The Dragons MVP Program, a tool for teachers has made the popularity of the Dayton Dragons an educational tool for fourth and fifth grade teachers, helping them motivate and reward students for success in the classroom.
This program, which is in 900 Dayton-area classrooms, reaches more than 25,000 students. Each classroom teacher is given five “Dragons MVP” awards to hand out at their discretion. The awards include tickets to a sold-out Dragons game, a custom “Dragons MVP” hat, a certificate recognizing their achievement as a “Dragons MVP” and also admission to a private field day/carnival with the entire Dragons team.
These “Dragons MVP” awards, which were distributed to the teachers at absolutely no cost, were awarded to students as the teachers saw fit. In addition to handing them out for success and achievements inside the classroom, many teachers rewarded students for accomplishments in the community as well.
The Dragons also shared some of the stories of success and achievement the “Dragons MVP” students created in local newspaper ads, television and radio commercials, and also in full page ads in the Dragons game day program.
Plus, 24 winners were selected to either throw out a first pitch or participate in an on-field entertainment skit on the night they attended the sold out Dragons game.
The Dragons also made Player/Mascot visits to 12 schools that participated in the MVP Program. Two Dayton Dragons players and the mascot, Heater, went to these schools and provided an entire class with an opportunity to ask questions of the players, get autographs from the players and hugs from our mascot. Every child in these classrooms received a Dragons hat, a Dragons baseball and a Dragons pen during the visit too.
