Scout Patch Design Contest Underway

Deadline For Patch Submissions Is April 8

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Wilmington, DE – The Wilmington Blue Rocks are pleased to announce the implementation of the 2013 Scout Patch Design Contest for their Boy and Girl Scout Sleepovers in August at Frawley Stadium. The winning scout will receive a prize pack and the winning patch will be given to all scouts participating in the sleepover. Deadline for submissions is April 8, 2013.

Scouts can submit their designs via mail to the Wilmington Blue Rocks, c/o Scout Sleepover, 801 Shipyard Drive, Wilmington DE 19801. For any questions regarding the Scout Sleepover, or the design contest, call Stefani Rash at 302-472-5718 or email her at srash@bluerocks.com.

The 2013 season marks the 14th year of the scout sleepover program with the Blue Rocks. Sleepover dates are June 28th for the Girl Scouts and August 17th for the Boy Scouts.

The Blue Rocks begin their 2013 season on April 5th in Myrtle Beach. After a six-game road trip, the Rocks return to Wilmington for the home opener on Friday, April 12 at 7:05 p.m. Group tickets and mini plans for the 2013 campaign are on sale now by visiting bluerocks.com.

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

Shorebirds Honor Contest Winner

Kassidy McConaghy wins 2013 Hit the Books Bookmark Contest

Kassidy McConaghy (middle) is the winner of the 2013 Hit the Books Bookmark Contest
Kassidy McConaghy (middle) is the winner of the 2013 Hit the Books Bookmark Contest

Salisbury, Md. – The Delmarva Shorebirds named Kassidy McConaghy of Milford Middle School the winner of the 2013 Hit the Books Bookmark Contest on Tuesday. Sherman and Shorebirds staff members presented Kassidy with her award during lunch hour at Milford Middle School.

McConaghy’s winning bookmark design will be distributed to all participating students in the Hit the Books program. Over 40,000 students from over 100 schools are involved in this years program.

The Hit the Books Program, sponsored by Dr. James M. Crouse at The Brace Place, is an initiative to encourage reading outside the classroom. Students that read four or more books outside the classroom receive two free Shorebirds tickets.

“Kassidy’s design demonstrated her outstanding creative and artistic talents,” said Shawn Schoolcraft, Director of Community Relations for the Shorebirds. “Her bookmark captured the true meaning of the program and we’re proud to distribute her winning design throughout the community.”

Sherman the Shorebird will be making appearances to select participating Hit the Books school over the next two months to encourage students to read.

For more information about the program, contact Shawn Schoolcraft at 410-219-3112 ext. 168.

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

Lexington Legends donations top $800,000 for the 2012 season

The Lexington Legends announced donations for the 2012 season totaling $800,629.43 to a variety of non-profit organizations serving Central Kentucky. The Ivy Walls Charitable Giving Foundation Fund at Bluegrass Community Foundation, in cooperation with the Legends and business sponsors, presented checks to organization representatives today in the Kentucky Ale Taproom at Whitaker Bank Ballpark.

Ivy Walls Management is a Lexington-based organization that manages the operation of Minor League Baseball teams, including the Legends.

In its 12-year history, the Legends organization has donated more than $11 million to the region.

“It’s a pleasure to work with the representatives of these organizations all year round,” said Legends Director of Community Relations and Special Events Sarah Bosso. “We’re looking forward to another great year in 2013.”

“The Legends have always made community involvement a high priority,” added Legends President/COO Andy Shea. “This event is a nice celebration that brings our business partners together with the organizations that we are proud to support.”

Among organizations receiving funds were:

Autism Society of the Bluegrass: Autism Awareness Night at Whitaker Bank Ballpark was sponsored by Eastern Kentucky University, which purchased special caps worn by Legends players in that night’s game. The caps were auctioned after the game to support the Autism Society.

Boy Scouts of America Bluegrass Council: Sponsored by Windstream, a $25 donation was made to the Boy Scouts for every double or triple by a Legends player during home games.

Bluegrass Military Affairs Coalition (BMAC) Kentucky Wounded Warriors: The Legends supported BMAC with an auction of autographed baseballs and equipment on Military Appreciation Night July 28.

Breast Cancer Research and Awareness: Sleep Outfitters donated five dollars for every strikeout recorded by Legends’ pitchers during home games. The total donated was divided among three organizations: The Pink Connection, which serves breast cancer patients on a personal basis by reducing or eliminating barriers to screening, diagnosis, and treatment; The Markey Cancer Center, established in 1983 as a Comprehensive Cancer Center; and Susan G. Komen For the Cure, the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. The Legends and Sleep Outfitters also hold an annual dinner, with proceeds going to those same three breast cancer charities. In addition, pink jerseys worn by Legends players in that night’s game are sold through a silent auction.

Folds of Honor: For every run the Legends scored at home in 2012, Kentucky Eagle donated $10 to the Folds of Honor Foundation, which provides scholarships and other assistance to spouses and dependents of military personnel who were killed or disabled in military operations.

Kentucky Children’s Hospital: For every stolen base by a Legends’ player during a home game, Insight donated $10 to Kentucky Children’s Hospital, which provides advanced care for children, including specialized emergency transport and Level III Care at the Neonatal ICU.

LexArts: LexArts, Lexington’s cultural development, advocacy and fund raising organization, was a beneficiary of the 2012 Whitaker Insurance Group W.I.G. 5K run/walk held at Whitaker Bank Ballpark August 25.

P.A.W.S.: Sponsored by IncrediPet, two “Bark in the Park” nights were held during the 2012 season, on which dog owners were invited to bring their dogs to a Legends game. The “admission” price for dogs was a donation to the Paris Animal Welfare Society (P.A.W.S.)

Salvation Army: The Whitaker Bank Piggy Bank stationed on the concourse gave Legends’ fans an opportunity to make donations to the Salvation Army.

St. Baldrick’s Foundation: The volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers was another beneficiary of the 2012 Whitaker Insurance Group W.I.G. 5K run/walk held at Whitaker Bank Ballpark August 25.

St. Joseph Hospital Nursing Scholarship Program: At the end of every baseball season, the Legends hold a silent auction for the home jerseys worn during the season with proceeds going to the St. Joseph Hospital Nursing Scholarship Program.

United Way of the Bluegrass: The United Way was the beneficiary of the LexMark Softball Invitational in July. The Legends also worked with United Way on ticket giveaways to United Way donors, listed below.

In-kind donations

The Legends also make substantial in-kind donations throughout the year to many groups and organizations, including a long-standing relationship with United Way of the Bluegrass. Donors to the annual United Way of the Bluegrass campaign receive two free box seat tickets to a Legends home game. In the 2012 season, more than 38,000 box seat tickets were given to United Way donors.

In-kind projects were also associated with YMCA of Central Kentucky, Lexington Clinic, American Diabetes Association, Bluegrass Regional Mental Health/Mental Retardation Board, DanceBlue, a student-run philanthropy at the University of Kentucky, and Hit the Books, a joint effort between the Legends and Chick-Fil-A to encourage Central Kentucky students to read.

Blue Rocks 2012 Holiday Card Contest Underway

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WILMINGTON, DE – The Wilmington Blue Rocks welcome all students in Kindergarten through Fifth Grade to participate in the 2012 Blue Rocks Holiday Card Contest. Entries for the 2012 Blue Rocks Holiday Card Contest are now being accepted until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 28. The winning entry will be the cover of the Blue Rocks Holiday Card. The winner will receive 10 tickets to Opening Night and a baseball autographed by the whole team!

All entrants will receive two tickets to a 2013 Blue Rocks game. The winner will be announced on November 30. Each entrant will receive two (2) complimentary tickets to a game in 2013. The grand prize winner will receive a team-signed ball, 10 tickets to a game and will throw out a ceremonial first pitch.

Art teachers and parents can send their entries to:
Wilmington Blue Rocks
Attn. Holiday Card Contest
801 Shipyard Drive
Wilmington, DE 19801

When returning entries, please be sure the student’s name, address, phone number, school and grade are written CLEARLY on the back of the entry. Entries should be submitted on an 8.5″ by 11″ sheet of paper and will become property of the Wilmington Blue Rocks and will not be returned. Please note that the Blue Rocks offices will be closed on Thursday, November 22 and Friday, November 23. We thank everyone for their participation and Happy Holidays. Good luck!

The Wilmington Blue Rocks open the 2013 season on the Riverfront against the Frederick Keys on Friday, April 12 at 7:05 p.m.

Blue Rocks Baseball = AffordaFUNability!www.bluerocks.com

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

Scout Patch Design Contest Returns

Submissions being accepted from local boy and girl scouts until March 23rd

Emily Miceli of Girl Scout Troop 170 was last year's winner.
Emily Miceli of Girl Scout Troop 170 was last year’s winner.

LAKEWOOD, NJ – The BlueClaws are once again looking for area boy and girl scouts to design the patch given out by the BlueClaws to scouts at BlueClaws scout nights this year.

Submissions will be accepted until March 23rd. The BlueClaws will choose the finalists and voting will occur on the BlueClaws official Facebook page or via email at scouts@blueclaws.com until March 30th at noon.

The winning scout will receive a ceremonial first pitch at their scout night in 2012, a meet and greet with a BlueClaws player, and, of course, have their patch be given out to the approximately 5,000 scouts that come out to the park this summer.

Interested scouts can download this form (click here) and fill in the circle, using 10 colors or less. The BlueClaws will adjust the patches with the proper logos.

All forms must be returned to:

Pete Walsifer
Scout Patch Contest
2 Stadium Way
Lakewood, NJ 08701

Forms must include the name of their scout pack or troop as well as the name of the scout.

Scouts that enter must be a member of a pack or troop that has booked their 2012 BlueClaws outing. The BlueClaws will host five Scout Nights in 2012, two of which (July 28th and August 11th) are Scout Night Sleepovers, where scouts camp out on the field after the game.

Last year’s winner, shown above, was Emily Miceli of Girl Scout Troop 170.

For information on bringing a scout group to FirstEnergy Park, call Pete Walsifer at 732-901-7000 ext 171 or visit BlueClaws.com/scouts.

The BlueClaws have led the South Atlantic League in attendance in all 11 years of existence and this year will become the fastest team in New Jersey and SAL history to reach 5-million fans.

Ticket packages and group outings for the upcoming season are available by calling 732-901-7000 or online at BlueClaws.com.

– BlueClaws –

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

Eastern Elementary student wins ‘Hit the Books’ contest

(WHITAKER BANK BALLPARK, Lexington, Ky.) A student at Eastern Elementary School in Scott County has won a bookmark design contest as part of the Lexington Legends/Chick-fil-A “Hit the Books” reading incentive program. A second Eastern Elementary student received honorable mention.

Fifth grade student Kim Macanang, age 10, designed the winning entry. She will receive a Legends prize pack, including Legends merchandise, a framed “Hit the Books ” poster featuring her artwork and a free membership in the 2012 Little Legends Kids Club. She also will be invited to throw a ceremonial first pitch at a designated Legends game for her school. Bookmarks featuring her artwork will be distributed to students at every school that participates in the “Hit the Books” program. More than 18,000 students from central Kentucky are expected to take part in the program, which runs through April 1.

Makayla Davis, age 11, a fifth grade student at Eastern Elementary; Jackson Gonzales, 8, a third grade student at Liberty Elementary in Lexington; and Abbi Davis, 10, a fourth grade student at Peaks Mill Elementary in Frankfort all received honorable mention for their designs. They will receive framed posters and Legends merchandise.

“The Hit the Books program has been a staple of the Legends community outreach since day one of our existence,” said Legends General Manager Seth Poteat. “I personally love every chance I get to go to all the participating schools in our community and meet the kids. The importance of childhood literacy cannot be underscored enough and this program allows us to hopefully develop readers and Legends fans for life.”

In “Hit the Books,” a baseball diamond is used to record credit for a student’s reading. For every book a student reads, a teacher places his or her initials on a base. When the student has all three bases and home plate initialed by the teacher, the student may bring a “Hit the Books” bookmark to the Legends’ box office at Whitaker Bank Ballpark to exchange it for two tickets to one of four Legends home games – April 13, 14, 27 or 28.

The school with the most bookmarks redeemed on its designated night will win a luncheon assembly provided by the Lexington Legends and Chick-fil-A.

The 2012 season is the 12th for Legends baseball, and also marks the 12th year that the Legends have been associated with the “Hit the Books” program. About 125,000 central Kentucky students have participated.

The Legends, a class A affiliate of the Houston Astros, open the home season Thursday, April 12 at Whitaker Bank Ballpark against the Kannapolis Intimidators, an affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. For more information, visit www.lexingtonlegends.com.

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The Legends were voted number one in family entertainment in 2011 by readers of the Lexington Herald-Leader.
This article originally appeared on the official website of the Lexington Legends. Click here to view the original story.

Louie Honors Reading Program Poster Winners

The Baysox lovable mascot Louie made visits to two local schools last week to congratulate some very special students. Louie wanted to congratulate the winners of the annual poster contest that kicks off the Read and Hit a Home Run Reading Program.

Caroline Kerr of Crofton Middle School in Crofton, Md. and Caroline Cooney of Whitehall Elementary School in Bowie, Md., each received special visits from Louie to receive their prizes.

Louie would also like to congratulate Southern Maryland winner Myles Williams of William B. Wade Elementary School in Waldorf, Md., who has moved out of the area and was unable to claim his prize.

The students’ poster designs were selected as the winner for all schools in their respective regions. Caroline Kerr was the winner in Anne Arundel, Howard and Queen Anne’s counties and Caroline Cooney was the winner in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties.

Louie surprised the winners during special school assemblies, rewarding them with a framed poster of the design, 12 Baysox tickets and a collection of Baysox gear. The students also get a chance to throw out a ceremonial first pitch before the Baysox Reading Night game for their county.

Prince George’s County winner Caroline Cooney’s parents were told ahead of time that their daughter was the winner and they were on hand for the presentation. “I am so proud of Caroline,” said Julie Cooney. “She loves drawing and to have something she has done selected is beyond words. I am so excited.”

Caroline Kerr’s Language Arts teacher Diane Wagner was thrilled that her student was the one selected to be the Anne Arundel County winner. “Caroline is an exemplary student, the kind of student that I wish I had 30 of,” Wagner said. “She is a straight A student, she is involved in athletics and she is well-liked. I can’t think of a more deserving young lady.”

The Baysox would like to thank Read and Hit a Home Run Reading Program sponsor Educational Systems Federal Credit Union for their support of the program. This is the eighth year that Educational Systems Federal Credit Union has sponsored the reading program.

In all, 224 schools are registered to participate in the reading program this year. Any student in participating schools who reads at least four books is rewarded with a free ticket to a Baysox game. Louie will be visiting students throughout the weeks leading up to the season to show them how fun reading can be.

Indianapolis Indians Lend a Helping Glove

The Indianapolis Indians are giving away $10,000 in celebration of 125 consecutive years of professional baseball in Indianapolis. The program entitled “Lend a Helping Glove” has five local charities competing for a $10,000 grand prize.

Given a blank slate on a 5 foot fiberglass baseball glove, charities were asked to decorate their glove and put it on display in Indianapolis. Through a text vote, online vote and a celebrity panel vote, a winner will be decided. Voting began on June 3rd and ends at 11:59 PM EDT on August 19th. The winner will be announced at the Indians game on Friday, September 2nd versus Louisville.

Participating charities include the Boys and Girls Clubs of Indianapolis, Boys Scouts of America, CICOA, Indy Reads and the Salvation Army Indiana.

For more information on the program, visit www.lendahelpingglove.com.

Glove for the Salvation Army of Indiana.
Glove for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Indianapolis.
Glove for CICOA.

Hit the Books Contest Winner Announced Wednesday

The Omaha Storm Chasers awarded fourth-grader Gracie Davis this year’s Hit the Books contest winner, in a ceremony at Anderson Grove Elementary Wednesday. Davis was selected by the Storm Chasers community relations staff based on her original bookmark design.

“It was extremely difficult to choose a winner this year with so many great entries,” said Andrea Stava, the club’s Community Relations Manager. “The Omaha metro area has many talented students and we looked at thousands of great submissions. We’re excited to finally announce a winner.”

Hit the Books, the Storm Chasers’ literacy program presented by Nebraska Educational Savings Trust (NEST), has a membership of approximately 15,000 students and 1,000 teachers at 50 Omaha-area schools. Students were asked to submit original drawings for this year’s bookmark, which feature the artwork Gracie submitted this January. Bookmarks will be distributed throughout the city to each student who reaches their initial reading benchmark.

Students will have an opportunity to earn the bookmark, a pencil, a ticket to a Storm Chasers game and a prize pack for completing the program. Davis was presented with a Storm Chasers t-shirt, miniature baseball bat, Storm Chasers logo ball and various other items with the full prize pack at Wednesday’s event.

Pulaski Mariners Join Fine Arts Center Benefit Concert

On Friday, June 18, the Fine Arts Center for the New River Valley presented a benefit concert by Elvis impersonator Ryan Pelton. The Pulaski Mariners concession staff manned the concession area and donated their time and the profits from sales to the Fine Arts Center. An estimated crowd of 2,500 people watched the show in the downtown Jackson Park.

Pulaski is a town of only 10,000 population. The benefit to the Fine Arts Center from Pulaski Mariners was thirty-five man hours and $750 cash. A return visit has already been schedule for “Elvis” which deems this initial concert a success.

Mascot Musical Teaches Students

The Indianapolis Indians are proud to announce that their mascot Rowdie, along with a team of actors from the Actors Theatre of Indiana, is currently participating in the second season of the educational program “Rowdie: Home Run for Health”.

The play is designed to entertain and educate elementary school students on the “bases” of scoring a healthy home run in the game of life. The play’s script pays special attention to three key areas of a healthy lifestyle: nutrition, exercise and personal hygiene.

Indianapolis Indians Community Relations Manager Ryan Bowman expressed that the play acts as an add-on for the information students are already learning.

“Rowdie: Home Run for Health was started to reinforce the healthy lifestyle lessons taught in our local elementary schools. We are extremely excited to work with the Actors Theatre of Indiana in the development of such a fantastic learning mechanism for young students.”

This program evolved due to the need for improved awareness of childhood obesity. After speaking with local elementary school officials and parents, the staff behind the play learned that many school districts rated child obesity as their biggest challenge to overcome in their schools.

The 25-minute play plans to journey to more than 30 Indianapolis-area schools, with the final performance to be held on Thursday, April 1. Aside from a free viewing of the show, each student also receives a multi-page Rowdie Fun & Fitness Activity Book filled with great activities and games promoting the play’s message of a healthy lifestyle.

The show itself includes a hand-created Victory Field backdrop accompanied with its very own flip down food pyramid. The play also features many baseball themed song and dance routines such as “Food for Thought” and “Let’s Get Some Exercise”.

Gwinnett Braves Donate Over $150,000 to Local Non-Profits During Inaugural Season

During the Gwinnett Braves inaugural season, the team donated over $150,000 to local non-profits as a result of fundraisers completed during the team’s season. The G-Braves showcased the groups during a pre-game presentation on Saturday, September 5 when the team took on the Charlotte Knights (Chicago White Sox) at 6:00 p.m.

“Gwinnett County is known for its strong sense of community and since our team arrived, we have been wholeheartedly welcomed into this close-knit population,” said Gwinnett Braves General Manager Bruce Baldwin. “It is only right that we give back to the people that not only brought us here, but also to the people that continue to make Gwinnett County our home.”

Volunteers from Exodus Outreach, Collins Hill High School (Band Boosters, Spirit Club, Takedown Club and Lacrosse), St. Monica’s Knights of Columbus and Grayson Takedown Club worked with ARAMARK, the food and beverage provider at Gwinnett Stadium, to staff select concession stands throughout the season. In return, the groups earned a portion of that stand’s profit. Heading into the final weekend of the season the groups raised a combined $142,204.75 for their efforts.

In addition to the concession fundraiser, the Gwinnett Braves partnered with local non-profits to hold 50/50 raffles at each weekend game. Combined the 50/50 raffles resulted in over $7,000 for the following groups:
233rd Seabee Battalion
American Diabetes Association
Atlanta Animal Rescue Friends
Autism Speaks
Beta Sigma Phi
Caminar Latino
Children’s Miracle Network
Children’s Restoration Network
Family Promise of Gwinnett
Foster Children’s Foundation
Gwinnett Ballet Theater
Gwinnett Choral Guild
Gwinnett County Special Olympics
Gwinnett Habitat for Humanity
Gwinnett Humane Society
Gwinnett Medical Center Foundation
Happy Tails
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
March of Dimes
Metro Atlanta YMCA
Operation Homefront
The Hope Clinic
Toys for Tots

Every season, the Gwinnett Braves players and coaches combine to make one special gift to a local charity. This year, the team will donate the funds necessary to build a portable bocce court for the Gwinnett County Special Olympics.

The Special Olympics 50/50 Raffle at Coolray Field