clubphilanthropy.com – Page 211 – Charity begins at home [plate]

Blue Jays honor Taylor Cole & Stubby Clapp

September 24, 2014

RHP gets commmunity service award, hitting coach wins Mattick

The Toronto Blue Jays announced their organizational award winners earlier today, and Dunedin’s RHP Taylor Cole and Hitting Coach Stubby Clapp each received tremendous honors. Cole has been named the winner of the Community Service Award, and Clapp will receive the Bobby Mattick Award for excellence in player development.

RHP Taylor Cole has been named this year’s winner of the Community Service Award. The 25 year-old right-hander was exceptionally active in the Blue Jays initiative programs serving youth. Among the programs Taylor participated in were the team’s annual Bookin’ it to the Ballpark reading program and summer Kickball Tour: a health and wellness initiative promoting an active lifestyle among kids of all ages at various summer camps. Additionally, Taylor led a group of teammates in a “Toys for Tots” shopping spree in support of the non-profit organization. Warm-hearted and selfless in his volunteerism, Taylor was always willing to answer a litany of questions from kids in an earnest manner, and took the extra time to sign last minute autographs in the classroom, at the ballpark and wherever fans could be found. In his words, “It’s our responsibility to give back, as so many have done for us.” On the diamond, Cole led all of minor league baseball with 171 strikeouts this past season.

Stubby Clapp is being recognized as this year’s recipient of the Bobby Mattick Award for excellence in Player Development. Born in Windsor, Ontario, Stubby has spent the last two seasons as the Hitting Coach in Dunedin (A). A member of Canada’s 1999 Pan American Games team, 2004 Canada Olympic team and 2006 World Baseball Classic club, Clapp spent 11 seasons playing professionally, including 23 games for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2001. Clapp started his coaching career in 2008 in the Astros system, highlighted by a division crown with Tri City (A) serving as the teams Manager. Stubby was influential in the development of several key Blue Jays farmhands over the past two seasons and his dedication each and every day makes the award richly deserved. During the past season alone, C Derrick Chung, SS Jorge Flores, 1B K.C. Hobson, 3B Gustavo Pierre, RF Matt Newman and CF Dalton Pompey all earned promotions to Double-A and beyond after working with Clapp in Dunedin.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Dunedin Blue Jays. Click here to view the original story.

RailRiders 2014 Community Report

September 24, 2014

Over $360,000 Given Back to NEPA, 66% Jump from Award-Winning 2013

Coming together for the greater good. All baseball teams try to accomplish it on the field. In the case of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) – the off-the-field efforts in that same vein added up to a whole lot of good to date in 2014.

Among the highlights:

– Five jersey auctions raised over $20,000 to benefit: Hunt of a Lifetime, IamMore Foundation, Allied Health Services, Fisher House and the Dave Miley HOF Scholarship Fund.

– The debut of the team’s Fit Track program, presented by Odak.

– Another successful HOPE Week in concert with the rest of the New York Yankees organization.

– An increase in charitable giving from $217,000 to over $360,000 including cash and in-kind gifts.

– Over 550 hours volunteered in the community by full-time staff, players and coaches.

– Over 200 mascot appearances.

– Support of our military with the Metlife Military Appreciation program, Honor Guard program, veterans parade appearances in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, and a players/field staff visit to the Gino Merli Veterans Center.

– The RailRiders and Kost Tire and Auto raised $14,000 for the Boys and Girls Clubs of NEPA with the Hurl the Pearl promotion (up $2,000 from 2013).

-The addition of several other new initiatives including: Breast Cancer Awareness Night which raised $2,000 for the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the Girl Scouts of NEPA; an Easter Egg Hunt for children with special needs; and special school day themes for including an anti-bullying day and an anti-drug and alcohol day.

The RailRiders franchise prides itself on engaging with the community. The signature addition in that regard for 2014 – the Fit Track program. Fit Track’s inaugural year sported over 30 schools in NEPA and over 12,000 children. It encourages children to develop healthy habits during their youth that will transition into adulthood. The Fit Track focuses on three main healthy behaviors: being active for 60 minutes each day; making healthy food choices; and getting at least eight hours of sleep a night. Each enrolled child received a free RailRiders jump rope to aid in their physical activity. Each child that completed the program received a free ticket to one of four RailRiders home games with Fit Trackers honored on the field during the pre-game festivities.

The Community Organization of the Game program, presented by DePietro’s Pharmacy, came back for its second season. Each of the team’s 72 home games spotlighted a local non-profit/civic organization. That COG had the opportunity to spread its message to every guest through a pre-game on-field interview, a ceremonial first pitch, an on-air radio interview and a concourse table display.

A standard from previous years, the Adopt-A-Field program, renovated four local fields (one high school field; one softball field; two youth fields). Front office staff and grounds crew members spent the entire day at each park cutting the infield, rebuilding pitching mounds, fertilizing/mowing grass, cleaning dugouts and more. The fields were chosen through a contest on the team’s website with fan votes deciding the lucky winners.

As the top affiliate of the New York Yankees, the RailRiders proudly played their part in the organization’s annual HOPE (Helping Others Persevere and Excel) Week effort. The week-long community outreach program’s purpose is to touch as many lives as possible in your area. Members of the RailRiders’ coaching staff, players and front office folks made their way throughout NEPA.

HOPE Week 2014 in SWB included partnerships with the Children’s Miracle Network and Make-A-Wish Foundation to welcome children in for an unforgettable day; shaved heads and over $13,000 raised for childhood cancer research; a visit to the Gino Merli Veterans Center; and laser tag with the NEPA Boys and Girls Club.

The RailRiders’ Military Appreciation program was brought back to show the team’s support of our nation’s active and retired military. The serviceperson and his/her family were honored. Activities included complimentary game tickets, a pre-game on-field interview and a ceremonial first pitch.

SWB’s patriotic pride continued by Setting A Seat Aside. To honor men and women affiliated with our nation’s military whom could not be at PNC Field, one significant seat (section 13, row 15, seat one) remains forever empty and unsold.

“2014 was a great year,” said community relations manager Rachel Mark. “Seeing the impact our community outreach makes in NEPA is priceless. We are excited to continue these efforts and watch them grow in 2015.”

Invested in the community, the RailRiders franchise has more than 30 full-time employees. Combined with concessionaire Legends, PNC Field boasts over 500 seasonal employees. The franchise prides itself on customer service and affordability as the bar-setting destination for affordable, family entertainment destination in NEPA.

The RailRiders open their 2015 season at home on April 9 against the Syracuse Chiefs (Washington Nationals). For more information please call (570) 969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. Click here to view the original story.

Kernels season-long charity partners raise over $35,000

September 23, 2014

The Cedar Rapids Kernels partnered with three local companies during the 2014 season to raise over $35,000 for local charities through three different season-long promotions.

For the fifth consecutive season, The Transamerica Foundation has sponsored K’s for Kids, where for every strikeout (or K) recorded by Kernels pitchers this season (home and away, plus playoff games) Transamerica donated $25 to Kids First Law Center for Childr en of Divorce. This season, Kernel pitchers struck out 1,188 batters for a grand total of $29,700 for Kids First. This is the fifth consecutive season that Transamerica has sponsored the K’s for Kids promotion and the highest pledge total to date.

“At Transamerica, we believe in supporting the communities in which we work and live. Since 1994, the Aegon Transamerica Foundation, through a combination of financial grants and the volunteer commitment of our employees, has supported a wide variety of non-profit organizations focused on the education, health and the well-being of community members” said Terrie Rethamel, VP of Specialized Operations with Transamerica. “Our $25 donation for every strikeout pitched by the Cedar Rapids Kernels supports the good work of the Kids First Law Center as they help children and their families through difficult circumstances. We appreciate all that they do to assist families, and consequently, our entire community.”

CarePro Health Services sponsored Plating for Plates, where for every run scored by the Kernels (home and away plus playoffs) CarePro donated $5 to Horizons Meals On Wheels, a program that delivers hot, nutritious meals to local homebound citizens. This season, the Kernels scored 643 runs and that means that CarePro Health Services donated $3,215 or 643 plates of food, to Meals on Wheels. This is the seventh consecutive season that CarePro Health Services has sponsored Plating for Plates.

“It has been a privilege for CarePro Health Services to support the Horizons Meals on Wheels program over the past seven Kernels seasons” said Chris Nichols, Marketing Director at CarePro Health Services. “The Plating for Plates program has been a fun way to be able to support the community and has provided thousands of meals to area community members.”

For the fourth consecutive season, Millhiser Smith Agency, Inc. and West Bend Insurance have partnered to make a donation to Junior Achievement for every home run the Kernels hit at Perfect Game Field this season. In 2014, the Kernels hit 42 home runs and Millhiser Smith and West Bend Insurance donated $2,500 to Junior Achievement.

“One of our fundamental philosophies at Millhiser Smith is to reciprocate the support we receive from Cedar Rapids and surrounding communities – this is why we chose to support Junior Achievement” said Jessica Rhatigan, Risk Consultant with Millhiser Smith Agency, Inc.. “Their focus is on educating our children in preparation for a successful future and we’ve been honored to contribute to their efforts.”

These three companies combined to raise $35,415 for local non-profits in our community this season. The Kernels would like to thank The Transamerica Foundation, CarePro Health Services, Millhiser Smith Agency, Inc. and West Bend Insurance for their continued support of these local charity programs.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Cedar Rapids Kernels. Click here to view the original story.

Fang’s Reading Club returns for the school year

September 22, 2014

It is time for your school to help celebrate the 20^th year of Fang’s Reading Club presented by Learning Rx during the 2014-2015 school year! The mascot of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers is ready to help kids from kindergarten through 5^th grade get excited about reading!

Fang’s Reading club started in 1996 and grew to 178 schools and over 44,000 students last year. There is plenty of room for more for this school year.

Teachers and reading coordinators have until November 21 to get involved in this popular Timber Rattlers program.

Personnel at the participating schools have the flexibility to design the program to meet the needs of their students. The Timber Rattlers, Learning Rx, Badger Sports Park, and the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board will provide participating students with incentive prizes as they reach goals within the program. Students who meet all of their goals for the program are rewarded with a FREE ticket as part of their school’s Family Night at a Timber Rattlers game in 2015.

Please head to Fang’s Reading Club page at the Timber Rattlers website for full details, including a sample time line, dates for Reading Club games, and how your school can schedule a visit from Fang.

Contact Dayna Baitinger at dbaitinger@timberrattlers.com, (800) WI-TIMBER, or (920) 733-4152 if you have any questions or would like to register your class or school for the 2014-2015 school year.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. Click here to view the original story.

Trick or Treat at Eastwood Field Set for October 22

September 22, 2014

The Scrappers and Talmer Bank and Trust present the sixteenth annual “Trick or Treat” at Eastwood Field, with media partners 21 WFMJ, WBCB, and Hot 101. The event will take place Wednesday, October 22^nd from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. “Trick or Treat” at Eastwood Field is a fun and safe way to celebrate Halloween for children age 12 and under. Ticket quantities are limited and are available on a first come first served basis. Children and adults will require a ticket. Tickets are just $1 each and are available starting Monday, September 29th at the Scrappers Team Office located at Eastwood Field. In addition, anyone that donates canned goods at the “Trick or Treat” event for Project Feed Our Valley will receive a free general admission Scrappers ticket valid during the 2015 season.

The Scrappers are looking for area businesses to participate in this year’s “Trick or Treat” event. Businesses will receive table space on the Eastwood Field concourse. This is a community event and a great way to promote your business to the public. Early reservations are encouraged as space is limited. Please contact Annie Stoltenberg for complete details by calling 330-505-0000 or emailing astoltenberg@mvscrappers.com.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers. Click here to view the original story.

Timber Rattlers win Midwest League Community Service Award

September 19, 2014

Brewers affiliate is up for National John H. Moss Award

Members of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers joined The Miracle League of the Fox Valley on July 14, 2014. (Ann Mollica/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers)

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers have been named as the recipients of the Midwest League’s 2014 community service award. The league award means that the Milwaukee Brewers affiliate has been nominated for the national John H. Moss Award.

The Timber Rattlers are in a pool of nominees that includes teams from other participating leagues in the National Association of Professional Baseball League. The John H. Moss Award will be presented at the 2014 Baseball Winter Meetings in San Diego on Sunday, December 7. The Moss Award is presented to a Minor League club for their ongoing commitment to charitable service and their support and leadership within the community and the baseball industry.

“We measure our success in ways that go beyond wins and attendance,” said Timber Rattlers president Rob Zerjav. “I am extremely proud of our front office for all of their hard work and dedication to giving back to our community. We also appreciate the Brewers support and encouragement of the players to be involved in this area. To win this award was truly a team effort.”

Charitable initiatives undertaken by the Timber Rattlers include: Fang’s Reading Program, a school-based program that provides children from kindergarten through fifth grade with incentives to reach reading goals; The annual Golf Outing that supports Miracle League of the Fox Valley, an organization for children with cognitive or physical disabilities; Ballpark Community Garden, a vegetable garden on the stadium grounds which sends the produce to St. Joseph’s Food Program; and STEM in Sports, a partnership with Time Warner Cable to use baseball to help introduce science, technology, engineering, and math to area schoolchildren.

The Timber Rattlers have also worked with Coats for Kids, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Strike Out Cancer, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and many other local and national charities.

The John H. Moss Award is named after the former South Atlantic League president, who founded the circuit and presided over it for a half-century from 1959-2008.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. Click here to view the original story.

Grand Strand Happening name Pelicans “Best Family Outing”

September 18, 2014

Readers voted Pelicans to top spot in inaugural list

Grand Strand Happening announced the winners of their “Happening List,” and the Myrtle Beach Pelicans were named the “Best Family Outing” in the first ever incarnation of the award.

The Happening List is a people’s choice award list of Grand Strand Happening readers’ favorite people, places, events, and businesses on the Grand Strand. The publication handed out over 100 different awards from “Best Day Spa,” to “Best Sushi,” and “Best Senior Living.” The Pelicans beat out fellow finalists Brookgreen Gardens and Ripley’s Aquarium for the Best Family Outing label.

All of the winners will be honored at the first Grand Strand Happening List Bash on September 25.

To view details on the event as well as the finalists and award winners, visit the Grand Strand Happening website.

The Pelicans have provided top-flight family entertainment at TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Ballpark since the team’s inaugural season in 1999. Stadium Journey ranked the Pelicans in the Top 25 Stadium Experiences in all of sports in 2012 and 2013 as well as third in Minor League Baseball in 2013. The club has been nominee for the Golden Bobblehead Awards, which honors the best promotions in Minor League Baseball, in three seasons, and the Pelicans have three nominees for the 2014 season.

Focused on entertainment, the Pelicans are also committed to the community and, this season, won the Community Service Award from the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. After donating $397,187 to the community in monies and man-hours in 2013, the Pelicans surpassed $465,000 this season.

The Pelicans return to TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Ballpark in 2015 for their 17th season, and first as the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, looking to defend their Southern Division Championship. For information on tickets to see the Pelicans in 2015, please call (843) 918-6002, e-mail info@myrtlebeachpelicans.com, or visit www.MyrtleBeachPelicans.com.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. Click here to view the original story.

HR for Heroes Raises $34,000 In 2014

September 17, 2014

OceanFirst Foundation has now donated over $160,000 to military-based non-profit organizations through the program

OceanFirst Foundation donated $34,000 to a group of military-based non-profit organizations based on each BlueClaws home run at FirstEnergy Park as part of the 2014 Home Runs for Heroes program.

Checks were preseneted in a ceremony on the field at FirstEnergy Park on Monday.

In six years, the program has now raised $164,000 in six seasons.

Each organization was paired up with one specific inning. Each the BlueClaws hit a home run at FirstEnergy Park, OceanFirst Foundation donated $1,000 to the corresponding organization. Fundraising totals are listed below.

Organization	Inning	Home Runs	Total
Army Emergency Relief	First	4	$4,000
Chariot Riders and NJ State Family Readiness Council	Second	6	$6,000
ARMS	Third	1	$1,000
Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski II Memorial Fund	Fourth	2	$2,000
American Red Cross	Fifth	1	$1,000
Navy Marine Corp Relief Society	Sixth	5	$5,000
Blue Star Mothers – WELCOME!	Seventh	6	$6,000
Vetwork	Eighth	0	$1,000
Catholic Charities	Ninth/Extra	2	$2,000

In the table above, please note that both Chariot Riders and the NJ State Family Readiness Council received $6,000 for the six home runs the BlueClaws hit in the second inning at home this year.

Dylan Cozens led all BlueClaws with eight home runs at FirstEnergy Park, while three players – Mitch Walding, Andrew Pullin, and Wilmer Oberto – each hit three. 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.

For more information on OceanFirst Foundation, click here.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Lakewood BlueClaws. Click here to view the original story.

Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament

September 12, 2014

The Rome Braves & Floyd County Police Department announce the Sixth Annual Celebrity Shootout Golf Tournament on Friday, November 14, 2014, at beautiful Barnsley Gardens Resort. The course, by Jim Fazio, is one of the most popular courses in the Southeast. The tournament is set in a scramble format with a shotgun start at 11am and will feature current and former Rome and Atlanta Braves greats. A Par three hole will be deemed the Celebrity Shootout hole where a team can invite a celebrity to take a shot. Competing teams have the opportunity to purchase an extra shot at the Par 3 hole for the celebrity to hit a shot off the tee. This annual golf tournament has donated a total of over $50,000 to local and National charities.

The proceeds from this year’s event will benefit Summit Quest Cancer Support Services. Since 2007, Summit Quest has been dedicated to providing support services and meeting the needs of those affected by cancer through various means: Circle at the Summit (a youth focused support group for children ages 6-17 who are facing cancer directly or who have a parent or loved one affected by the disease), Outdoor Adventure Trips, Youth Cycling Programs, and Team Tiger Flight. “All of us at Summit Quest Cancer Support Services are so very thankful to be the beneficiary of this year’s Celebrity Shootout Golf Tournament. The support from this amazing event will allow Summit Quest to continue meeting our mission of providing strength, hope, and service to children & families affected by cancer,” said Founder & Executive Director, William James.

“The Floyd County Police Department is proud to join the Rome Braves in co-sponsoring the event,” says FCPD Chief Bill Shiflett. “We pledge to make this year’s tournament the best to support such a worthy cause and gratefully ask all past and present players to join in on a great day of golf to assist families that have been affected by cancer.” Rome Braves General Manager, Michael Dunn, added, “We are very excited to partner this year with Summit Quest. We hope that through this tournament we can help further their mission of supporting children & their families in Northwest Georgia who have been stricken by cancer.”

Team fees are $450 and include lunch, a goody bag, and raffle tickets. Individual golfers can register for $150 each. Hole sponsorships are available for local businesses and individuals to show their support as well.

Click here to download a registration form now or call 706-378-5100 for more details.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Rome Braves. Click here to view the original story.

Sky Sox support National Developmental Disability Awareness Month

September 12, 2014

Jon Eddy emcees 2nd Annual Achieve with us. Colorado Film Festival

ColoradoSpringsSkySox_2014-03-12 — Jon Eddy, the director of marketing and promotions for Sky Sox baseball, emcees the 2nd Annual Achieve with us. Colorado Film Festival. The event was hosted by The Arc of the Pikes Peak Region and The Arc of Colorado to help raise awareness of intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.

In honor of National Developmental Disability Awareness Month, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox continued their support of local charitable organizations last week.

At the Stargazers Theatre, Sky Sox Director of Marketing and Promotions Jon Eddy emceed the 2nd Annual Achieve with us. Colorado Film Festival hosted by The Arc of Pikes Peak Region and The Arc of Colorado. The festival featured 15 short films written by, starring or produced by people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities from the state of Colorado, as well as the entire United States.

Eddy, who has emceed the event both years, has a personal connection to supporting people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and is extremely supportive of the cause.

“My sister has a disability on the Autism spectrum, Aspergers (syndrome), so this is something I really care about,” Eddy said. “This whole film fest is geared around showing these people can be, and are, astounding in some ways that you and I aren’t. It’s overwhelming.”

Eddy’s sister is currently a teacher of young children in a suburb of New York and found a way to make her disadvantage an advantage by being able to connect so well with children of younger ages.

“The idea (of the festival) is to help educate the community about intellectual and developmental disabilities and to celebrate their achievements,” said Christina Butero, guardianship director of The ARC of Pikes Peak Region. “Our partnership with Sky Sox stems from the ARC Thrift (Stores) and Jon just became a champion of what we’ve been doing because of his sister, and he knows how difficult it is to be accepted in our society.”

Butero said ARC tries to partner with lots of different organizations to help try and build awareness and help create jobs for people with disabilities.

During the festival, Eddy enjoyed all the films, but particularly enjoyed “Pretty Girls” and “Aaron ‘Wheelz’ Fotheringham – The Story”.

“Pretty Girls” is a short film by 14-year-old Jack Williams and is shot like all his films – with his phone. Jack was functionally nonverbal until he was nine years old when he started shooting videos which have helped him capture the world from his point of view. His films have gone on to win numerous of local and national awards.

“Aaron ‘Wheelz’ Fotheringham – The Story” is about Aaron Fotheringham, a wheelchair motocross athlete from Las Vegas. He was born with Spina Bifida and has no usage of his legs. Spina Bifida is a birth defect of the spinal cord. Fotheringham has been doing extreme tricks the past several years and has traveled with the Nitro Circus led by world-famous motorsports performer Travis Pastrana.

Included in the festival is a movement that has made national news in the past few years, which is to stop saying the R-word – ‘retard(ed).’ Since the word is offensive and derogatory to people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, the festival gave attendees an opportunity to pledge against the word.

Jack and Aaron are just two of many examples of people with disabilities succeeding despite their “disadvantages,” and continue to inspire people all over the country and world.

“It was an emotional night for all involved,” Eddy said. “I’m overwhelmed by the work that The Arc is doing in Colorado, and proud of the continued partnership between The Arc and The Sky Sox.”

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. Click here to view the original story.

Register Now for Braves Miracle Field of Rome

September 9, 2014

Registration for the Braves Miracle field of Rome has begun and will continue until September 26th through Rome-Floyd Parks & Recreation Authority. The registration fee is still $50 per player, however, there are scholarship opportunities for interested families.

A pre-season practice will be October 4th at 12:30pm, 1:30pm, and 2:30pm. Uniforms will be distributed at this time. The season will open on Saturday October 11th with games at 12:30pm, 1:30pm, & 2:30pm. A break will take place on October 18th and play resumes October 25th. Starting October 25th, games will move back to 11am, 12pm, & 1pm for the remainder of the season through November 15th.

For more information contact the Rome Braves at 706-378-5100 or the Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation Authority.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Rome Braves. Click here to view the original story.

Little Lake Monsters Program Wins Award

September 8, 2014

Minor League Baseball has announced today that the Vermont Lake Monsters‘ “Little Lake Monsters Community All Stars” program has won their Promotion of the Month for August/September.

The program, presented by Northwestern Urgent Care, named nine winners based on their answers to three questions that focused on sportsmanship, living a healthy lifestyles and community. Each of the winners were rewarded with an experience of a lifetime, and saw what it was like to be a professional baseball player for a day. The promotion held a four-week entry period, and culminated with the event day on Friday, August 22nd at historic Centennial Field.

During each month of the 2014 season, Minor League Baseball recognizes one promotion as the Promotion of the Month. Organizations that are named Promotion of the Month winners are be automatically designated as a finalist for a Golden Bobblehead Award, presented at the Promotional Seminar in Oklahoma City.

Each of the winners:
• Signed a one-day promotional baseball contract at a press conference at the Free Press Media’s headquarters, where they received their very own custom Lake Monsters jersey and cap. Their contracts were signed by Oakland’s Athletics Vice President and General Manager, Billy Beane, and they were represented by Vermont’s own, professional sports agent, Jamie Murphy, whose agency represents several Major League players, such as Troy Tulowitzki, Evan Longoria, Nick Markakis, Tim Hudson, Mark Ellis, and several other professional baseball players
• Took a limousine from the press conference to Centennial Field, where they met the Vermont Lake Monsters team and took batting practice, infield, and ran the bases with the team
• Threw out a ceremonial first pitch
• Joined the Lake Monsters on the field for the National Anthem
• Sat in the dugout during the game
• Received their very own custom Vermont Lake Monsters baseball card, which was a giveaway for the fans on the night of the game
•In the spirit of the promotion, each of the kids donated and paid forward their $50 salary for the day to their local United Way

For more information on the Vermont Lake Monsters community efforts, please visit the Community tab at here on the website.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Vermont Lake Monsters. Click here to view the original story.

BB&T Ballpark Awarded Prestigious LEED ® Green Building Certification

September 4, 2014

CharlotteKnights_2014-09-04 — LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices.

The Charlotte Knights announced that BB&T Ballpark has been awarded LEED ® (level of certification). LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices.

“The Knights organization was committed to the LEED certification of the ballpark,” said Gau Gupte, Odell. “The entire team, including the architects, contractors and engineers, focused the goal of being LEED certified from day one. This included energy efficient systems, high performance building envelope design and green material choices and construction processes.”

The LEED rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the foremost program for buildings, homes, and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained and operated for improved environmental and human health performance. More than 58,000 commercial and institutional projects are currently participating in LEED, comprising more than 10.7 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and more than 140 countries.

BB&T Ballpark achieved LEED certification for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions aimed at achieving high performance in: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

“The green building movement offers an unprecedented opportunity to respond to the most-important challenges of our time, including global climate change, dependence on non-sustainable and expensive sources of energy and threats to human health,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. “The work of innovative building projects such as BB&T Ballpark is a fundamental driving force in the green building movement.”

The 2014 inaugural season at BB&T Ballpark was a record-breaking one for the Knights, who led all of Minor League Baseball in attendance with 687,715 fans in 71 games. With 31 sell-out crowds, and an average of 9,686 fans per game, BB&T Ballpark was the most visited ballpark in the country in just its first season.

In anticipation of more interest in the Knights Uptown, Charlotte Knights ownership authorized the creation of a new 501 (c) (3) organization named Knights Charities. The first initiative involved a commemorative brick program installed in phases at BB&T Ballpark’s main gate. Fans responded by investing in hundreds of bricks that netted more than $75,000 to the coffers of Knights Charities.

Knights Charities has already made an impact in the Charlotte community. With help of corporate sponsors, the team has generated more than $70,000. Annual events such as Pink Knights, the Charlotte Knights Golf Classic, and others resulted in more than $35,000. Knights players contributed to the cause with funds raised for runs scored, double plays, and triples.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Charlotte Knights. Click here to view the original story.

Blackmar Honored for Outstanding Community Service

September 4, 2014

Former Keys Pitcher Receives Elrod Hendricks Award

On Thursday, the Baltimore Orioles announced Mark Blackmar as the organization’s winner of the 2014 Elrod Hendricks Award. Given out annually since 1992, the award honors one player whose level of community involvement is worthy of special recognition and that truly stands out within the Orioles Minor League Organization. Blackmar will receive the award on Thursday night during a pregame ceremony at Camden Yards.

Blackmar, 22, becomes the third Key in as many years to win the Hendricks award. In 2013, Anthony Caronia received the award, while Trent Howard was recognized in 2012. Since 2004, seven Frederick players have been recognized with Orioles top minor league prize for community involvement.

During his time in Frederick, Blackmar visited the Frederick County libraries to read to children, spent time with fans at the Frederick Celtic Festival and served as a camp counselor at the Keys Youth Baseball Camp.

“Mark was always very eager to go out into the community and had a really positive attitude,” said Keys Promotions Manager Christine Roy. “He was friendly with everyone and was really a pleasure to work with.”

For his commitment to community service, Blackmar was honored with the Steve Bechler Award last Saturday, which recognizes the Keys player who best represents the value, character and commitment of Joel Stephens in community service.

On the same night he was recognized, Blackmar was traded to the Chicago White Sox for outfielder Alejandro De Aza. Former Keys pitcher Miguel Chalas was also involved in the trade. One of the Orioles top minor league pitchers in 2014, Blackmar finished the year with the second-best ERA (3.18) among Baltimore minor leaguers. He was also tied for fourth in wins (10). The Corpus Christi, TX native ended the year with the fifth-best ERA in the Carolina League, and was third in WHIP (1.08) and batting average against (.229).

In addition to Blackmar, the Orioles will recognize former Keys Christian Walker and Tyler Wilson on Thursday night. Walker will receive the Brooks Robinson Minor League Player of the Year award while Wilson will be recognized with the Jim Palmer Minor League Pitcher of the Year award.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Frederick Keys. Click here to view the original story.

Ege wins second annual Bruce Dal Canton Service Award

September 2, 2014

Award given to player with significant contributions to community

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Texas Rangers, are pleased to announce that left-hander reliever Cody Ege was named the second-ever recipient of the Bruce Dal Canton Service Award for his efforts in the community this season. He was given the award before the Pelicans regular season finale on Monday at TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Ballpark. Catcher Pat Cantwell won the award in 2013.

The award is presented to a player that has demonstrated significant contributions to the Grand Strand community, the Carolina League and the baseball industry as a whole. Cody showed an ongoing commitment to charitable service throughout the season with his involvement in the Pelicans 3-Day Youth Clinic as well as school and summer camp appearances, just to name a few.

“Cody has been an excellent influence on all of the young children that he has worked with this season,” explained Pelicans Senior Director of Marketing Jen Borowski. She went on to add, “most importantly, from our end, he has helped us with every activity that we have asked of him and done it with a smile on his face. I am sure that, if the award was not involved, he still would have been willing to help out; that’s the kind of personality he has-always willing to help out, and he’s a great community leader.”

This award is named after the late Bruce Dal Canton. Bruce Dal Canton was the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Pitching Coach from the inaugural season in 1999 until his passing in 2008. Before joining the Pelicans, Dal Canton was a Major League pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Kansas City Royals, Atlanta Braves and Chicago White Sox. He coached for 26 years, including ten with the Pelicans, until he prematurely passed away due to esophageal cancer on October 7, 2008. Dal Canton was heavy involved in charitable endeavors and constantly striving to make the community a better place to live, work and play. In 2009, the Pelicans named the home clubhouse after him and retired his number 43, one of just two past Pelicans retired numbers.

Ege was not alone. The Pelicans players and coaches donated countless man-hours in the community with events like the Home Run for Autism Camp, a day with Grand Strand Miracle Leagues, the 3-Day Youth Clinic, the Sanofi Healthy Living outings to two local YMCAs and the Boys and Girls Club of the Grand Strand, as well as food packing initiatives with the Lowcountry Food Bank and the Help4Kids’ Backpack Buddies program.

On a nightly basis, Pelicans players volunteered time before the games to sign autographs to fans behind home plate and caught ceremonial first pitches prior to each Pelicans home game. The Pelicans front office is grateful for all their hard work. Although Ege’s accomplishment is an individual award, the impact that the 2014 Pelicans achieved in the community mirrored the tremendous success of the group on the diamond.

On the field, Ege sported 3.88 ERA and a 4-1 record in 37 outings out of the bullpen for the Pelicans during the regular season. He punched out 76 batters and walked just 17 and had a 46-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio during the second half. He did not allow a run in 10 1/3 August innings.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. Click here to view the original story.