• Stories by Subject
  • Stories by State
  • COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS

PawSox Again Cross the $100,000 Mark in Community Contributions in 2016

January 4, 2017

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

The Pawtucket Red Sox again reached a six-figure charitable milestone in 2016, exceeding $100,000 in cash commitments and contributions to the community. The club and its foundation, the Pawtucket Red Sox/James J. Skeffington Charitable Foundation, have typically combined to reach such a level of philanthropy over the past dozen years.

“We inherited a great tradition of giving, led by the late Ben Mondor and our current Vice-Chairman, Mike Tamburro,” said PawSox Chairman Larry Lucchino, who established charitable foundations with each of his previous clubs (the Baltimore Orioles, San Diego Padres, and Boston Red Sox). “We want to build on this tradition. We believe we are only beginning to scratch the surface of the potential of the PawSox Foundation.

“One of the greatest assets of a professional baseball team is its power to raise funds, do good deeds large and small, and make a real difference in the city, the state, and the region.”

The PawSox Foundation’s largest single commitment this year was the creation of the PawSox Scholars Program, in which two 8th graders, one from Pawtucket and one from Central Falls, were selected to each receive a $10,000 college scholarship upon matriculation, provided they maintain their good standards of scholarship and citizenship.

On November 4, the students, 13-year-old Charlisa Kollie, an 8th-grader at Pawtucket’s Samuel Slater Junior High School, and 14-year-old Ethan Hoke, an 8th-grader at Central Falls’ Dr. Earl Calcutt Middle School, were joined at a McCoy Stadium Press Announcement by their respective Mayors, the Honorable Donald R. Grebien of Pawtucket, and the Honorable James Diossa of Central Falls.

“The PawSox Scholars program has the capacity to impact lives dramatically,” said PawSox President Dr. Charles A. Steinberg, who was instrumental in establishing similar models in San Diego (Padres Scholars) and Boston (Red Sox Scholars). “Funding dreams is powerful, and we are eager to increase the degree to which the PawSox Foundation does so.”

In addition to efforts in education, the PawSox Foundation also focuses on care for veterans and for children battling cancer.

In the first week of new management in November of 2015, the PawSox hosted a steak dinner for veterans in the PawSox Clubhouse. They did so again in 2016, and in between, they honored a veteran on the field between innings nightly in the new “In Debt to a Vet” program. On Veterans Day, 2016, the PawSox Foundation made a donation of $3,000 to Operation Stand Down Rhode Island in an event attended by Governor Gina Raimondo.

The PawSox Foundation raised more than $10,000 for the Tomorrow Fund, the honored Rhode Island institution that helps families whose children are battling cancer at Hasbro Children’s Hospital. Beyond the financial help, the PawSox raised awareness for the organization and the cause by “Going Gold” on September 1, the beginning of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The club honored Rhode Island’s Melissa Murray, whose late son, Dorian, became an international social media sensation (#DSTRONG) when the little boy’s dream of becoming famous in China came true. Throughout the year and at the holidays, PawSox players, executives, and mascots visited the children, bringing cheer, smiles, and gifts.

Throughout the year, the club engaged in community activities, both at McCoy Stadium and throughout Rhode Island. Corporate partners such as the Rhode Island Honda Dealers, Citizens Bank, and Jordan’s Furniture were instrumental in the efforts.

In January, the PawSox welcomed Pacific Coast League President Branch Rickey III, who gave first-hand anecdotes to local youth about his legendary namesake grandfather and the revolutionary signing of Jackie Robinson.

In February, PawSox staff “saw their shadows” on Groundhog Day, as Pawtucket students learned first-hand about the work in a baseball front office. Later that month, Paws and Sox visited seniors and brought them flowers on Valentine’s Day.

In March, new club leaders toured the Pawtucket Boys and Girls Club, a longtime beneficiary of PawSox philanthropy.

Throughout the baseball season, the PawSox were host to thousands of children, some receiving free tickets, some receiving special care from the Make-A-Wish Program, and some participating in the emotion-filled Challengers Program (for those with disabilities). The club and its foundation presented baseball clinics, collected donations for the Rhode Island Food Bank, and helped hundreds of organizations raise funds for their charities. The club also aided various non-profits by providing hundreds of auction items, including a 20-person suite to benefit Special Olympics of Rhode Island.

In October, the PawSox opened the ballpark to the neighborhood for an Open House and then a Halloween Trick or Treat event.

In November, after welcoming the veterans, the club welcomed 3rd graders from the Potter-Burns School in Pawtucket for a Thanksgiving luncheon in the PawSox Clubhouse. Also at Thanksgiving, the PawSox donated funds and in-person support to Pawtucket First Lady Laureen Grebien’s charitable basket drive to help feed needy families.

In December, the PawSox Holiday Caravan featuring Southpaw Brian Johnson visited Hasbro Children’s Hospital and the Tomorrow Fund Clinic. The PawSox then opened their doors to all for a free holiday event, the 2nd Annual PawSox Enchanted Village, which drew more than 1,000 fans.

A week later, more students-this time members of Goff Middle School in Pawtucket–enjoyed a Holiday Luncheon in the PawSox Clubhouse. Steinberg and General Manager Dan Rea explained the importance of education while mascots Paws and Sox provided entertainment.

The PawSox Foundation engaged in many less visible deeds as well, including sponsoring a PawSox-themed house at the Pawtucket Winter Wonderland and making donations to the Pawtucket Soup Kitchen to provide Christmas meals to families.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Tagged as : Baseball Camps/Instruction, Boston Red Sox, Boys and Girls Clubs, Cancer Awareness, Challenger Little League, Children's Health and Development, Community Benefit Report, Donations, Education/Teacher Support, Family Relief/Resources, Food Drives, Hospital Visits, International League, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Mascot Appearances, Military & Veterans, Pawtucket Red Sox, Rhode Island, Scholarships, Supporting the Community, Youth Sports { }

Welcome to clubphilanthropy.com!

Minor League Baseball clubs have been actively involved in their communities for many years. For the first time, their activities and contributions will be chronicled on this site.

Clubs don’t publicize all of their activity, so these stories represent a mere fraction of the contributions MiLB clubs make to their communities every year.

Categories

  • ►Aberdeen Ironbirds (3)
  • ►Akron RubberDucks (30)
  • ►Albuquerque Isotopes (21)
  • ►Altoona Curve (20)
  • ►Amarillo Sod Poodles (14)
  • ►Arkansas Travelers (2)
  • ►Asheville Tourists (4)
  • ►Auburn Doubledays (4)
  • ►Augusta GreenJackets (22)
  • ►Batavia Muckdogs (15)
  • ►Beloit Snappers (16)
  • ►Biloxi Shuckers (20)
  • ►Binghamtom Rumble Ponies (4)
  • ►Birmingham Barons (16)
  • ►Bluefield Blue Jays (4)
  • ►Boise Hawks (8)
  • ►Bowie Baysox (28)
  • ►Bowling Green Hot Rods (12)
  • ►Bradenton Marauders (22)
  • ►Bristol Pirates (3)
  • ►Brooklyn Cyclones (22)
  • ►Buffalo Bisons (38)
  • ►Burlington Bees (6)
  • ►Burlington Royals (2)
  • ►Carolina Mudcats (17)
  • ►Cedar Rapids Kernels (39)
  • ►Charleston Dirty Birds (1)
  • ►Charleston RiverDogs (93)
  • ►Charlotte Knights (26)
  • ►Charlotte Stone Crabs (6)
  • ►Chattanooga Lookouts (2)
  • ►Clearwater Threshers (40)
  • ►Clinton LumberKings (5)
  • ►Colorado Springs Sky Sox (20)
  • ►Columbia Fireflies (36)
  • ►Columbus Clippers (8)
  • ►Connecticut Tigers (14)
  • ►Corpus Christi Hooks (32)
  • ►Danville Braves (15)
  • ►Dayton Dragons (126)
  • ►Daytona Tortugas (21)
  • ►Delmarva Shorebirds (60)
  • ►Down East Wood Ducks (3)
  • ►Dunedin Blue Jays (14)
  • ►Durham Bulls (18)
  • ►El Paso Chihuahuas (19)
  • ►Elizabethton Twins (4)
  • ►Erie SeaWolves (12)
  • ►Eugene Emeralds (10)
  • ►Everett AquaSox (10)
  • ►Fayetteville Woodpeckers (11)
  • ►Florida Fire Frogs (3)
  • ►Fort Myers Miracle (25)
  • ►Fort Wayne TinCaps (53)
  • ►Frederick Keys (19)
  • ►Fredericksburg Nationals (28)
  • ►Fresno Grizzlies (17)
  • ►Frisco RoughRiders (27)
  • ►Grand Junction Rockies (2)
  • ►Great Falls Voyagers (2)
  • ►Great Lakes Loons (27)
  • ►Greensboro Grasshoppers (5)
  • ►Greenville Drive (110)
  • ►Gwinnett Stripers (50)
  • ►Hagerstown Suns (3)
  • ►Harrisburg Senators (13)
  • ►Hartford Yard Goats (10)
  • ►Hickory Crawdads (25)
  • ►Hillsboro Hops (12)
  • ►Hudson Valley Renegades (7)
  • ►Idaho Falls Chukars (6)
  • ►Indianapolis Indians (29)
  • ►Inland Empire 66ers (13)
  • ►Iowa Cubs (7)
  • ►Jackson Generals (9)
  • ►Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (41)
  • ►Jersey Shore BlueClaws (136)
  • ►Johnson City Cardinals (4)
  • ►Jupiter Hammerheads (2)
  • ►Kane County Cougars (41)
  • ►Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (18)
  • ►Kingsport Mets (1)
  • ►Lake County Captains (10)
  • ►Lake Elsinore Storm (4)
  • ►Lakeland Flying Tigers (12)
  • ►Lancaster JetHawks (7)
  • ►Lansing Lugnuts (2)
  • ►Las Vegas Aviators (9)
  • ►Lehigh Valley IronPigs (41)
  • ►Lexington Legends (69)
  • ►Louisville Bats (23)
  • ►Lowell Spinners (15)
  • ►Lynchburg Hillcats (17)
  • ►Mahoning Valley Scrappers (31)
  • ►Memphis Redbirds (8)
  • ►Midland RockHounds (5)
  • ►MiLB (33)
  • ►Mississippi Braves (29)
  • ►Missoula Paddleheads (19)
  • ►Mobile BayBears (6)
  • ►Modesto Nuts (11)
  • ►Montgomery Biscuits (2)
  • ►Myrtle Beach Pelicans (38)
  • ►Nashville Sounds (28)
  • ►New Hampshire Fisher Cats (32)
  • ►New Orleans Baby Cakes (5)
  • ►Norfolk Tides (18)
  • ►Northwest Arkansas Naturals (47)
  • ►Norwich Sea Unicorns (2)
  • ►Oklahoma City Dodgers (68)
  • ►Omaha Storm Chasers (51)
  • ►Orem Owlz (3)
  • ►Palm Beach Cardinals (4)
  • ▼Pawtucket Red Sox (67)
    • PawSox conclude 2020 with $10,000 donation to The Tomorrow Fund
    • Pawtucket Red Sox and PawSox Foundation to hold first-ever Fall Golf Classic
    • Fans Can Post Messages to McCoy's Videoboard to Raise Funds for COVID-19 Relief
    • New PawSox T-Shirts to Benefit COVID-19 Relief Effort
    • WooSox Foundation Pledges $10,000 to "Worcester Together"
    • "O' Say Can You Sing?" is Back This March
    • PawSox Foundation Announces 2018 PawSox Scholars
    • Veterans Home Run: A 5K Walk 'n Run Race Results & FAQ
    • PawSox Commemorate Veterans Day Holiday with Dinner for Veterans
    • PawSox Send Youngsters from Pawtucket Boys and Girls Club to the World Series for 29th Consecutive Season
    • PawSox Become "Boys of Bowling" for Tomorrow Fund
    • PawSox Foundation to Support "Empire Gives Back" Night on May the Fourth
    • Go Bowling with the PawSox on July 26
    • Providence Personal Injury Attorney, Rob Levine & Associates Partners with MiLB, PawSox, for Third Year, in Rob Levine Kid's Corner Program
    • PawSox Announce Fundraiser with Emerson College to Benefit The Tomorrow Fund
    • PawSox Foundation to Present "A Veterans Home Run: A 5k Walk 'N Run" on Saturday Morning, May 19
    • PawSox Infielder Mike Miller Refurbishes Field in Hawaii with "More Than A Game"
    • Pawsox Spread Cheer at VA Medical Center and Tomorrow Fund Clinic for Annual Holiday Caravan
    • PawSox Present 3rd Annual Veterans Day Steak Dinner
    • PawSox Foundation to Unveil Second Class of PawSox Scholars this Friday Afternoon at McCoy Stadium
    • PawSox Welcome Families and Children for Second Annual Trick or Treat at McCoy Stadium on Halloween
    • Pawsox to Host Thanksgiving Food Basket Drive with First Lady of Pawtucket
    • PawSox Begin 2nd Year of Pioneering Partnership with "Mentor Rhode Island" at Pawtucket's Agnes E. Little Elementary School
    • PawSox and Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza Team Up with Family Service RI on "Walk to School Day"
    • PawSox Foundation Presents Tomorrow Fund with Donation of $21,156
    • PawSox and Jordan's Furniture Donate Record Amount of Equipment to the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket
    • PawSox Break Ground with RIBCTC in City of Woonsocket
    • PawSox and Rhode Island Blood Center to Host Second Annual 9/11 Blood Drive at McCoy Stadium
    • Rhode Island Building & Construction Trades Council and the Pawtucket Red Sox announce newly formed charitable partnership, Building Baseball
    • Mayor James A. Diossa teams up with PawSox for "PLAY BALL SUMMER" Initiative
    • PawSox to Host 33-Inning Charity Baseball Game Featuring The Pawtucket Slaterettes August 19
    • Red Sox Foundation and Pawsox Foundation Partner with Rhode Island Little League to Support all 48 Leagues in the State
    • PawSox to Refurbish Fairlawn Little League's Deluca Field at Nathanael Greene Elementary
    • PawSox Introduce First Four "Academic All-Stars"
    • PawSox Wives Food Drive - Tuesday, June 20
    • Bryant University's Project Playhouse
    • PawSox Launch "Academic All-Stars Program"
    • Go Bowling with the PawSox on June 7th
    • PawSox Foundation to Present "A Veterans Home Run: 5k Walk 'N Run" on May 20
    • PawSox Introduce "Paws for a Cause" Community Initiative
    • PawSox Deliver Roses and Spread Cheer to Local Seniors
    • PawSox Create New Pawtucket Mentoring Program with Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership
    • PawSox to Celebrate Life of Jackie Robinson with High School Student-Athletes from Pawtucket
    • What Does $100,000 Really Mean?
    • PawSox Again Cross the $100,000 Mark in Community Contributions in 2016
    • PawSox Charitable Foundation Adopts Family of 6
    • Goff Middleschoolers Enjoy 2nd Annual PawSox Holiday Luncheon
    • PawSox Complete Commemoration of Veterans Day Today at Warwick Mall
    • PawSox to Commemorate Veterans Day Holiday with Dinner for Veterans Tonight and Check Presentation Tomorrow
    • New PawSox Scholars Program to Provide College Scholarships to Area Middle Schoolers
    • PawSox Sending Two Children to The World Series
    • PawSox Welcome Families and Children to Trick or Treat at McCoy Stadium on Halloween
    • PawSox Win 2016 Community Involvement Award from Providence Business News
    • PawSox Fans Donate Record 71 Pints in Inaugural 9/11 Blood Drive
    • PawSox to Host "Night Nation Run" 5k Music Festival Saturday Evening, September 24, to Support Stand Up to Cancer
    • PawSox win Moss Community Service Award
    • Jeffrey Osborne Celebrity All-Star Softball Classic - Sunday, August 10 at McCoy Stadium
    • Toys for Tots Collection Drive Underway at McCoy
    • PawSox to honor Negro League Athletes on July 30
    • PawSox Wives Food Drive on Tuesday, July 30
    • PawSox Help Raise Awareness of "Invisible Wounds of War"
    • Novo Nordisk presents Changing Diabetes Night
    • BVCHC hosts Childhood Obesity Awareness Clinic at McCoy
    • PawSox Wives Strike Out Hunger Food Drive, July 16
    • PawSox team with area schools for education program
    • PawSox Honored by R.I. Department of Health
    • PawSox Peanut Free Days at McCoy Stadium
  • ►Pensacola Blue Wahoos (50)
  • ►Peoria Chiefs (12)
  • ►Portland Sea Dogs (45)
  • ►Princeton Rays (7)
  • ►Pulaski Yankees (17)
  • ►Quad Cities River Bandits (24)
  • ►Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (9)
  • ►Reading Fightin Phils (72)
  • ►Reno Aces (37)
  • ►Richmond Flying Squirrels (34)
  • ►Rochester Red Wings (26)
  • ►Rocket City Trash Pandas (8)
  • ►Rocky Mountain Vibes (2)
  • ►Rome Braves (27)
  • ►Round Rock Express (34)
  • ►Sacramento River Cats (25)
  • ►Salem Red Sox (13)
  • ►Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (8)
  • ►Salt Lake Bees (38)
  • ►San Antonio Missions (12)
  • ►San Jose Giants (39)
  • ►Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (55)
  • ►Somerset Patriots (13)
  • ►South Bend Cubs (58)
  • ►Spokane Indians (26)
  • ►Springfield Cardinals (42)
  • ►St. Lucie Mets (16)
  • ►St. Paul Saints (5)
  • ►State College Spikes (23)
  • ►Staten Island Yankees (16)
  • ►Stockton Ports (18)
  • ►Sugar Land Space Cowboys (3)
  • ►Syracuse Mets (15)
  • ►Tacoma Rainiers (6)
  • ►Tampa Tarpons (34)
  • ►Tennessee Smokies (24)
  • ►Toledo Mud Hens (47)
  • ►Trenton Thunder (22)
  • ►Tri-City Dust Devils (2)
  • ►Tri-City ValleyCats (28)
  • ►Tulsa Drillers (25)
  • ►Vancouver Canadians (25)
  • ►Vermont Lake Monsters (22)
  • ►Visalia Rawhide (7)
  • ►West Michigan Whitecaps (8)
  • ►West Virginia Black Bears (1)
  • ►West Virginia Power (11)
  • ►Wichita Wind Surge (4)
  • ►Williamsport Crosscutters (46)
  • ►Wilmington Blue Rocks (30)
  • ►Winston-Salem Dash (32)
  • ►Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (76)
  • ►Worcester Red Sox (18)