to making Houston a better place by honoring our nation’s military, combatting homelessness, aiding in the fight against cancer and supporting youth baseball and softball through the Astros Foundation’s cornerstone programs. For more information on the Astros, please visit www.astros.com.

ABOUT SEGRA STADIUM
Segra Stadium, named a Ballpark Digest ‘Ballpark of the Decade’, is a $40 million state-of-the-art sports and entertainment venue is a catalyzing economic development tool that attracts and retains business, provides national exposure, increases civic and community pride, and provides for an improved quality of life for residents. Designed for baseball, concerts, and a host of other activities the venue seats 5,242 for baseball and up to 10,000 for major outdoor events. It features natural grass, a 25×70 LED scoreboard, six luxury suites, four field boxes, a premium club level, outdoor party deck, a kids zone, and more. For more information, please visit www.fayettevillewoodpeckers.com

ABOUT THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.
Fayetteville is proud of its rich role in our nation’s history and holds fast to the friendly feel of a true hometown, while providing the cultural and entertainment amenities of bigger cities. The city boasts sophisticated restaurants, museums, musical and sporting events, and nearby Fort Bragg – the nation’s largest military installation – that solidifies the city’s deep roots in all things military. Fayetteville is the sixth-largest city in the state and home to more than 208,000 residents. For more information, please visit www.fayettevillenc.gov.

ABOUT THE CAROLINA LEAGUE
The Carolina League consists of 10 teams and is within the Class A-Advanced level of Minor League Baseball. Founded in 1945, the Carolina League strives to provide a first-class baseball experience for its players and fans. For more information on the Carolina League, please visit www.carolinaleague.com

– WOODPECKERS –

 

Segra Stadium to Host Inaugural Armed Forces Invitational

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Inaugural Armed Forces Invitational, presented by the Walsingham Group, Inc., will be played at Segra Stadium in downtown Fayetteville starting February 28 until March 1.

The three-day tournament consists of two games per day, with each team playing at least once Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. A post-game fireworks show will follow the conclusion of the last game on both Friday and Saturday night. The schedule with matchups, dates, and times are listed below.

Friday, February 28th
2 p.m. – Army vs. Air Force
6 p.m. – Army vs. Campbell

Saturday, February 29th
1 p.m. – Air Force vs. Campbell
5 p.m. – Air Force vs. Army

Sunday, March 1st
11 a.m. – Campbell vs. Army
3 p.m. – Campbell vs. Air Force

Army West Point Baseball Head Coach James Foster 
“We are very grateful for the opportunity to play in the Armed Forces Invitational with Air Force and Campbell. It will be a great weekend of baseball at a beautiful venue. The most exciting part is that we will be playing close to Fort Bragg and hopefully those in the military can come out and watch the games. We are truly honored to be able to play in front of those serving our country.”

Walsingham Group, Inc. Chairman Ed Petkovich
“Walsingham Group is proud to sponsor the Inaugural Armed Forces Invitational. It’s a wonderful opportunity for our community to showcase and pay tribute to the men and women who will lead our forces.”

Tickets for the Armed Forces Invitational start at $10 and are now on sale. Ticket options include single day passes or discounted three-day passes. All current and former military will receive a discount for all three days of the tournament.

Fans can purchase tickets by visiting the BB&T Box Office or by clicking here.

For information on luxury or hospitality seating please contact the Woodpeckers at [email protected]

ABOUT WALSINGHAM GROUP, INC.
Walsingham Group, Inc. has partnered with the government since 2008 to deliver flexible, responsive, effective solutions for their most challenging problems. Walsingham performs comprehensive operations and maintenance support; intelligence related services; full-cycle logistics support; personal recovery; aviation support; and specialized staffing in worldwide locations for classified and unclassified requirements.

ABOUT THE FAYETTEVILLE WOODPECKERS
The Houston Astros own and operate its Class A Advanced minor league affiliate, the Fayetteville Woodpeckers. The Astros agreed to a 30-year lease and are invested in the long-term success of the City of Fayetteville. The team’s direction focuses on creating a culture of success with an accessible management team, building the best young talent in baseball, engaging with fans, and connecting the community with an exciting, family-friendly experience. For more information on the Woodpeckers, please visit http://www.fayettevillewoodpeckers.com

ABOUT THE HOUSTON ASTROS
The 2017 World Champion Houston Astros have been Houston’s hometown baseball team since 1962, when the Colt .45s first took the field in Colt Stadium. Three years later, the team became the Houston Astros as a tribute to America’s “Space City” and will be entering their 58th season in Major League Baseball. In 2013, the Astros moved to the American League West Division, becoming the first franchise to move from the National League to the American League. The Astros are also the only team in MLB history to have won both an American and National League pennant. For 81 regular season games a year, the Astros can be found on their home field at Minute Maid Park, where families and friends come together to enjoy America’s favorite pastime in one of baseball’s most comfortable and fan-friendly ballparks. In addition to striving for success on the field, the Astros take pride in their local community and are committed to making Houston a better place by honoring our nation’s military, combatting homelessness, aiding in the fight against cancer and supporting youth baseball and softball through the Astros Foundation’s cornerstone programs. For more information on the Astros, please visit www.astros.com.

ABOUT SEGRA STADIUM
Segra Stadium, named a Ballpark Digest ‘Ballpark of the Decade’, is a $40 million state-of-the-art sports and entertainment venue is a catalyzing economic development tool that attracts and retains business, provides national exposure, increases civic and community pride, and provides for an improved quality of life for residents. Designed for baseball, concerts, and a host of other activities the venue seats 5,242 for baseball and up to 10,000 for major outdoor events. It features natural grass, a 25×70 LED scoreboard, six luxury suites, four field boxes, a premium club level, outdoor party deck, a kids zone, and more. For more information please visit, www.fayettevillewoodpeckers.com

ABOUT THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.
Fayetteville is proud of its rich role in our nation’s history and holds fast to the friendly feel of a true hometown, while providing the cultural and entertainment amenities of bigger cities. The city boasts sophisticated restaurants, museums, musical and sporting events, and nearby Fort Bragg – the nation’s largest military installation – that solidifies the city’s deep roots in all things military. Fayetteville is the sixth-largest city in the state and home to more than 208,000 residents. For more information, please visit www.fayettevillenc.gov.

ABOUT THE CAROLINA LEAGUE
The Carolina League consists of 10 teams and is within the Class A-Advanced level of Minor League Baseball. Founded in 1945, the Carolina League strives to provide a first-class baseball experience for its players and fans. For more information on the Carolina League, please visit www.carolinaleague.com

– WOODPECKERS –

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