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

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.

2020 Charlotte Area High School Senior All-Star Classic presented by Truist

 

(UPTOWN CHARLOTTE, NC) — The Charlotte Knights are pleased to announce that the 2020 Charlotte Area High School Senior All-Star Classic presented by Truist will take place on Thursday, July 9 at Truist Field. First pitch of the game is set for 4:30 PM. Gates will be closed to the general public.

“We are pleased to be able to host this great game,” stated Charlotte Knights Chief Operating Officer Dan Rajkowski. “This will be a special day for all of these athletes, their families, and the Charlotte community. We look forward to a memorable day at the ballpark on Thursday.”

The Charlotte High School Varsity League, which features about 100 players from a dozen area local high schools, was formed last month after the high school baseball season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The league, which fielded six teams, played games in Matthews and Huntersville in June and early July. The All-Star Classic will give the seniors in the league the chance to play their last prep game at one of the premier baseball venues in the country, Truist Field.

Fredericksburg Nationals to Host Jackie Robinson Legacy Night July 14th

 

WHAT: Jackie Robinson Legacy Night will include an award ceremony for the recipients of the Jackie Robinson Writing Contest that the FredNats created in conjunction with Germanna Community College. In honor of FredNats Owner, Art Silber’s 80th birthday, there will also be a free showing of the movie “42” on the video board for fans to view from the field. There will be concessions and FredNats merchandise available for purchase inside the ballpark.

WHO: Speakers for the scholarship award ceremony include Fredericksburg Mayor, Mary Katherine Greenlaw, Vice Mayor-Councilman Chuck Frye, Germanna Community College President, Janet Gulickson, FredNats Treasurer, Seth Silber, and FredNats Owner, Art Silber.

Due to regulations from the health department, there is a cap of 1,000 attendees for this event. Attendees will be admitted on a first come, first serve basis as there are no reservations or tickets.

WHY: The FredNats are hosting this event to celebrate the achievements of the Jackie Robinson Writing Contest winners and Art Silber’s 80th birthday, as well as treat members of their community to a free showing of the movie “42, The Story of Jackie Robinson.”

WHEN: The event will be held on Tuesday, July 14. The schedule of events is as follows:

  • 6:00 p.m. Gates Open
  • 7:15 p.m. Scholarship Award Ceremony Begins
  • 7:45 p.m. Free Showing of “42” (Runtime 2:08)

WHERE: The new Fredericksburg Nationals ballpark is next to the Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center located at 2371 Carl D. Silver Pkwy, Fredericksburg, VA 22401. The movie “42” will be displayed on the stadium’s video board and will be viewed from the field and seating will be properly spaced to ensure fan safety.

Fans will be invited to sit only on the dark green stripes of turf on the field and will be asked to sit 15 ft apart from other groups or families. FredNats blankets will be available for purchase but fans are invited to bring their own if they would like. No lawn chairs will be allowed on the field.

Masks will be strongly encouraged for this event. All members of the FredNats staff will be wearing masks for the entirety of the event.

CONTACT: To schedule any interviews before or at Jackie Robinson Legacy Night with members from the Fredericksburg Nationals, please contact Paige Honaker at [email protected].

The Fredericksburg Nationals are the High A affiliate of the Washington Nationals in the Carolina League. Their brand new, state of the art stadium facility is located at Celebrate Virginia South on Carl D. Silver Parkway near the Fredericksburg Expo & Convention Center in Fredericksburg, VA. Stay up to date with the progress of the new ballpark facility and the team online at www.frednats.com and follow the Fredericksburg Nationals on Facebook (@FXBGNats), on Twitter (@FXBGNats), and on Instagram (@fxbgnats).

Chihuahuas and Locomotive Front Office Staffs to Offer Support to Area Non-Profit Organizations 

The El Paso Chihuahuas and El Paso Locomotive FC announced today a plan to assist area non-profit organizations (NPOs).

NPOs interested in having a Chihuahuas and/or Locomotive staff member assist their organization, CLICK HERE!

EL PASO – July 8, 2020 – The El Paso Chihuahuas and El Paso Locomotive FC announced today a plan to assist area non-profit organizations (NPOs). This program will provide Chihuahuas and Locomotive staff with expertise in marketing, promotion, development, operations, and general administration to serve the non-profit community which has been so negatively affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“One of our greatest strengths and most significant assets are the people who comprise the staffs of the Chihuahuas and Locomotive,” said MountainStar Sports Group President Alan Ledford. “We are in the live event business and during this window when those events are severely limited, we cannot provide the level of service and memorable experiences we strive to deliver at Southwest University Park. This is also a period filled with extraordinary challenges for our local non-profit organizations. While their traditional functions are impacted by the pandemic, we are proud to offer our staff to help these NPOs continue to fulfill their respective missions.”

The staffs of both teams will be working as part of the Chihuahuas Volunteer Pack and Locomotive Heart of Goal programs, both of which are presented by Helen of Troy. “The Pack” and Heart of Goal are El Paso-wide volunteer forces created to give back to the Sun City and surrounding region.

Joining with non-profit organizations and community partners, the two volunteer groups are made up of Chihuahuas and Locomotive staff, fans, players, and coaches with the mission of making a positive impact in our community. From building homes to sorting food, both teams have put in more than 750 community service hours annually.

“We said from the beginning that this would be about more than baseball,” said MountainStar Sports Group Sr. Vice President and Chihuahuas General Manager Brad Taylor. “With a little more bandwidth than usual for the baseball staff, we have the chance to truly be effective and even more helpful in our community.”

While Minor League Baseball announced last week that the 2020 season will not be played, the United Soccer League (USL) Championship will return to play on July 11. The competition format and revised schedule for the USL was recently announced.

Non-profit organizations interested in having a Chihuahuas or Locomotive staff member assist your non-profit organization, CLICK HERE. Organizations must be registered as a 501(c)(3).

For more information, contact Angela Olivas at aolivas@epchihuahuas.com, visit epchihuahuas.com, text (915) 533-BASE, or email info@epchihuahuas.com.

Roster Announced For Baseballtown Charities Senior Classic

 

On Monday, July 13th, the Reading Fightin Phils are set to host the Baseballtown Charities Senior Classic for the Berks County 2020 graduating senior class. The R-Phils thank the Baseballtown Charities Senior Classic Sponsors: Abilities in Motion, Deer Country Farm & Lawn and EG Smith Inc.

The game will be played on the professional baseball field at FirstEnergy Stadium. First pitch is set for 6pm with gates opening at 5pm. This event is free for all to attend with stadium food and drink available for purchase.

Every year Baseballtown hosts this senior game to recognize the hard work and dedication of the graduating seniors. This year is extra special. The 2020 senior classes were unable to finish their final high school season due to COVID-19. Now, the R-Phils are pleased to offer them an opportunity for one last memorable moment on the field with their teams!

There will be over 60 seniors from the surrounding area participating. The Blue Team will play as the home team, while the Red Team will serve as the away team.

The Blue team will be led by Head Coach Brian Kopetsky from Muhlenberg. Kopetsky will be assisted by Jeff Manley (Muhl), Erron Archie (Muhl), Dan Louviaux (Muhl), Zach Milch (Muhl), and Boo Schaffer (Antietam – Head Coach), and student manager Nina Calvaresi from Muhlenberg.

Wilson – Brady Gibble

Wilson – Adam Vanino

Wilson – Trey Gehret

Kutztown – Tyler Reitenauer

Kutztown – Lewis Weaver

Brandywine – Brody Graff

Muhlenberg – Dan Clouser

Muhlenberg – K.J. Blanding

Muhlenberg – Yorfi Peralta

Reading – Likeiry Tavaras

Reading – Branden Boutte

Wyomissing – Ian Brunner

Twin Valley – Jevan Kennedy

Twin Valley – Jordan Lasak

Twin Valley – Joey Sciamanna

Daniel Boone – Jeb Kurtz

Daniel Boone – Teagan Duffie

Governor Mifflin – Andrew Kuczala

Governor Mifflin – Carson Kemery

Governor Mifflin – Darius Troche

Schuylkill Valley – Cody Eckenroth

Hamburg – Tarik Feick

Hamburg – P.J. Hanlon

Exeter – Dylan Fassbender

Exeter – Josh Shaffer

Oley – Payton Rowe

Fleetwood – Zachary Sell

Conrad Weiser – Turner Dianna

Conrad Weiser – Drew Druckenmiller

Berks Catholic – Brendan Long

Berks Catholic – Andrew Gordos

Antietam – Peyton Heck

The Red Team will be led by Head Coach Chris Hole from Governor Mifflin. Hole will be assisted by Bill Underwood (Wilson), Mike Zientek (Wilson), Adam Smith (Wilson), and Brandon Shurr (Berks Catholic – Head Coach), and student manager Morgan Jacobs from Wilson.

Wilson – Jack Gensemer

Wilson – Jacob Hartranft

Kutztown – Tyler Hugo

Brandywine – Aaron Jarrett

Muhlenberg – Gaige Brown

Muhlenberg – Matt Wanner

Reading – Angel Velez

Reading – Kristian Tirado

Reading – Nomar Torres

Wyomissing – Dayne Yourkavitch

Twin Valley – Ryan Davis

Twin Valley – Trevor Laraia

Daniel Boone – Aidan Landis

Daniel Boone – Tanner Vanderslice

Daniel Boone – Ethan Brown

Governor Mifflin – Kolbie Reeser

Governor Mifflin – Danny Roesch

Schuylkill Valley – Mason Gabel

Hamburg – Sean Evangelista

Hamburg – Mason Henne

Hamburg – Colby Gromlich

Hamburg – Owen Zimmerman

Exeter – Ryan Michalski

Oley – Blake Trumbore

Fleetwood – Jake Hess

Conrad Weiser – C.J. Civiello

Conrad Weiser – Joshua Meyers

Berks Catholic – Jake Buser

Berks Catholic – Chris Russel

Antietam- Cameron Yousaitis

Antietam – Kyle Reeves

FirstEnergy stadium is the Double-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies and the home of the Reading Fightin Phils. The stadium is located at 1900 Centre Avenue, Reading, PA 19605.

Baseballtown Charities Showcase Schedule Set For FirstEnergy Stadium

 

(READING, PA) – The Reading Fightin Phils will host the Baseballtown Charities Showcase featuring 12 teams of high school aged baseball players to give them a little part of the season they lost to COVID-19. It is set to kick off at the Double-A ballpark of the Philadelphia Phillies, FirstEnergy Stadium. We thank the Baseballtown Charities Showcase sponsors Abilities in Motion, Deer Country Farm & Lawn, and EG Smith.

Action will begin July 14 and end on August 3. Teams are from Eastern Pennsylvania, drawing from suburban Philadelphia, Montgomery County, Berks County, and Easton.

The majority of teams that enter will play three games versus an opponent of similar skill level on the professional field. Registration benefits Baseballtown Charities to help more kids play baseball and softball.

Admission, as well as parking, is FREE for all fans. R-Phils concessions will be open at all games for fans to enjoy their favorite ballpark food and drink.

Games are primarily scheduled every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday over a three-week period. Game times are 5pm & 7:30 pm, with a two-hour time limit for each game.

There are eight teams that represent areas from Berks County: Reading, Hamburg, The Berg (Muhlenberg), Mays Sandwich Shop (Wilson – West Lawn), Blazers (Daniel Boone – Birdsboro), Exeter, Weiser Scouts (Conrad Weiser), and Shillington Stangs (Governor Mifflin). They are joined by 4 teams from outside the local area: Wilson (Easton), Colonial Baseball (Plymouth Whitemarsh), Royersford Complete Game (Spring-Ford), and Wissahickon.

2020 Baseballtown Charities Showcase

14- Jul

Reading 3 vs Exeter 11

Wilson (Easton) 8 vs Weiser Scouts 1

15- Jul

Hamburg 11 vs Blazers 2

Colonial Baseball 9 vs Mays Sandwich Shop – Spring Township 8

16- Jul

Reading 7 vs Weiser Scouts 6

Royersford Complete Game 7 vs Wissahickon Blues 6

20- Jul

The Berg 11 vs Exeter 1

Hamburg 8 vs Wilson (Easton) 3

21- Jul

Reading 14 vs Wilson (Easton) 1

Colonial Baseball 8 vs Royersford Complete Game 10

27- Jul

Blazers 9 vs Weiser Scouts 5

Mays Sandwich Shop – Spring Township 0 vs Royersford Complete Game 2

28- Jul

Colonial Baseball 14 vs Exeter 5

29- Jul

Mays Sandwich Shop – Spring Township 11 vs Shillington Stangs 6

The Berg 15 vs Wissahickon Blues 10

3- Aug

The Berg 7 vs Blazers 3

12- Aug

6:30 Hamburg vs Wissahickon

The Showcase series will begin the day after the 2020 Baseballtown Charities Senior Classic scheduled for Monday, July 13. Over 60 seniors who played for high schools that participated in the BCIAA are scheduled to participate in the Senior Classic.

The R-Phils will also be hosting Rip It Baseballtown Charities showcase for area teams, 13U-19U, on weekends in July and August. Admission is free and stadium food and drink will be available. In addition, the Fightin’s will continue to have their Party with a Purpose nights at the ballpark on upcoming Thursdays.

FirstEnergy Stadium is the Double-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies and the home of the Reading Fightin Phils. The stadium is located at 1900 Centre Avenue, Reading, PA 19605.

Cardinals, CBCO’s Bleed Red Blood Drive starts July 6

 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — For the 16th consecutive year, the Cardinals and the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks (CBCO) are teaming up for the Bleed Red Blood Drive.

The Bleed Red Blood Drive is the single largest team-affiliated blood drive in all of Minor League Baseball and has contributed to saving thousands of lives throughout Southwest Missouri since its start in 2005.

Set to take place from Monday, July 6 through Friday, July 10, the Bleed Red Blood Drive was created with the health of donors and our entire community at the forefront.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE

Every single donor will receive two 2021 Springfield Cardinals ticket vouchers and a bag of goodies from the CBCO, including a 2020 Bleed Red Blood Drive t-shirt.

Although not required, the CBCO is encouraging donors to sign up for an appointment in advance to help ensure a smooth donation experience. Appointments can be made by calling 417-227-5006, or visiting www.cbco.org and clicking “Donate Blood.”

The Bleed Red Blood Drive will also take place at CBCO’s Joplin location from July 13-17. For more information, contact the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks at 417-227-5006.

Blue Rocks and Blue Coats Joint Campaign Raises $6,500

 

Wilmington, DE – The Wilmington Blue Rocks and Delaware Blue Coats are proud to announce that their joint fundraiser generated $6,500 for ChristianaCare and Nemours Children’s Health System.

The two professional sports organizations in Delaware united on a co-branded “Delaware Together” t-shirt, with proceeds going directly to the facilities on the front line in the First State’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fans purchased hundreds of the limited-edition shirts during the three-week initiative.

“It’s in these challenging times that the spirit of Delaware really shines,” said Blue Rocks managing partner Dave Heller. “First Staters have an unsinkable spirit and determination to help each other get through even the toughest times. Our two organizations were delighted to join forces to support our community’s heroes, and our fans generously embraced the cause and made this fundraiser a tremendous success. I couldn’t be more proud of the people of Delaware and the entire region.”

A limited supply of the co-branded “Delaware Together” t-shirts remain available for purchase online from The Quarry Team Store by clicking HERE. Delaware residents may select “Stadium Pick-up Only” and collect their purchases with contact-less pick-up at Frawley Stadium. In-store shopping is available, but due to State of Delaware COVID-19 guidelines is currently limited to Monday-Friday by appointment only. For in-store shopping hours & to make an appointment, call (302) 888-2015 or email [email protected].

The Wilmington Blue Rocks are the Advanced-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and the 2019 Mills Cup champions. The Delaware Blue Coats are the G League affiliate of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Parkview Foundation Accepting Donations Toward TinCaps Meal Kits for Healthcare Workers

 

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — The Fort Wayne TinCaps have announced a partnership with the Parkview Foundation that allows tax-deductible monetary donations to be used to provide TinCaps Meal Kits to Parkview Health frontline workers.

“We’ve been offering the community the chance to provide a TinCaps Meal Kit to a Parkview Health frontline worker since the program’s launch,” said TinCaps Vice President Michael Limmer. “But this announcement allows individuals and companies to make tax deductible monetary donations to the Parkview Foundation that will be used to provide Parkview Health employees and families most in need with a TinCaps Meal Kit.”

The TinCaps Meal Kit program was launched in late April as the organization faces the uncertainty of a 2020 Minor League Baseball season.

“We wanted the opportunity to connect with our fans and the community,” Limmer said. “This program allows fans to bring a taste of Parkview Field home with them at a time where we aren’t able to open our doors for fans to come in.”

The opportunity to donate a TinCaps Meal Kit to a Parkview employee has been a part of the program since its inception, but now there is the opportunity for a monetary donation to be made directly to the Parkview Foundation to provide the Meal Kits.

“We are proud to be able to broker the generosity of our community through the Foundation in getting TinCaps Meal Kits to our healthcare team members,” said Denise Andorfer, Director of Leadership Gifts for the Parkview Foundation. “We know acts of kindness during these challenging times are so appreciated in lifting the spirits of those working hard to keep our community safe. Generosity is an empowering reminder of our solidarity.”

“I’m a single mom with four kids and I feel truly blessed by this,” said Brittany Smith, who works at the Parkview Cancer Institute and recently received a TinCaps Meal Kit. “This box had five meals in it with everything that’s needed. They were all different meals and everything was absolutely delicious. I’m very grateful for this meal kit and want to thank the TinCaps for doing this.”

TinCaps Meal Kits are $100 if portioned for two and $185 (tax included) for a family-size that’s designed to feed 4-6 people. Meal Kits can be ordered at tincaps.com. For more information on how you or your organization can donate to this program, please contact Michael Limmer with the TinCaps at limmer@tincaps.com or 260-407-2813.

Fredericksburg Nationals Sell Over 1,001 Community Initiative T-Shirts

 

FREDERICKSBURG, VA – The Fredericksburg Nationals are proud to announce that they reached their goal of more than 1,001 We Are FXBG t-shirts sold as of Monday, June 29. The team announced that they would be launching the We Are FXBG t-shirts back in May with the promise to donate two tickets to local frontline healthcare workers with the purchase of each t-shirt.

FredNats General Manager and Executive Vice President Nick Hall added an extra incentive to fans by promising to get a tattoo of the team’s official mascot, Gus, if more than 1,001 We Are FXBG t-shirts were sold.

The 1,001 t-shirt was sold to a fan attending the third day of the Open House at the ballpark in the afternoon of Sunday, June 28.

“We’re really excited to make that tattoo real and have Gus enshrined on my body for life! Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go apologize to my wife” said Hall, following the purchase of the 1,001 shirt.

To help the team push themselves further towards their goal, they tie-dyed hundreds of We Are FXBG t-shirts with fans at their Open House at the Ballpark on June 21, June 27 and June 28. Thanks to the support from their fans, the FredNats sold almost 500 We Are FXBG t-shirts in the three days of their Open House.

We Are FXBG t-shirts are still available for purchase in red, blue, grey, and white on the team’s online store at https://fredericksburgnationals.milbstore.com/products/we-are-fxbg-shirt.

The Fredericksburg Nationals are the high-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals in the Carolina League, originally set to begin play in 2020 at a brand new, state of the art stadium facility, located at Celebrate Virginia South on Carl D. Silver Parkway near the Fredericksburg Expo & Convention Center in Fredericksburg, VA. Stay up to date with the progress of the new ballpark facility and the team online at www.frednats.com and follow the Fredericksburg Nationals on Facebook (@FXBGNats), on Twitter (@FXBGNats), and on Instagram (@fxbgnats).

Archbishop Hoban, St. Vincent-St. Mary Renew Rivalry At Canal Park, presented by Goodyear

 

(AKRON, OHIO) June 29, 2020 – The Akron RubberDucks are proud to once again host the annual matchup of crosstown rivals the Archbishop Hoban Knights and the St. Vincent-St. Mary Fighting Irish this year at Canal Park. This year’s edition of the baseball version of the “Holy War” will begin with first pitch of the nine-inning game presented by Goodyear at 7:05 p.m. at the home of the Akron RubberDucks.

Due to the high school baseball season being cut short due to the COVID-19 outbreak, each team will be able to celebrate Senior Night in a memorable way as players will have their pictures on the video board and pregame celebrations will commemorate the occasion. Post-game fireworks for this event will begin shortly after the conclusion of this game.

Can’t make it to the game? This rivalry game will also be broadcast over the radio at 640 WHLO, the new home for Akron RubberDucks Baseball beginning with the pregame show at 6:45 p.m.

“As an alumnus of Archbishop Hoban, I am very familiar with this rivalry and thrilled to see these student-athletes have this tremendous opportunity to play one last game together” said RubberDucks General Manager Jim Pfander, “This annual event has taken place at Canal Park every year since 1997 when these schools played the inaugural game at our ballpark, and it’s safe to say this year’s edition will be a quite memorable one.”

The Akron RubberDucks will continue to follow all social distancing protocols as outlined by Gov. DeWine, Mayor Horrigan, and state and local health officials. The attendance for this event will be limited to 1,000 fans at Canal Park, socially distanced within the seating bowl.

TICKETS

Tickets to this event are available for $10 and can be purchased online or by directly contacting the Akron RubberDucks sales team at (330) 253-5151 or [email protected]. Each fan in attendance will need to present their ticket—either printed in advance or displayed on a mobile device—at their designated point of entry into the ballpark with all members of their party together at the time of entry.

INSIDE THE BALLPARK

No outside food or beverage is permitted, but Canal Park concessions will be available for purchase via CASHLESS purchases. All guests at Canal Park will be required to wear face coverings at all times, except while sitting in their assigned, socially-distanced seating location.

RubberDucks staff members are available by phone and email to answer any questions or concerns. The ticket office can be reached at [email protected].

The Akron RubberDucks are the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. Fans can purchase tickets by calling 330-253-5151 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, or visit www.akronrubberducks.com. For more information about the team, please call 330-253-5151, visit the website at akronrubberducks.com, Facebook page facebook.com/AkronRubberDucks, or on Twitter at @AkronRubberDuck, and Instagram at @akronrubberducks.

2020 LoanMart Scholarship Winners Announced

 

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA — For the eighth consecutive year, LoanMart and the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes have partnered to award a total of three scholarships to local graduating high school seniors in San Bernardino County.

Each college-bound student will be awarded $1000 and will be officially honored by the Quakes on social media.

This year’s applicants were asked to write an essay on why they felt they deserved the scholarship, as well as submitting other information via application (e.g. intended major, school, class year, etc.). Winners were selected based on the criteria of leadership, community involvement and character.

“LoanMart is proud of this year’s scholarship winners for their commitment, dedication and hard work,” said LoanMart Marketing Manager Justin Cross. “We hope that this scholarship helps give them the support they need to accomplish their dreams!”

“The Quakes are proud to continue to team with LoanMart and reward three deserving students within our local community,” said Quakes Vice President – General Manager Grant Riddle. “The decision-making process this year was a difficult one as we had so many terrific, well-qualified applicants who are doing some great things in and for our community. We’re thrilled for these particular students and are confident all three are going to have a very bright future!”

Congratulations to this year’s scholarship winners:
Monserrat Landino (Rancho Cucamonga High School)
Alexis Lozoya (Don Lugo High School)
Asna Tabassum (Ayala High School)

Through her high school Accounting class, Landino is an IRS-certified volunteer who helps low-income families with their tax returns. Landino is planning to attend Cal State Fullerton in the Fall while working towards a degree in Accounting.

Tabassum is planning on attending USC while majoring in Biomedical Engineering. The Valedictorian of Ruben S. Ayala High School in Chino Hills had a non-weighted GPA of 4.0 and served more than 500 hours as a volunteer at Pomona Valley Hospital.

Lozoya graduated from Don Antonio Lugo High School in Chino. She has been a member of the Girl Scouts, was a four-year cheerleader and will attend UC San Diego in the Fall.

Keep an eye out on Quakes’ social media as we honor each winner of this year’s LoanMart scholarship.

Blue Wahoos Join With V. Randolph Brown Consulting To Evaluate And Improve Diversity And Inclusiveness

 

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Beloit Snappers have jointly hired V. Randolph Brown Consulting, an organization that specializes in helping companies evaluate their diversity, inclusion, and equity. V. Randolph Brown will evaluate the inclusiveness of the organizations, identify areas for improvement, and develop action plans to help both teams eliminate bias and become more equitable to fans and staff.

“We do many things well. We measure employee engagement, provide lots of development opportunities, are transparent, include peers in staff selection, and did not lay off any staff during the ongoing pandemic. However, I am convinced we can and must be better in the areas of eliminating bias and becoming more diverse and inclusive,” Quint Studer, owner of the Blue Wahoos and managing partner of the Snappers, said.

V. Randolph Brown Consulting, based in Cincinnati, provides companies across America with strategic consulting, advisory, education, and training services on topics including diversity, equity, and inclusion. Their portfolio includes advising the National Basketball Association and NCAA.

The firm will work with both teams to identify and eliminate possible bias in their organizations, educate and train the team’s full- and part-time staff, and improve the teams’ hiring and staff development processes.

“The Blue Wahoos staff has been representative of our community demographically, however being representative is not enough. We need to seek out and actively eliminate bias within our organization to ensure that Blue Wahoos Stadium is a welcoming, inclusive gathering place for all members of our community,” Studer said. “Beloit is one of the most diverse cities in Wisconsin. As we expand the team’s staff in preparation of the new ballpark opening in 2021, we need to be sure that our hiring and training processes are correct. We will not window dress this. We will dig in and do this right.”

The Studer Family of Companies, which includes both the Blue Wahoos and Snappers, has established a Diversity and Inclusion Task Force to work alongside V. Randolph Brown Consulting to advance the organization’s efforts to promote a culture of inclusiveness and embrace its diversity. The task force will provide training to Studer Family of Companies staff and to the local community, identify causes and charities to receive fundraising dollars, and implement changes within the organization based on the firm’s recommendations.

 

ValleyCats Announce Renovations to Four Youth Ball Fields as Part of Annual ‘4 in 24’ Project

 

TROY, NY – The Tri-City ValleyCats and their partners, BlueShield of Northeastern New York and Hannaford Supermarkets, are set to renovate four youth ball fields during the 10th Annual ‘4 in 24’ youth field renovation project. Renovations of the fields were put on hold back in April due to COVID-19. Despite the setback, the ValleyCats are excited to announce the recipients and move forward with a plan to renovate the fields while following NYS and CDC guidelines.

The four leagues to be renovated this year are Lansingburgh Little League, Red Storm Baseball in Stillwater, Shatford Little League, and the City of Watervliet softball field. The project will be focused primarily on the infield surface, with the mission to allow for a safe place to learn and play ball.

The scope of this project includes laying brand new sod, grading and raking the baselines, rebuilding the pitcher’s mound and home plate areas, installing a new pitching rubber, home plate, bases, and more.

“With youth sports beginning to reopen across the region, we are thrilled to be moving forward with this project” said ValleyCats GM, Matt Callahan. “The need to support our youth by encouraging safe outdoor activity is more important now than ever. Although the pandemic has changed the look and timeline of this project, we are committed to restoring these fields.”

“Each year for the past ten years, BlueShield employees alongside volunteers from the Tri-City ValleyCats and Hannaford Supermarkets have rolled up their sleeves to renovate four little league fields throughout the Capital Region in just 24 hours,” said Keith Dolan, Regional Executive, BlueShield of Northeastern New York. “Although this year looks different as we continue to practice social distancing, BlueShield is as proud as ever to be part of this amazing initiative that provides children in our community with safe spaces to stay active and healthy.”

Both longtime supporters and of the ‘4 in 24’ project, Hannaford and BlueShield make these renovations possible through the aid of necessary monetary resources, and the volunteer efforts of their staff. Community Relations Specialist, Brian Fabre, from Hannaford and Regional Executive, Keith Dolan, from BlueShield of Northeastern New York, will be available for remote video calls on Tuesday as the volunteers on site will be limited.

“Now more than ever, Hannaford is thrilled to support a project that keeps our community’s youngest members active and outdoors this summer,” said Hannaford Supermarkets Community Relations Specialist Brian Fabre. “We are pleased to continue this partnership with the ValleyCats and BlueShield as we provide local ball players with not only improved facilities, but also the opportunity to grow as individuals and members of a team.”

The renovations will begin on Tuesday, June 30th, at the Red Storm baseball field. The field address is 33 East St. Mechanicville, NY 12118. The work on Tuesday will begin around 8:00 AM and last throughout the day. The project will be spread out over multiple days with a reduced number of volunteers at each field to ensure social distancing guidelines and proper safety protocols are followed. The schedule and location for the next phase of field renovations will be announced in the coming weeks with a celebration of the work to be scheduled in the fall.

The efforts are also supported by Admar Construction Equipment, Brightview, Profile Products / Turface Athletics, and SiteOne Landscape Supplies. These organizations are contributing some of the necessary equipment and materials. Additional support comes from ‘Cats Care, the ValleyCats’ arm of the New York-Penn League Charitable Foundation.

Tortugas to Host Graduation for Richard Milburn Academy

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Daytona Tortugas will host graduation for Richard Milburn Academy of Florida’s class of 2020 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark, the team and school announced today.

The graduation will be held on the field at the ballpark at 6 p.m. on June 30 with students receiving their diplomas at home plate. The students’ families will be permitted to watch from the grandstands.

All Tortugas staff will wear masks to prevent against the spread of COVID-19. Students and family members are encouraged to wear masks and asked to adhere to social distancing guidelines.

Richard Milburn Academy decided to host graduation at the ballpark because the school wanted a venue that could provide a memorable and safe experience for its graduating class of about 160 students and their families.

“We are so excited to have our graduation at Jackie Robinson Ballpark this school year,” RMA Principal Art Sands said. “It’s our first time holding an event here, but it more than likely will not be the last. The accommodations we are receiving for our graduates and their families are the best!”

The Tortugas are excited to partner with RMA and welcome the school’s students and families to the ballpark.

“We are thrilled to partner with Richard Milburn Academy and provide a memorable experience for the graduating class of 2020 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark,” Tortugas General Manager Jim Jaworski said. “We believe The Jack is the perfect setting for community events like this.”

ABOUT THE DAYTONA TORTUGAS

The Daytona Tortugas are the High-A Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and a member of the Florida State League. The Tortugas play at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in downtown Daytona Beach, Fla. Jackie Robinson Ballpark also plays host to Bethune-Cookman University and many large community events and initiatives throughout the season.

ABOUT RICHARD MILBURN ACADEMY

RMA Florida is a free public charter school designed to help at-risk students who have experienced difficulty in a traditional school setting. RMA Florida opened its first charter high school in Daytona Beach in 2005 and another in Deland in 2010. RMA helps students complete their high school education and graduate prepared for post-secondary education or work.