Michelin Reading All-Stars Celebration on Tuesday

The Greenville Drive and Michelin are teaming up to host the Reading All-Stars Celebration Game for Spartanburg, Anderson and Pickens Counties on Tuesday, May 2nd at Fluor Field.

First pitch for the game is at 7:05 PM, and the celebration starts at 6:00 with a pregame parade for Reading All-Stars from those counties, a commemorative Michelin Reading All-Stars t-shirt for each student, and a Book Fair courtesy of Public Education Partners.

Throughout the game, Reading All-Stars will participate in several between-innings games, and the Drive will induct new schools into the Reading All-Stars Hall of Fame for their excellence in the program throughout the years.

To purchase tickets for Tuesday’s game, stop by the Main Street Box Office, call (864) 240-4528 or CLICK HERE.

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

Michelin Reading All-Stars Celebrated on Monday

The Greenville Drive and Michelin will recognize the Reading All-Stars for Greenville County on Monday, April 24th. First pitch for the game against the Greensboro Grasshoppers is at 7:05 PM, and the celebration will begin as the gates open at 6:00.

Students will be rewarded for their hard work in their reading programs this school year with a commemorative Reading All-Stars t-shirt, a pregame parade around Fluor Field at 6:30 PM, and participation in a Public Education Partners Book Fair.

During the game, high-achieving schools in the Reading All-Stars program over the last several years will be inducted into the Reading All-Stars Hall of Fame.

To purchase tickets for Monday’s game, stop by the Main Street Box Office, call (864) 240-4528 or CLICK HERE.

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

Go Bowling with the PawSox on June 7th

The Pawtucket Red Sox are very excited to announce we will once again be hosting a BOWLING EVENT to raise money for the TOMORROW FUND…the PAWSOX STRIKE OUT CANCER event will be held on Wednesday, June 7, 2017 from 6:00pm – 9:00pm at EAST PROVIDENCE LANES on 80 Newport Avenue, East Providence, RI 02916.

For only $25.00 per person you receive, bowling shoes, food, and a chance to bowl with some PawSox Players!! Our live and silent auctions also provide great opportunities to win special Red Sox and PawSox memorabilia, along with other unique prizes.

The net proceeds will benefit THE TOMORROW FUND…the only local nonprofit organization that provides financial and emotional support to children with cancer and their families. So if you would like to bowl and have some fun, then please mail a check, made payable to the PawSox Foundation, and indicate how many people will be bowling and their names!

Please send your donation to:

Pawtucket Red Sox Baseball Club

McCoy Stadium, P.O. Box 2365

Pawtucket, RI 02861.

We look forward to seeing you and to bowling a STRIKE AGAINST CANCER!!

CLICK HERE TO PRINT SIGN-UP FORM

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

Fluor in the Community Night on April 11th

The Drive will host Fluor Community Night on Tuesday, April 11th with a 7:05 PM first pitch against the Lexington Legends.

Since 2008, Fluor Field has been a staple of the downtown Greenville community with Fluor Corporation and the Drive partnering together to drive positive change throughout the region. This special evening will showcase Fluor’s commitment to the Upstate and shine a light on the great work Fluor employees are doing to make our region a better place to live.

Tickets can be purchased for Fluor Community night at the Main Street Box Office, by calling (864) 240-4528 or by CLICKING HERE.

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

Safe Kids Upstate Day is Sunday at Fluor Field

On Sunday, April 9th, the Drive will host Safe Kids Upstate Day at Fluor Field. First pitch against the Delmarva Shorebirds is set for 4:05 PM, and kids will be invited to participate in a pregame parade around Fluor Field starting at 3:30.

During the first two innings of the game, Safe Kids will be giving away bike helmets to kids, and along the concourse, stations will be set up for kids to learn more about Fire Safety, Water Safety and Car Heat Safety. Following the game, kids are invited to stick around for BlueCross BlueShield Kids Run the Bases.

To purchase tickets for Sunday’s game, stop by the Main Street Box Office, call (864) 240-4528 or CLICK HERE.

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

PawSox Foundation to Present “A Veterans Home Run: 5k Walk ‘N Run” on May 20

The Pawtucket Red Sox and the PawSox/Skeffington Charitable Foundation today announced exciting changes to their annual 5K Walk ‘N Run, which this year will take place on Saturday, May 20th at 9:30 am with the route both starting and finishing at McCoy Stadium. An earlier time of year (the race was held Labor Day weekend the past five years), a revamped course which will now take runners by downtown Pawtucket, and an enhanced partnership with area veterans are among the new highlights for this popular event.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

The revitalized PawSox Foundation, now in its 18th year, has worked closely with both Operation Stand Down RI and 21 Heroes among other veterans organizations. Proceeds from the race will benefit the Foundation’s veterans initiatives. Operation Stand Down serves the Ocean State’s 67,800 veterans and their families while 21 Heroes was established to honor the 21 soldiers from Pawtucket who lost their lives in the Vietnam War. A 21 Heroes memorial dedication will take place the day after the 5K on Sunday, May 21 at Slater Park capping off an historic weekend for veterans causes in Pawtucket.

“We are so pleased to work with the wonderful people from Operation Stand Down and with Terry Nau of 21 Heroes to honor and give something back to the many amazing Rhode Island veterans and their families,” said PawSox Senior Vice President/Club Counsel Kim Miner, who also runs the PawSox Foundation. “In our ongoing effort to build on the PawSox legacy of celebrating our veterans, we were especially pleased to introduce a nightly ‘In Debt to a Vet’ salute during each game at McCoy Stadium last year and that tradition will continue this season.”

One of the premier road races in the area, the PawSox Foundation 5K will start from the McCoy Stadium parking lot, weave through the streets of downtown Pawtucket, and eventually finish at home plate on the McCoy playing field. This new and improved route will help showcase the beautiful riverfront and other reinvigorated areas of the Pawtucket downtown.

“Our veterans and those currently serving in the armed services give so much to us to ensure that our freedom and the American Dream endure,” said Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien. “Partnering to promote causes to support our veterans is the least that we can do. Thank you to the PawSox Foundation for working with our local organizations and investing in our community. And thank you to Operation Stand Down and Heroes 21 for ensuring that our veterans are never left behind.”

The race is sponsored by National Grid, Planet Fitness, W.B. Mason, and Coast 93.3. The first 500 participants who register on pawsox.com will receive a free race t-shirt. Pre-registration is $25 per person, and teams of 10 or more will be just $20 per person. On the day of the race, registration will open at 7:30 am and the cost will be $30.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the winners. Festivities will continue after the race with food and entertainment in the PawSox Party Tent area at McCoy. All participants will also receive tickets to the PawSox game on May 23 vs. Louisville at 6:05 pm, and will be invited to take part in a pre-game on-field parade and award ceremony that evening.

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

Drive and Blood Connection Team Up on Thursday

The Greenville Drive and The Blood Connection are teaming up to host a blood drive at Fluor Field on Thursday, March 30th between 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM. The Blood Connection buses will be set up at the Main Street gate.

Those who donate will receive complimentary rewards, including a Drive/Blood Connection t-shirt, a pair of vouchers good for any Sunday-Thursday Drive home game in 2017, and a hot dog plate with chips and a drink.

Every time you donate blood, you could save up to three lives, so come on out to Fluor Field on March 30th to support The Blood Connection.

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

Sea Dogs Community Week March 6th-10th

Portland, Maine- The Portland Sea Dogs have designated the week of March 6th-10th as Sea Dogs Community Week. Throughout the week, the Sea Dogs will donate a portion of the ticket sales to local non-profit organizations.

The Sea Dogs have teamed-up with five local non-profit organizations for the week. Each day throughout the week will benefit one of the five non-profit organizations. The Sea Dogs will be donating $3.00 from every ticket sold to that day’s selected non-profit organization.

Tickets can be purchased at the Hadlock Field ticket office, by phone at 207-879-9500, or online at www.seadogs.com. Individual tickets, group tickets, and new season tickets are all eligible as part of the offer, but must be paid in full that day.

“This is an excellent opportunity for our fans to get tickets and support a local charity at the same time,” stated Sea Dogs Executive Vice President & General Manager Geoff Iacuessa. “The Sea Dogs are committed to being an integral part of the community and are happy to give back to those organizations that do so much to help the communities in which we live.”

The Sea Dogs open the 2017 season on Thursday, April 6th at 6:00 PM at Hadlock Field against the Reading Fightin Phils.

PawSox Introduce “Paws for a Cause” Community Initiative

The PawSox today announced a 2017 community initiative to give Rhode Island charities the opportunity to raise awareness at the club’s home games.

“Paws for a Cause” invites area nonprofits to be featured on the field in pre-game ceremonies, to have their key message delivered over the stadium’s communications system, and to have their spokesperson visit the PawSox broadcast booth for an inning during the game. The club plans to welcome a charity at each of its 71 home games.

Mascots Paws and Sox will also participate, and where applicable, will wear the clothing and logos of the charity. The organizations are also invited to distribute literature and address fans’ questions at a table on the Main Concourse at McCoy Stadium.

“We enjoy discovering new ways for baseball to provide a service to our community,” said PawSox President Dr. Charles A. Steinberg. “And as we encounter so many charities that seek to raise awareness, we are pleased to shine our spotlight on them at PawSox Baseball games.”

All accredited 501(c)3 organizations in the PawSox community are welcome to apply. The slots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Requests can be submitted to the PawSox’ head of community relations, Joe Bradlee. His email is jbradlee@pawsox.com.

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

PawSox Deliver Roses and Spread Cheer to Local Seniors

For the second consecutive year, the PawSox delivered roses to local senior citizens in an effort to spread cheer surrounding Valentine’s Day. This year, the PawSox visited the North Attleboro Senior Center, St. Elizabeth Manor in Bristol, and the Darlington Assisted Living Home in Pawtucket.

“Paws made everyone’s day a little brighter,” said Rose Carreiro, Activity Director at St. Elizabeth Manor in Bristol, RI. “The residents were so thrilled with the roses, and we’re excited to see a baseball game at McCoy Stadium this spring.”

“What a joy it is to open hearts, lift spirits, and elicit smiles with something as simple as a flower from a polar bear,” said PawSox President Dr. Charles A. Steinberg. “We are continually amazed and inspired by the power of baseball to enhance the lives of the members of our community.”

In a week where the PawSox mascots have made nearly fifty rose deliveries to fans in the area, the embraceable polar bears once again elicited bright smiles from some of the team’s most passionate fans.

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

Sea Dogs Now Accepting Nominations for William Troubh Community Service Award

Portland, Maine– The Portland Sea Dogs are now accepting nominations for the “William Troubh Community Service Award.” The award recognizes a local citizen who is making a positive impact within the city of Portland. It may be a public employee or private citizen who, through their efforts, makes Portland a great city to live and or work in.

The Sea Dogs established the award to honor Mr. Troubh in April of 2014. Mr. Troubh was a lifelong resident of the city of Portland, who dedicated his life to making Portland a great place to live and work. He served multiple terms on the Portland City Council and was Mayor of the city in 1974 and 1975 and again in 1983 and 1984. Troubh was instrumental in bringing the Portland Sea Dogs to the city in 1994. He also played a major role in the development of the Portland Waterfront, Cumberland County Civic Center and the Portland Ice Arena, now named in his honor. His contributions will be enjoyed by residents and visitors of the city for generations to come.

Additionally, Mr. Troubh was a passionate baseball fan. He stayed involved after his key role in helping to bring the Sea Dogs to Portland, serving as the team’s legal counsel and served six years as President of the Eastern League from 1997 through 2002. On most summer nights Troubh could be found at Hadlock Field enjoying a Sea Dogs game with family and friends. He was inducted into the Portland Sea Dogs Hall of Fame in 2010.

Nominations must be received by Friday, March 17th. Online nomination forms are available at www.seadogs.com. On the nomination form, people will be asked to describe the actions their nominee takes to make Portland a great place to live and work. Nominations may also be mailed to:

Portland Sea Dogs
ATTN: William Troubh Community Service Award
271 Park Avenue
Portland, ME 04102

When submitting a nomination please also include your contact information.

The winner will be announced and honored in a pre-game ceremony on Saturday, May 6th when the Sea Dogs host the Reading Fightin Phils at 1:00 PM at Hadlock Field.

Past winners include John Menario in 2015 and Roger Goodoak from the Maine Maine Homeless Veteran’s Alliance in 2016.

PawSox Create New Pawtucket Mentoring Program with Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership

The Pawtucket Red Sox and the Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership today announced a collaboration to provide mentors to Pawtucket children at nearby Agnes E. Little Elementary School. The program, announced during National Mentoring Month, features members of the PawSox front office providing their time and attention to third-graders.

In addition, the PawSox Foundation will serve as a Silver Sponsor of the Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership’s signature fundraiser, “Dancing with the Stars of Mentoring,” on Thursday evening, April 27, at the Rhodes of Pawtuxet.

“At the RI Mentoring Partnership, our work is all about relationships,” said Jo-Ann Schofield, President and CEO of the Partnership. “We are excited to support the mentoring relationships that will be formed between the PawSox staff and the students at Agnes E. Little Elementary School by coordinating this new mentoring program. The need for mentors is great, and we are hopeful this amazing example set by the PawSox will encourage other community-minded organizations to ‘step up to the plate’ for mentoring.”

“This latest initiative with RI Mentoring Partnership is another example of the true partnership that currently exists between the Pawtucket School District and the PawSox organization,” said Patti DiCenso, Pawtucket School District Superintendent. “It is a shining example of their dedication to providing our students with the positive influences and influential relationships needed to develop into focused students and model citizens.”

“Our interaction with children is rejuvenating,” said PawSox President Dr. Charles A. Steinberg. “Even though adults are considered the teachers, we realize that we are the ones learning from our students. The members of the PawSox front office eagerly embrace this opportunity to spend an hour or so each week to fortify a child’s belief in his or her dreams.

“In addition to our hands-on mentoring, we are pleased that the PawSox Foundation will be a Silver Sponsor of ‘Dancing with the Stars of Mentoring’ in the spring. This fundraiser is a key component that fuels the successful programs that the Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership operates elsewhere in our state.”

The Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership directly operates programs in five other cites: Warwick, Woonsocket, Newport, Middletown, and Cranston. This program is its first in Pawtucket.

In addition to its own programs, the Partnership supports the services of various mentoring programs statewide that provide more than 4,000 mentors to more than 5,000 students.

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

PawSox to Celebrate Life of Jackie Robinson with High School Student-Athletes from Pawtucket

A group of varsity high school baseball students from Pawtucket will gather in the PawSox home clubhouse this Saturday at noon to celebrate the life of Jackie Robinson. Members of the Shea, Tolman, and St. Raphael Academy baseball programs will all represent their schools and hear stories from Red Sox Hall of Famer Tommy Harper, who will discuss how Jackie Robinson paved the way for other African-American baseball players like himself after breaking Major League Baseball’s color barrier in 1947.

“Jackie Robinson’s life is as relevant today as it ever was,” said PawSox President Dr. Charles Steinberg, who was also instrumental in inaugurating such annual tributes with the Boston Red Sox. “What better way to celebrate Black History Month than to learn the stories, first-hand, of how Jackie Robinson’s courage paved the way for today’s children to be able to dream their dreams, and to pursue those dreams?

“It’s probably inconceivable to children today that there was a time when Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley, Jr., David Ortiz, or Pedro Martinez would not have been allowed to play Major League Baseball. We have a responsibility to teach our children of the heroic courage demonstrated by Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson. Our lives have been so enriched by their fight to right a wrong.”

Robinson would have turned 98 this Tuesday, January 31, the eve of Black History Month. Commissioner Emeritus Allan H. (Bud) Selig made Robinson’s 42 the first number ever retired by every club in Major League Baseball.

Later, at the suggestion of Ken Griffey, Jr., Selig instituted the tradition that all MLB players wear the number each April 15, the anniversary of Robinson’s big league debut.

Although remaining space is limited, community organizers who would like to bring students can contact Joe Bradlee of the PawSox at jbradlee@pawsox.com. Media interested in attending can contact pr@pawsox.com.

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

Sea Dogs to Hold Food Drive

Portland, Maine– The Portland Sea Dogs, in partnership with Maine’s Credit Unions, will hold their 17th annual Food Drive which will run from Monday, January 23rd through Friday, February 3rd. All the collected food items will be donated to the Good Shepherd Food Bank.

As in the past, this year’s food drive will be “Buy One, Bring One, Get One.” For every ticket purchased and every donated food item you bring, you will receive a free Sea Dogs ticket to the same game. For example, if you buy three tickets to the June 18th game and bring in three food items, you will receive three additional complimentary tickets of equal or lesser value to the June 18th game. The offer is good for Box Seats, Reserved, General Admission, and Pavilion seating; subject to availability.

Fans may take advantage of this offer by bringing their non-perishable food items to the Hadlock Field Box Office. The Sea Dogs Ticket Office is open Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

“In addition to raising funds for Ending Hunger, through the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger, Maine’s credit unions are committed to raising awareness and supporting ending hunger efforts in a variety of other ways. We are pleased to again partner with the Sea Dogs to help make this happen. Since 1990, Maine’s credit unions have raised more than $7 million to help end hunger in Maine, but hunger remains a significant issue in the state, and we are committed to doing all that we can to help,” said John Murphy, President of the Maine CU League.

Each year the Sea Dogs have been able to donate hundreds of food items to the Good Shepherd Food Bank thanks to the generosity of Sea Dogs’ fans.

The Sea Dogs open the 2017 season on Thursday, April 6th at 6:00 PM at Hadlock Field against the Reading Fightin Phils. Tickets for all 2017 home games are now on sale and can be ordered by calling the Sea Dogs ticket office at 207-879-9500 or online at www.seadogs.com. Book your nine-inning vacation today.

What Does $100,000 Really Mean?

Some baseball numbers are filled with meaning.  For Red Sox fans, Number 8, Number 9, and Number 34 are like pictures–they’re worth a thousand words.

Other baseball numbers signify well-known stories, such as 714, 755, and 2131.

But the stories behind some numbers are not self-evident.  They need to be told.

When the PawSox revealed at year-end that their foundation had crossed the $100,000 mark in commitments and contributions, some eyes may have been dazzled, yet some eyes may have glazed over.

Exactly what does such a number mean?

It means that the dreams of a bright, elegant, 13-year old girl at Pawtucket’s Slater Junior High School received a big boost.  Charlisa Kollie aspires to be a pediatrician, and her academic aptitude and palpable compassion have her teachers believing in her.

And on November 4 of this past year, the daunting task of affording a college education became a tad easier–or $10,000 easier.  Charlisa is one of two inaugural students in the PawSox Scholars program.

So is Ethan Hoke, a 14-year-old at Calcutt Middle School in Central Falls.  With an essay demonstrating an exceptional love of his town, he offered an array of specific, common-sense suggestions to improve the quality of life where he lives. With uncanny wisdom, he noted that the smallest improvements can inspire community momentum.  

Exactly.

One good deed begets another.

Two children, two scholarships, two lives impacted.  Yet like the ripples of a pond when a stone is tossed, the number of people touched can be much more.

That understanding was evident in the eyes of Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien and Central Falls Mayor James Diossa, who saw in these two children one simple, powerful word:  hope.

Rhode Island is blessed with philanthropies and philanthropists whose donations may have more zeroes, and we are all grateful.  The PawSox Foundation may not yet be among the largest in the state, but we embrace our role in making relatively modest donations that help some families and inspire others.

When we made a Veterans Day donation to Operation Stand Down, I wished we had more to give than the $3,000 contribution.  When I said as much to Governor Gina Raimondo, who was standing by my side, she turned to me with a serious look in her eye and asserted that every dollar helps.

The Governor is right.

The veterans were so grateful, as they were the night before, when we hosted a dinner for them in the PawSox Clubhouse.  And as they were, when one by one, a veteran would take the field between innings, all summer long, to feel the emotional impact of a standing ovation of gratitude.  Indeed, we are all “In Debt to a Vet.”

While the PawSox’ partners have made many of the charitable donations to fund our foundation, our corporate partners and our fans have done so as well–sometimes in a particularly fun way.

When moms and dads purchase soft baseballs that their children eagerly toss towards (and occasionally into) the sunroof of a Honda SUV as it circles the field between innings, their good deeds lead to more good deeds. Those dollars are part of $10,000 for the Tomorrow Fund at Hasbro Children’s Hospital. 

The brutal battle waged by courageous innocent children facing cancer is accompanied by additional trauma and turmoil for their families.  Lives change with the diagnosis.  In many cases, work stops.  Cooking stops.  Carpools stop. There is nothing a parent won’t do to save a child’s life–and therefore, everything else may be put on hold.

To the rescue:  the Tomorrow Fund.

Perhaps those dollars are buying dinner.  Perhaps they are paying rent.  Perhaps they are saving more lives than we know.  

Perhaps, as our 14-year-old sage, Ethan Hoke, suggested, those dollars are creating community momentum.  

Perhaps they are providing hope.

As we build our foundation, and as our numbers grow, we hope to touch as many Rhode Island families as we can.

Maybe the zeroes in the numbers will dazzle.  More importantly, maybe the dreams that are funded will make our towns and our state an even better place to live.

We look forward to enhancing our impact–and to performing even more good deeds–in 2017 and beyond, thanks to the beautiful power of baseball.

Happy New Year to you all.

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