2014 NYPL Scholarship Contest

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The Class-A Short-Season New York-Penn League and its member clubs are proud to announce that the league’s philanthropic arm, the NYPL Charitable Foundation, will once again award over $10,000 in scholarships this summer to deserving high school graduates from the league’s 14 markets.

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Now in its sixth year, the 2014 NYPL Scholarship Contest is open to any graduating senior from a public or private high school within the league’s footprint. Any student who has been accepted at a two or four-year college or university, vocational school, or technical education institution is eligible. Applicants will be judged based on academic performance, volunteer and extracurricular activities, and the impact their local NYPL club and Minor League Baseball have had on their lives.

The scholarship contest will consist of two stages – a local round and a divisional round. In the local stage, students will apply directly to their local NYPL team, with one applicant chosen by each of the 14 teams to advance to the divisional/final round. The 14 finalists will then be separated by the division of the team they represent. The winning application from each of the NYPL’s three divisions (McNamara, Pinckney and Stedler) will receive the top prize of a $2,500 scholarship. All other finalists will receive a $250 book award.

“The New York-Penn League Charitable Foundation and our 14 member clubs are pleased to have the opportunity to assist outstanding high school seniors within our league’s footprint for the sixth consecutive season,” said Ben J. Hayes, President of the New York-Penn League. “This program will again recognize those seniors who not only meet and exceed traditional scholarship criteria, but demonstrate the positive community impact and lifelong memories fostered by their local NYPL clubs throughout the year.”

High school seniors interested in entering the 2014 Scholarship Contest can obtain the official application from their local NYPL club, or by visiting the league’s official website, New York-Penn League.com.

The deadline to submit applications to the nearest NYPL team is June 27, 2014. Each club’s winner, including the three $2,500 scholarship recipients, will be selected in late July and honored at a game in August.

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The New York-Penn League and its 14 member clubs created the New York-Penn League Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, in 2003. The mission of the Foundation is to provide focus and support for the collective and individual charitable and community efforts of the New York-Penn League, its Clubs, and their staff.

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

MCU AND CYCLONES TO OFFER FREE YOUTH CLINICS

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Municipal Credit Union (MCU) is launching the first MCU Youth Baseball and Softball Clinic Series. The Clinics, which are open to children 7 – 14 years of age, will be held on Monday, June 23, Wednesday, July 16 and Monday, August 4 at MCU Park before the Brooklyn Cyclones baseball games. The Youth Baseball and Softball Clinic Series is part of MCU’s corporate commitment to giving back to the communities in which it serves, in particular the youth of the community.

John Franco, MCU spokesperson and Mets Hall of Fame Pitcher, will be the Head Coach of the Clinics. Current Cyclones players, area high school coaches and players, and other special guests will also serve as volunteers to coach Clinic participants.

Youth participating in the Clinics will take part in drills on fielding, running, throwing, and injury prevention/stretching. They will also be able to take part in a question and answer session with volunteer coaches and a photo op with John Franco.

Each participant will also receive four tickets to that evening’s Brooklyn Cyclones game at MCU Park. There is a limit of 100 participants per clinic, and participation will be on a first come, first serve basis.

“I am excited to be part of the MCU Youth Baseball and Softball Clinics this summer. My lifelong dream of playing professional baseball began in Brooklyn, and the instruction and encouragement I received from coaches throughout my career allowed me to live that dream. Being able to give back to the community by teaching young ballplayers the right way to play is something I am honored to do, and I’m so proud to work with MCU and the Brooklyn Cyclones to provide the City’s kids with this invaluable opportunity,” said Franco.

“MCU is proud to host our first annual Youth Clinic series at MCU Park this summer. We are honored to work with the Brooklyn Cyclones and our spokesperson John Franco to provide a unique opportunity for young baseball and softball players to receive professional instruction on a professional field, and we hope that this program could continue to grow as another shining example of the work that we do as an institution to give back to the communities which we serve,” said Kam Wong, President/CEO of Municipal Credit Union.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with MCU for the Youth Baseball and Softball Clinics. As an organization, we pride ourselves on being active members within our community while also helping to grow the game of baseball with young people throughout the city. This program helps accomplish both of those goals, while also providing kids with the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play on the same field that many current major leaguers, including Curtis Granderson and Daniel Murphy, once played on,” said Steve Cohen, Cyclones Vice President.

To participate in any of the Clinics, individuals must sign up at www.nymcu.org/youthclinics or CLICK HERE.

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

LITTLE KIDS, BIG STARS PROGRAM NEW FOR 2014

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Brooklyn, NY – March 24th – Spring is finally here, and that means baseball season can’t be far behind. After the winter we’ve had, little leaguers throughout the city are chomping at the bit to get back on the field and throw baseballs instead of snow balls. With that in mind, the Brooklyn Cyclones have introduced the all-new “Little Kids, Big Stars” Program to highlight the best and brightest in youth baseball and softball from the five boroughs and Long Island.

Saturday, April 12th and running through Saturday, June 7th, coaches can nominate one player from their team every week by visiting BrooklynCyclones.com. Every week, the Cyclones will pick five winners from those submitted who will be named the “Little Kids, Big Stars” of the week.

“We are really excited for this new program,” said Cyclones Vice President Steve Cohen. “It is designed to recognize those children who truly have a passion for the game. This year MCU Park will host the New York-Penn League All-Star Game, so we thought it was a great opportunity to highlight the all-stars from not just the NYPL but from youth baseball and softball leagues all across the Metropolitan area.”

What makes a Big Star? The program is open to boys and girls between the ages of five and fourteen, and winners will be selected based on the following criteria:

  • Passion for baseball / softball.
  • Sportsmanship.
  • Serves as a leader on the team.
  • Positive attitude.
  • Helpful to coaches and teammates.
  • Skilled on the field of play.

The team program isn’t looking to highlight just the best players from around the city, but instead, looking to highlight the best examples of what it means to have a passion for the game of baseball/softball.

Each of the winners will receive an exclusive invitation to a baseball clinic with Cyclones players and coaches, tickets and on-field recognition prior to our June 29th game vs. Staten Island, access to the field for Cyclones Batting Practice, a chance to throw out a first pitch, a commemorative t-shirt and recognition in the Cyclones 2014 game program.

To submit your nominations — CLICK HERE.

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

DIVERSITY DAY ON CONEY ISLAND – AUGUST 19th

Brooklyn NY, August 14, 2013 – Last week, vandals defaced the statue of Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese, located outside MCU Park in Coney Island with hateful words and symbols which have since been removed. In light of these recent events, the Cyclones and Alliance for Coney Island will join together with community leaders to host Diversity Day in Coney Island, for what will be a historic doubleheader on Monday, August 19th in conjunction with the Coney Island Flicks on the Beach screening of “42” later in the evening

Prior to the Brooklyn Cyclones taking on the Staten Island Yankees in a doubleheader beginning at 5:30 PM, the Cyclones, along with The Jackie Robinson Foundation, The Jackie Robinson Little League, Major League Baseball and other local community leaders will host a rededication ceremony for the Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese statue, which stands as a monument to these men of “courage and conviction” as engraved on the base of the statue which was originally erected in November 2005.

“The events of last week were both heartbreaking and incomprehensible” said Cyclones General Manager Steve Cohen. “But we are trying to turn the negative and disgusting actions of one person into a night of unity and understanding for an entire community. Over 60 years ago Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese stood resolute in the face of bigotry and hatred, and in a much smaller way we are trying to do the same thing.”

Following the ceremony and baseball game, there will be a special screening of the Warner Bros. movie “42” as part of the “Flicks on the Beach” Series presented by Alliance for Coney Island, Rooftop Films and NYC & Company. Guests will be invited to watch the critically-acclaimed film on a 40-foot screen on the sand of Coney Island near West 10th Street.

“We are proud to be screening the monumental film ‘42’ which provides a biography of Brooklyn hero Jackie Robinson. A silver lining to this offensive act is that Coney Island can band together and commemorate Robinson’s legacy during Diversity Day, and celebrate the strength of our community and the history of Brooklyn,” said Johanna Zaki, Alliance for Coney Island Director of Operations.

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

CITY HARVEST COLLECTION – AUGUST 13th

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Join us at MCU Park on Wednesday, August 13th as we collect food for City Harvest at the front gates of the ballpark.  Fans are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food donation to the ballpark and will receive a raffle ticket in exchange for their donation.  Those who donate will be eligible for  prizes including signed items, $50 gift cards from MCU and more.

Can’t make it to the park?  You can still donate to the virtual food drive HERE .  A $20 donation feeds 11 people for a week.

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