Bad Apple Dancers Win Hoosier Hospitality Award

FORT WAYNE, Ind.. – The wildly popular Bad Apple Dancers of the Fort Wayne TinCaps have been selected as a 2012 Hoosier Hospitality Award recipient. The awards are given by the Indiana Office of Tourism Development. A presentation will be made by Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman at the Indiana Statehouse on Wednesday, May 9 at 10:30 AM.

“We’re incredibly honored to have been selected as one of this year’s award winners. The Bad Apple Dancers are one of the favorite attractions that fans like to see when they come out to Parkview Field, and I give a lot of credit to Brad Shank, Brent Harring and Tyler Baker for the work they’ve put into the Bad Apple Dancers,” said TinCaps President Mike Nutter.

The Bad Apple Dancers perform at the end of the sixth inning during all of the 70 TinCaps home games each season at Parkview Field.
This article originally appeared on the official website of the Fort Wayne TinCaps. Click here to view the original story.

‘Cats Recognized for Community Contributions

Recipients of 2012 Van Rensselaer Small Business Award

TROY, NY- The Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce has announced the 2012 winners of their prestigious Van Rensselaer Awards, and the Tri-City ValleyCats are the recipients of the Small Business Award, in recognition of outstanding contributions to area communities. Whether through their partnerships with charitable organizations or the volunteer efforts of their front office staff, the ValleyCats organization recognizes and embraces their responsibility to make a difference in the Capital Region.

To go along with community outreach at the ballpark, SouthPaw, players and the front office staff also make over 100 appearances throughout the Capital Region each year.

Appearances include reading at elementary schools and after-school programs, baseball clinics at local youth leagues, charity benefits, numerous walks and 5k’s and more.

In order to be ambassadors for the game of baseball in their community, the Tri-City ValleyCats established the Field Renovation Program in 2003, with the mission of providing safe and well-maintained fields for youth sports organizations throughout the Capital Region.

In 2011, the ValleyCats undertook an ambitious project to renovate four youth playing fields in the course of a twenty-four hour time period.

This season, the ValleyCats are kicking off a season long campaign known as the Community Grounds Crew Program. With the help of BlueShield of Northeastern New York, the Community Grounds Crew will assist numerous youth leagues in the Capital Region with field maintenance projects from June through September.

The Tri-City ValleyCats are a single A affiliate of the Houston Astros, and play in the historic 14-team New York-Penn League. They begin their 2012 home schedule on Wednesday, June 20 at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium. For more information, visit their website at www.tcvalleycats.com or call (518) 629-CATS.
This article originally appeared on the official website of the Tri-City ValleyCats. Click here to view the original story.

TinCaps Named “Business of the Year” by NEIDAC

Award Given for Accessibility and Employment of Individuals with Disabilities

FortWayneTinCaps_2012-03-12

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Fort Wayne TinCaps and Hardball Capital were presented with the Above and Beyond Business of the Year Award by the Northeast Indiana Disability Advocacy Coalition (NEIDAC). The award is given to an organization for accessibility and employment of individuals with disabilities. Several members of the TinCaps staff were on hand to accept the award at the Abilities Abound Awards Reception at the Holiday Inn on Coliseum Boulevard in Fort Wayne.

“We are honored and thrilled to be the recipient of this year’s award,” said TinCaps team President Mike Nutter. “Providing equal access and opportunity for individuals with disabilities and being in full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Act is a top priority for our team. We’re proud, along with the City of Fort Wayne and Hardball Capital, to have such a great facility like Parkview Field to be able to do all of those things.”

NEIDAC presented the TinCaps with a banner, which will be displayed at Parkview Field.

Opening Night is Thursday, April 5 with first pitch at 7:05pm. Opening Night features post-game fireworks and is a Thirsty Thursday with $1.00 beer specials. Visit TinCaps.com or call (260) 482-6400 for more information.

Fort Wayne TinCaps baseball… It’s All About You!
This article originally appeared on the official website of the Fort Wayne TinCaps. Click here to view the original story.

Cats Receive Honor from the Friendship Service Center

ROCK CATS RECEIVE HONOR FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE

left to right: Steve Kunsey (Rock Cats), Amy Helbling (Rock Cats), Jason Howey (Okay Industries), and Rocky the Rock Cat
left to right: Steve Kunsey (Rock Cats), Amy Helbling (Rock Cats), Jason Howey (Okay Industries), and Rocky the Rock Cat
left to right: Steve Kunsey (Rock Cats), Pam Vatti (Liberty Bank), Rocky the Rock Cat, Amy Helbling (Rock Cats)
left to right: Steve Kunsey (Rock Cats), Pam Vatti (Liberty Bank), Rocky the Rock Cat, Amy Helbling (Rock Cats)

The Friendship Service Center of New Britain – a decades-old community-based organization dedicated to assisting the area’s poor and disadvantaged – took time at its 43rd Annual Meeting yesterday to recognize the Rock Cats as their “2011 Business of the Year.” The New Britain franchise enjoys a proud history of supporting worthy community causes and, as such, has been pleased to partner with the Friendship Service Center for several years.

Located on Arch Street, the Center provides a range of essential community living services, including emergency shelters and transitional and permanent housing, to families in need.  Ms. Ellen Perkins Simpson serves as the organization’s Executive Director.

Assistance to the Center from the Rock Cats has come in many different forms including food and clothing donations, the provision of complimentary tickets to ball games, and the delivery of Thanksgiving Dinners and other Holiday gifts to families identified by FSC.

Another of the Rock Cats’ fabulous sponsors – Liberty Bank – was also present at yesterday’s event and took the occasion to present the Friendship Service Center with a check for $3,700! As a valued partner of the Rock Cats, Liberty Bank set aside $100 each time a New Britain player blasted a home run during the 2011 Season. As the ‘Cats swatted 37 round ‘trippers, Connecticut’s oldest mutual bank put together a kitty of $3,700 – and yesterday generously donated the entire amount to FSC!  What a great gesture – and a wonderful cause. Bravo to all parties!

By the way, Liberty Bank noted that they plan to open their 44th branch location at 747 Farmington Avenue in New Britain in the Spring. Maybe some of next year’s home runs will bounce off their new roof!
This article originally appeared on the official website of the New Britain Rock Cats. Click here to view the original story.

Local Publication Cites RiverDogs with Philanthropy Award

While the sound of bats cracking and the scent of hot dogs grilling may make Charleston RiverDogs fans smile while at The Joe, those same fans have even more of a reason to support the franchise while fancying even bigger smiles when the RiverDogs engage in any of their many community service activities,

Because of the organization’s positive impact in the community, the RiverDogs will be the 2010 recipient of the Outstanding Corporate Philanthropist for the Charleston Region Award, as provided by the Charleston Regional Business Journal.

The citation will be presented by the Association of Fundraising Professionals on National Philanthropy Day on Nov. 18 at the Charleston Marriot on Lockwood Blvd. with RiverDogs team president Mike Veeck accepting the award on the team’s behalf.

“We, at the RiverDogs, do things for the right reasons and our involvement in the local community is the right thing to do,” said RiverDogs general manager Dave Echols, who will be at the event. “We are constantly reminded by the first part of our name that Charleston as a community is important to us, and we keep that in the forefront of our minds every day. We’re active in the area for a multitude of reasons; the primary being that we are positioned to help and at the end of the day, we do.”

In their most recent issue, the Charleston Regional Business Journal cites the many involvements to the community that the RiverDogs involve themselves in throughout the calendar year. When not in season, the administrative staff closes the office for a day and, as a group, donates time and energy to a worthy cause, like Habitat for Humanity.

MUSC’s Storm Eye Institute is the RiverDogs’ primary charity, due in part to Veeck’s daughter, Rebecca, suffering from a retinitis pigmentosa, a visionary disorder that left the personable teenager legally blind. However, not all of the club’s efforts are devoted toward fighting blindness.

The RiverDogs, the Class-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, are deeply involved with the RBI Program (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) and the Boys & Girls Club by providing assistance with equipment and travel, while team members help with practices.

Additionally, the organization made a huge commitment to Charleston County Schools. They helped create a reading and fitness program for third graders, and participate in a sports and entertainment academy in the high schools to expose students to the business side of sports.

And during the season, each Monday night’s home game is appropriately billed as “Dogs with a Cause Night” and is devoted to a local non-profit organization as the group is positioned to share its mission with fans.

“The idea is that if you are interacting with the community and giving back, you will feel good, and in ways you are able to be an overall more well-rounded and happier person. And that will translate in the workplace,” Echols said.

“We let them choose what’s near and dear to their hearts,” he added. “We have 15-to-20 full-time staff, so that’s 15-to-20 different organizations that are receiving help from the RiverDogs.”

Fans share their valuable time during the season with the RiverDogs, so it is only fitting that the RiverDogs return that time in various charitable efforts to maximize the potential of community involvement.

And with the club’s “Be Your Own Fan” marketing initiative, the off-season contributions by the organization gives citizens another reason to be a RiverDogs fan.

Legends Win ‘We Care’ Award

The Lexington Legends have won a 2010 Republic Bank We CARE Award for outstanding community service.
The We CARE (Community Activity Recognition Enterprise) awards give recognition and appreciation to local companies whose employees are actively involved in a variety of community service activities. The program was launched in 2006, and the Legends have been nominated for awards in each of the last three years.

Winners were announced Thursday night in a ceremony at the Griffin Gate Marriott. WLEX-TV news anchor Kevin Christopher served as master of ceremonies.

More than 50 nominations from organizations in seven categories met the We CARE criteria and were accepted for the awards competition. Organizations were judged on how they encourage employees to become involved in volunteer activities either during or after business hours. They were also evaluated on how they support community-based initiatives through philanthropic efforts and neighborhood assistance. Winners were selected by an independent panel of judges consisting of previous winners and community leaders.

The Legends, a class A minor league baseball affiliate of the Houston Astros, won in the category of entertainment and leisure. The Legends have provided in-kind donations of tickets, memorabilia and suites to more than 250 non-profit organizations in 2010. Legends employees participate in many fund-raising events, including the Polar Bear Plunge, Bowl for Kids Sake, the Diabetes Walk and others. Employees also participate in Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Junior Achievement.

“There are certain prestigious ‘touch points’ in a community,” said Legends President and CEO Alan Stein. “For a company like the Lexington Legends, whose own mission statement emphasizes quality of life and making our communities better, the Republic Bank We Care Award is a very important acknowledgment that we’re on the right track. It is a tremendous honor for our entire staff, and I particularly salute our General Manager, Andy Shea, for his continued leadership and commitment to community service, and our Director of Community Relations, Stephanie Fish, for her tireless efforts in this arena.”

“The Republic Bank We CARE Awards have again brought to light the quality and variety of volunteer work done by so many companies in our community,” said Bo Henry, Market President of Republic Bank.

“All of us at Republic Bank recognize the employees of the nominated companies, and the winning companies, for the community efforts they put forth that contribute so much to making this such a great place to live and raise our families,” stated Steve Trager, Chairman and CEO of Republic Bank.

“I’m so proud of the way employees of Lexington area companies reach out into our neighborhoods and communities every day,” added WLEX-TV general manager Pat Dalbey. “There’s an obvious growing culture of caring that the Republic Bank We CARE Award is nurturing. I’m particularly impressed with the quality of the employee volunteer efforts made by this year’s winning companies. Central Kentucky is indeed a warm, friendly, giving community and WLEX-TV is proud to be part of recognizing the wonderful spirit of giving represented by these awards.”

Winning companies received a handmade glass sculpture award designed by Ken von Roenn of Kentucky’s Architectural Glass Art, and WLEX-TV will produce and broadcast video vignettes highlighting each winning company.

(Left to Right) Bo Henry, Market President of Republic Bank with Legends Staff, Justin Ball, Stephanie Fish, Seth Poteat, Ty Cobb.

Donald Moore Receives Unsung Community Hero Award

The Joseph M. Bryan Foundation announced Thursday that Donald Moore, President and General Manager of the Greensboro Grasshoppers, earned its 2010 Unsung Community Hero Award.

The Bryan Foundation awards this honor annually in recognition of individuals who have made significant contributions to the community, but whose good works are not widely recognized.

“I am extremely humbled to have been selected from amongst my peers for this prestigious distinction,” said Moore. “As a life-long resident of Greensboro, I have tremendous passion for this community and the potential that it holds.”

Carole Bruce, a member of the board of directors of the Bryan Foundation, presented the award to Moore during the Bryan Foundation’s annual luncheon and meeting, with his family and staff present.

As part of the award, the Bryan Foundation will give $25,000 to the Atlantic Coast Conference in Moore’s honor to be used on behalf of the ACC Baseball Tournament that will be hosted in May at NewBridge Bank Park.

Under his leadership, the Hoppers have welcomed over 2.1 million fans in their first five seasons, becoming the only Class A team in the history of Minor League Baseball to draw over 400,000 fans and grow its attendance four straight years in a new ballpark.

The Grasshoppers were the proud recipients of the South Atlantic League’s Club Merit Award four of the past five years, with Donald garnering additional accolades as the league’s General Manager of the Year Award in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.  Baseball America honored Moore and the Grasshoppers with the prestigious Bob Freitas Award for the Single-A level in 2008.

Moore has created several college scholarship funds, including the Bill Lee Memorial Scholarship and the Charlie Harville Memorial Scholarship. He currently sits on the board of The Bryan Family YMCA, The Guilford County Sports Hall of Fame, Downtown Greensboro, Inc., and is President-Elect of the Greensboro Sports Council.

Phillies Honored with Community Service Award

The Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce awarded the Phillies organization with the first-ever Phillies “All-Star In The Community” Award this past Thursday night at the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce annual dinner. The award has been designated to honor those that show overall commitment to the local community as well as support for its businesses.

Accepting the achievement was Philadelphia Phillies President and CEO David Montgomery and Director of Florida Operations John Timberlake. The Phillies are set to begin their 64th year of spring training in Clearwater and have built strong ties in the local community.

This past year, the Phillies along with the Threshers have contributed to over 75 charities and events. It was because of this that the Chamber of Commerce decided to not only award the organization, but to name the award in their honor. The award will not be given out yearly, but on merit to organizations or businesses that meet the criteria as set by the Phillies.

The Threshers will continue to donate and work with charities this season through various promotions and events such as Bark at the Ballpark, where fans can bring their dogs to Bright House Field to raise money for the Humane Society of Pinellas County and Pitch for Pink night on August 6th which will benefit Morton Plant Mease breast cancer programs.

Link to original article by Adrian Martinez

Bees Receive ASA Award

Salt-Lake-Bees-LogoThe Salt Lake Bees have been named the recipient of the 2009 American Spirit Award (ASA) in an announcement made today by the United States Air Force.

The club will be presented the award by Col. Michael Brice, Vice Commander of the Air Force Recruiting Service, on Saturday, August 22 following the Bees game and prior to the fireworks show.

US-Air-Force-LogoThe ASA is the United States Air Force Recruiting Service’s highest form of recognition, designed to recognize civilians or civilian organizations that have consistently displayed obvious and continual support of Air Force recruiting efforts and exhibition of patriotism and service to our country.

“We are honored to receive this award and appreciate the recognition from the United States Air Force,” said Bees General Manager Marc Amicone.  “The Bees have always been strong supporters of the men and women of our nation’s armed services and we will continue our part in honoring the sacrifices for freedom given on our behalf.”

The Bees are recognized for the club’s effort during the 2009 season including Military Appreciation Night on May 29 and the Airman’s Opener on June 1 to kick off 2009 Air Force Week in Salt Lake City.

Highlights of the Airman’s Opener included a KC-135 Tanker and four F-16 fighter aircraft fly-by over the ballpark and a Wings of Blue parachute drop to present the game ball.

“The Salt Lake Bees’ tremendous support has given us the opportunity to inform and educate the American public about their Air Force. In turn, that support has opened doors to many American youth, allowing them to serve their country in the world’s greatest Air Force,” said Col. Brice.  “I am looking forward to presenting this prestigious award to a great community partner Saturday evening.”

This is a first-time award for the Bees and the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies. The Bees are also just the second Triple-A baseball team to ever receive an ASA.

The first ever American Spirit Award was presented in the fall of 1980 to entertainment legend Bob Hope. Other well known recipients of the ASA include Dolly Parton, Jerry Reinsdorf, Paul Harvey, Rudolph Giuliani, the St. Louis Cardinals and the Indianapolis Colts.