SALISBURY, Md. (Monday, April 24, 2017) – As part of a company commitment to fight hunger in our communities, Perdue Farms and the Delmarva Shorebirds announce the launch of the annual season-long “2017 Perdue Strike Out Hunger Challenge on Delmarva” in partnership with the region’s three food banks.
To jumpstart the challenge, the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation – the charitable giving arm of Perdue Farms – has issued a $15,000 challenge grant to the Eastern Shore Branch of the Maryland Food Bank, the Food Bank of Delaware and the Eastern Shore Branch of the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia.
The campaign provides the forum to continue the awareness and community engagement in hunger relief that began with Perdue’s sponsorship of the 2011 South Atlantic League “Perdue Strike Out Hunger All-Star Game promotions. Since then, the Shorebirds, their fans and the food banks have embraced the challenge to provide more than 700 meal equivalents for those in need on Delmarva.
“At Perdue Farms, we believe that in a country as rich as ours, no one should have to go hungry. The Strike Out Hunger Challenge has provided a wonderful forum to raise awareness about those struggling with hunger on Delmarva,” said Kim Nechay, executive director of the Foundation. “We are proud to be part of this unique collaborative partnership for the greater good of the Delmarva community.”
As Jimmy Sweet, assistant general manager of the Delmarva Shorebirds, said, “The Shorebirds look forward to working again with Perdue this season to bring awareness to hunger relief in our communities and improve the quality of life for our neighbors. Since 2011, we have made major strides together to keep hunger top of mind, while generating hundreds of thousands of meals to help the hungry.”
How The ‘Challenge’ Works
The first $10,000 of the Foundation’s challenge grant will be divided equally among the three Delmarva food banks as a challenge to involve the Delmarva community in the regional fight against hunger. Each food bank must raise the equivalent of 10,000 meals in order to claim its share of the $10,000 challenge grant. Any combination of pounds of food collected, funds collected and donated, or volunteer efforts from the Shorebirds’ home opener on Wednesday, April 13, through the final game of the regular season at home on Tuesday, Sept. 4, will count toward each food bank’s challenge goal.
Perdue has also committed to donate $10 for each time a Shorebirds’ pitcher strikes out an opposing batter (up to $5,000). The $5,000 will be split equally between the three food banks.
Shorebirds Plan Promotions To Support Strike Out Hunger
The Shorebirds plan a variety of promotions to generate interest in the Strike Out Hunger Challenge at their 70 home games.
The Shorebirds have designated the season’s 11 Sunday home games as “Strike Out Hunger Sundays.” If fans bring two non-perishable food items to the stadium they can receive an upper reserved ticket to that day’s game for $3. Food collected from the 11 Sunday home games will be distributed equally among the three food banks.
In addition, food donation barrels will be located at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium, making it easy for fans to help by bringing food items to the game or just stopping by the stadium.
If you, or your organization, would like to get involved in the 2017 Perdue Strike Out Hunger Challenge on Delmarva, contact the Delmarva Shorebirds at 410-219-3112 or one of the three participating food banks: Maryland (410) 742-0050, Delaware (302) 424-3301 or Virginia (757) 787-2557.
About Perdue Farms
Perdue Farms is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for everyone we touch through innovative food and agricultural products. Since our beginning on Arthur Perdue’s farm in 1920, to our expansion into agribusiness and the introduction of the PERDUE® brand of chicken and turkey under Frank Perdue, and continuing with our third generation of leadership with Chairman Jim Perdue, we’ve remained family owned and family operated. We are the parent company of Perdue Foods and Perdue AgriBusiness. Through our PERDUE®, PERDUE® SIMPLY SMART®, PERDUE® HARVESTLAND®, COLEMAN PREMIUM® and COLEMAN ORGANIC® food brands; agricultural products and services; and stewardship and corporate responsibility programs, we are working to become the most-trusted name in food and agricultural products. Learn more about Perdue Farms at www.perduefarms.com.
About The Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation
The Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Perdue Farms, was established in 1957 by company founder Arthur W. Perdue and is funded through the estates of Arthur W. Perdue and Frank Perdue. As part of our belief in supporting the communities where and with whom we do business, the Foundation provides grants on behalf of Perdue Farms in communities where large numbers of our associates live and work. At Perdue Farms, we believe in responsible food and agriculture.®
Caption: Perdue Farms and the Delmarva Shorebirds joined food bank representatives to launch the 2017 Perdue Strike Out Hunger Challenge on Hunger at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium on Friday, April 14. From left are Charmin Horton, branch manager of the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, Mike Hooks with the Maryland Food Bank, Chris Bitters, general manager of the Shorebirds, Steve Evans, president of Perdue Foods, and Chad Robinson, Milford branch manager of the Food Bank of Delaware.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
Did you know an estimated 42 million people in America (one in eight) struggle with hunger? To help raise awareness and inspire action, Fifth Third Bank and the Toledo Mud Hens are teaming up to collect food during the May 5-7 homestand at Fifth Third Field in support of the SeaGate Food Bank of Northwest Ohio.
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons will host Pride Night at Dow Diamond on Wednesday, May 31 during their game against the West Michigan Whitecaps. The Dow Chemical Company and GLAD (Dow’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Ally (LGBTA) employee resource group) are proud to sponsor this inaugural event with the Loons.
BILOXI, MS – For their April 22 game against the Jackson Generals, the Biloxi Shuckers wore special coast-themed jerseys which were auctioned off with the proceeds benefitting March of Dimes. In addition to the jersey auction, members of the Shuckers front office and seasonal employees participated in the South Mississippi March for Babies on April 29.
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (May 3, 2017) – The Myrtle Beach Pelicans will host their fourth annual Military Appreciation Night at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday, May 13 at TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark. The evening features a military card set giveaway of 36 local veterans to the first 1,000 fans, presented by Embrace Hospice, distinctive military-inspired jerseys for the Pelicans and more.
Portland, Maine– The Portland Sea Dogs have partnered with Movers for Moms® to help moms in need this Mother’s Day.
The Sacramento River Cats are honored to welcome the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team (WWAST) to Raley Field this Saturday, May 6. The WWAST will take on the Sacramento All-Stars at 3:30 p.m. in Game One of a Raley Field doubleheader. The River Cats will then host the division rival Reno Aces at 7:05 p.m. for Salute to Armed Forces
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma City Dodgers and the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office are partnering on the “Road to the Show” this season to give away a trip for two to watch the Los Angeles Dodgers play at Dodger Stadium in August by encouraging fans to ENDUI.
On Sunday, June 4th, the Drive will partner with the Cancer Survivors Park Alliance and the Upstate Cancer Network to host Drive to Thrive at Fluor Field, a celebration of cancer survivors in the Upstate.
Join us at Fluor Field for a special day of celebration of the brave men and women who have survived cancer. First pitch for the game is at 4:05 PM.
The BlueClaws ALS Celebrity Waiter Event moves to Quaker Steak & Lube in Brick and returns on May 24th.
“We are very excited to bring the ALS Celebrity Waiter Event to Quaker Steak & Lube for the first time,” said Jim DeAngelis, Executive Director of BlueClaws Charities and the BlueClaws Director of Community Relations. “This has been our top community event over the last 16 years and we feel it will be even better this year! We’re looking forward to another special event.”
The Mudcats teamed with the ABC11 Weather Team for First Alert Weather Education Day at Five County Stadium on April 13. More than 5,000 students attended the game and were able to watch the Mudcats play while also learning about how the various ways in which weather factors into the outcome of a baseball game.
BURLINGTON, VT — The Vermont Lake Monsters are excited to announce the continued partnership with Five Guys Burgers and Fries during the annual May Days fundraiser to benefit non-profits from across the state of Vermont. “Five Guys May Days” fundraiser will launch May 1st as a month-long program devoted to helping raise funds and awareness for state wide non-profits.
PENSACOLA, Fla., – For Military Appreciation Month, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Whataburger are teaming up for a fourth year to collect donations for USO Northwest Florida. Donations will be collected during the Blue Wahoos’ home games during the month of May. The USO will deliver the items directly to the troops currently serving the United States.
May 8th-12th vs. Birmingham Barons
(Reading, Pa) – The Reading Fightin Phils, double-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, have been presented the People’s Choice Leader Award in Family Entertainment and Local Sports Team by Berks County Living and Lamar Advertising. The awards were presented at the 12th Annual Berks County People’s Choice Who’s Who in Business Luncheon on Friday, April 28th at the Reading Country Club.