Braves and Floyd Co. Police Present Check to Boys & Girls Club

The Rome Braves and Floyd County Police Department presented a check Tuesday December 21st to the Boys & Girls Club of Rome for $10,648.00 on the front plaza at State Mutual Stadium. The funds for this donation were raised through the 2nd Annual Celebrity Shootout Golf Tournament hosted by the Rome Braves and the Floyd County Police Department.

This year’s celebrities were former Rome Braves managers Rocket Wheeler and Randy Ingle as well as Atlanta Braves 3rd base coach Brian Snitker and former Rome Braves coach Bobby Moore.

Photo courtesy of the Rome Braves

Autism group gets $1K grant from G-Braves

A local autism support group is the latest recipient of a $1,000 grant from the Gwinnett Braves.

On Monday, the G-Braves announced that Spectrum Autism Support Group, Inc. would be awarded its December grant. The money will be used to support the organization’s social skills program for children ages 4 to 22 with autism spectrum disorders.

“When the economy suffers, small nonprofits like ours suffer, because people and organizations have less to give,” Spectrum president Claire Dees said. “But autism doesn’t take a break for the economy or anything else.”

The Suwanee-based organization was founded in 1998 and provides support, education and resources encompassing the entire spectrum of autistic disorders in Gwinnett and surrounding areas.

At its monthly meetings, the social skills program allows 50 to 80 children to enjoy interactive and fun activities that focus on social lessons.

For more information on Spectrum, visit www.atl-spectrum.com

12Stone Church doles out Holiday Meals at Coolray Field

Hundreds of cars lined Ga. Highway 20 in Lawrenceville on Saturday afternoon, waiting for their turn in the parking lot of Coolray Field.

Heartfelt cries of “God bless you” and “Merry Christmas” poured from vehicles as unemployed families by the thousands patiently and happily filed through, volunteers from 12Stone Church and a number of partners doling out turkeys, hams and groceries to those in need this holiday season.

“It just means such a great deal,” said Ladonna Smith, leaving with a turkey for her family’s Christmas dinner. “It’s such a blessing, especially being unemployed and having kids.”

After police officers directed folks into the lot, a stone’s throw from the Gwinnett Braves’ stadium, volunteers-turned-traffic-managers orchestrated what turned out to be a smoothly run operation.

Cars were organized into four separate lanes, with pallets full of goodies stacked intermittently in between.

An estimated 250 volunteers cheerfully took requests from waiting recipients. All told, 12Stone distributed 2,500 meals Saturday.

“I love helping people,” church volunteer Cathy Minter said. “They’ve been so thankful. They’re wishing us a merry Christmas, but what I’m getting back from them … I just can’t explain it. I just love it.”

12Stone partnered with HoneyBaked Ham Corp., Kroger, Signature Foods and the G-Braves to provide “a meal and more.” Each family went home with a HoneyBaked ham or turkey, a week’s worth of groceries and a voucher for four tickets to a 2011 Gwinnett Braves game.

The church had already given 3,000 packages to unemployed members, friends and neighbors of the congregation. In all, the 5,500 packages distributed totaled more than $1 million in goods and services.

“It’s been amazing,” Minter said. “We love to serve people. And that’s what God wants us to do.”

As testament to the tough economic times, cars lined up at nearby gas station hours before the giveaway scheduled for 1 p.m., jockeying to make sure their family got a real Christmas dinner.

“This just helps you to be thankful for every day of life,” recipient Terena Harris said. “Especially in times like this you need to be very thankful that people can maintain groups like this, and you can have a meal on the table.”

Added husband John: “We just really appreciate it.”

This article by Tyler Estep originally appeared in the Gwinnett Daily Post on December 18, 2010.

Public Safety Agencies Educate at Coolray Field

Gwinnett County’s public safety agencies want residents to know what they do to keep the community safe.

The Gwinnett County Police Department and Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services joined together Saturday for the first Public Safety Fall Festival at Coolray Field, the home of the Gwinnett Braves.

The event featured dozens of displays and demonstrations from the police and fire departments, including specialized units like SWAT, Ground Search and Rescue, HazMat and Swift Water Rescue. Several other governmental and nonprofit agencies were also on hand to provide safety information.

“It has exceeded our expectations,” said Officer Jeffery Richter, spokesman for the Gwinnett County Police Department. “This joint venture has gone off better than we could have ever hoped.”

Richter said the festival provided a stress-free, fun-filled environment for the community to interact with public safety officials.

Saturday’s event also served as a kickoff for National Fire Prevention Week and Fire Prevention Month in Gwinnett County, said Capt. Thomas Rutledge, spokesman for the Gwinnett County Fire Department.

“This is an opportunity to reach people we don’t normally interact with,” Rutledge said. “We want to let them know we’re here to protect them and help them protect themselves.”

Buford resident Kim Arakas and her family came to the festival to see the police and fire vehicles and learn about public safety.

“It was one of those free family events that looked like it would be educational for the kids,” she said. “We learned things as well.”

Haydee Nunez, who lives in Lawrenceville, brought her children and her nephew to the event because they are in Cub Scouts.

“It’s good for them to know about safety,” she said. “I thought it would be good awareness for the kids.”

This article by Heather Darenberg originally appeared in the Gwinnett Daily Post on October 2, 2010

Jonathan Phillips Dressed as a firefighter, Carter Bromley checks out one of the fire department’s ladder trucks during the Public Safety Fall Festival at Coolray Field on Saturday. The festival included demonstrations, safety information, softball games between the Gwinnett County fire and police departments and fun activities for children. (Staff Photo from Gwinnett Daily Post)

The Cody Fund Receives Gwinnett Braves October Grant

The Gwinnett Braves announced today that the Cody Fund, at the Community Foundation of Northeast Georgia, is the recipient of the Gwinnett Braves October grant. The $1,000 grant will be used to purchase a new Police K-9 for the Snellville Police Department.

“We are extremely grateful to the Gwinnett Braves and the Cody Fund for providing funds toward the purchase of a new Police K-9 and training of a K-9 and handler,” said Roy Whitehead, Chief of the Snellville Police Department. “Our K-9 units have been extremely beneficial in preventing and solving crimes which make Snellville a safer place to live. The purchase of this dog would not have been possible without this generous grant.”

The Gwinnett County K-9 Unit has six police canine teams that provide support to the Uniform and Criminal Investigations Divisions. Their primary duties include tracking lost or missing persons, tracking wanted persons, finding evidence or lost property, conducting building searches, serving high risk warrants and locating illegal narcotics. In addition the unit also has a K-9 Team trained to detect explosive materials and provides support to the department’s EOD Unit.

The Cody Fund was created to support police K-9 units in Gwinnett County. Kathy Gestar, an avid dog lover, attended the Snellville Police Academy in 1999 and was impressed by the service that officers and their K-9’s provide to protect Gwinnett residents.

Moved by the need for additional dogs and equipment, Gestar founded the Cody Fund, named after her beloved Sheltie that passed away in 2008.

Since its inception in 1999, the Cody Found has awarded grants for the purchase and training of K-9 dogs, as well as for their specialized medical care and K-9 unit equipment.

Organizations interested in applying for a Gwinnett Braves grant can visit the Community page on gwinnettbraves.com for more information.

Dream House receives G-Braves grant

The Gwinnett Braves announced recently that the Dream House for Medically Fragile Children, Inc. is the recipient of the Gwinnett Braves September grant.

The $1,000 grant will be used to cover unreimbursed direct care costs associated with the Family For Keeps Transition Care Program. The proven Family for Keeps program provides education and services enabling families to care for these children at home. This gives children with complex health care needs a chance to be part of a loving home where they are valued and cared for effectively.

“We are very grateful for local friends, such as the Gwinnett Braves Foundation,” said Kim Marks, Chief Program Officer, Dream House for Medically Fragile Children, Inc. “The community’s support is vital so that Dream House may continue to provide transition care services to the medically fragile children we serve in the Gwinnett area and across the state.”

Gwinnett Braves General Manager North Johnson will present a ceremonial check to the Dream House during the non-profit’s 8th Annual Music-on-Main fundraiser at Lilburn City Park on Saturday, September 11, 2010.

Organizations interested in applying for a Gwinnett Braves grant can visit the Community page on gwinnettbraves.com for more information.

Link to original story

The Latin American Association Receives Gwinnett Braves August Grant

The Gwinnett Braves announced today that the Latin American Association (LAA) is the recipient of the Gwinnett Braves August grant. The $1,000 grant was used to buy supplies for the LAA’s second annual Back to School Supplies Drive.

Fully staffed by volunteers led by LAA’s Director of the Youth and Volunteer Program, the Back to School Supplies Drive was held at LAA’s main building prior to school opening. The event was attended by nearly one thousand children who, accompanied by a parent, exchanged free tickets given to them at the entrance for free school supplies that included backpacks, notebooks, folders, crayons, pencils and pens.

“Words cannot express the immense gratitude the LAA family feels towards the Gwinnett Braves,” said Millie Irizarry, Chief Executive Officer of the Latin American Association, upon notification of this award. “While their sportsmanship continues to motivate our children, the Gwinnett Braves have also chosen to support one of our very dear events. Thanks to their contribution, the LAA’s supply drive provided nearly one thousand children with much needed essentials for school work. The Gwinnett Braves have helped us send these children and their families another message of hope which will be unforgettable to them and also to us.”

The G-Braves will honor the LAA in an in-game presentation on Sunday, August 29th when the team takes on the Norfolk Tides at 2:05 p.m. Volunteers, staff and families served by LAA will also be in attendance and are invited to a pregame Q&A with a G-Braves player.

Organizations interested in applying for a Gwinnett Braves grant can visit the Community page on gwinnettbraves.com for more information.

About the Latin American Association
The Latin American Association’s (LAA) mission is to help Latino families achieve their aspirations for academic, social and economic advancement. They accomplish this through direct programs and integrated community partnerships that focus on youth academic achievement, education and prevention, and services to families with urgent needs. Last year alone, over 60,000 individuals and their families sought assistance from the LAA. For more information on the LAA visit thelaa.org.

Gwinnett Braves take a break at Eagle Ranch

Gwinnett Braves players took a time off from baseball Monday for fishing and fellowship with the youngsters at Eagle Ranch children’s home in Hall County.

The players joined the youngsters at Eagle Ranch’s 10-acre lake, enjoying the surprisingly cool and overcast weather. Pitcher Todd Redmond took rod and reel in hand and said the fishing and meeting the young residents was a welcome break from the mound.

“Any time you get out and fish is a fun time, especially coming out and fishing with the kids,” Redmond said. “It helps everybody, it helps get my mind off baseball and helps the kids more than anything.”

Eagle Ranch girls had an arts and crafts session with wives and family members of some of the players during the once a year visit. Wes Timmons, Matt Young, Cory Gearrin, Vladimir Nunez and Scott Proctor were other Gwinnett Braves players who came out to visit.

Eagle Ranch assistant councilor Greg Owens said the visit was about relationship building, and building character.

“A lot of the stuff we work on is building character through sports and participation and team activities,” Owens said.

Owens said around 64 boys and girls from eight to 18 years of age now reside at the ranch, set up in 1985 on a 270 campus in south Hall County to provide help to children in crisis with counseling and education.

Link to original story by Jerry Gunn.

Gwinnett Braves players join the youngsters at Eagle Ranch’s 10-acre lake

Gwinnett Braves Announce Grant Program

The Gwinnett Braves Division of the Atlanta Braves Foundation will begin awarding monthly grants to local non-profits in August. The winner of each month will receive a $1,000 grant, 50 tickets to a Gwinnett Braves game, a concourse table at a Gwinnett Braves game and a check presentation. Each non-profit that submits an application will receive 20 tickets to a Gwinnett Braves game.

“We are pleased to present the Gwinnett Braves Grant Program to the community as it is a multi-faceted program that gives all organizations an opportunity to apply and win one of our monthly grants,” said Gwinnett Braves GM North Johnson. “Gwinnett and our surrounding counties have been extremely good to our organization and we are excited to give back to this wonderful community. I look forward to reviewing the applications and awarding our first winner in August.”

Each month features a different theme and organizations may apply for more than one month and area of giving. Below is a list of the monthly themes:

January: I Have a Dream – Organizations that grant wishes, dreams and opportunities for the youth, elderly, injured or sick.
February: Heart Month – Organizations that bring awareness and/or raise funds for heart related diseases and illnesses or that promotes a healthy diet and fitness programs for children.
March: Salute to the Arts – Organizations that support art programs or education.
April: Take Me Out to the Ballgame – Organizations that promote youth athletics or activities.
May: Cancer Awareness – Organizations that bring awareness to cancer prevention/detection or that raise funds for cancer research.
June: Summer Safety – Organizations that fund or run safety programs for children.
July: Red, White and Blue – Organizations that support the military or military families.
August: Back to School – Organizations that support education or after school/mentoring programs.
September: All About Kids – Organizations that benefit children.
October: Four Legged Friends – Organizations that benefit animals.
November: Thanksgiving – Organizations that work to end hunger and/or homelessness, that support children and families that are homeless or that run and maintain a food bank.
December: Season of Giving – Any organization that benefits youth, education or sports programming may apply.

Non-profits that wish to apply can download the Gwinnett Braves Grant Application at gwinnettbraves.com.

The Gwinnett Braves operate under the Atlanta Braves Foundation and specifically focus on those organizations in Gwinnett and its surrounding counties. Through the foundation, the team is dedicated to providing social, educational and scholarship opportunities for the youth in our surrounding communities in connection with the activities of the Gwinnett Braves baseball club. Gwinnett Daily Post Editor, Todd Cline, and Gwinnett Braves front office members North Johnson and Courtney Lawson, General Manager and Community and Public Affairs Manager, respectively, make up the grant selection board.

2010 Charity Challenge Huge Success

A night at the ballpark is always a lot fun especially when needed funds are raised for local charities.  On Friday night July 9th at State Mutual Stadium the Boys & Girls Club of NWGA, Cancer Navigators, Children’s Miracle Network, Hospitality House, Murphy Harpst Children’s Home, and Williams Davies Shelter all participated in the 2010 Charity Challenge.  Each organization sold tickets with a portion of sales going directly back to them.  The top four teams selling the most tickets took part in “on field” activities like the dizzy bat race and the limbo to raise additional funds.  Nearly $3,500 was raised.

The Murphy Harpst Children’s Home sold the most tickets, Boys & Girls Club placed first in the game challenges while the Children’s Miracle Network placed 2nd in the game challenges.

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