Minor League Teams Across Carolinas Unite For Storm Relief

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – In the wake of Hurricane Florence that hit and devastated parts of South Carolina and much of North Carolina over the past week, thirteen Minor League Baseball teams in the two states are coming together to support and raise money for those victims in their states. The Asheville Tourists, Burlington Royals, Carolina Mudcats, Charleston RiverDogs, Charlotte Knights, Columbia Fireflies, Down East Wood Ducks, Durham Bulls, Greensboro Grasshoppers, Hickory Crawdads, Kannapolis Intimidators, Myrtle Beach Pelicans and Winston-Salem Dash announced today that they have created a joint GoFundMe page, raising funds for branches of the American Red Cross in affected areas of North Carolina and South Carolina.

The thirteen-­‐‑team dual state alliance will work together to maximize fundraising efforts across the state, utilizing the hashtag: #CarolinaStrong.

A State of Emergency was issued on September 7 by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and on September 8 for South Carolina by Governor Henry McMaster. More than 1 million people were told to evacuate coastal areas in the two states. President Trump declared a State of Emergency in the Carolinas on September 10. A day later FEMA announced that federal emergency aid would be made available.   As of Thursday, 37 deaths had been reported due to Florence with 27 confirmed in North Carolina and eight in South Carolina.

Both states have received unprecedented rainfall and flooding from a tropical cyclone, and hundreds of miles of roads were closed in each state. North Carolina Department of Public Safety is reminding residents to stay alert for continued flooding, power outages, and downed trees. Though evacuation orders have been lifted for the coastal regions of South Carolina, Florence’s aftermath has already begun to flood parts of the state while other areas remain on high alert for flooding in the coming days. Even this morning, Florence County issued a mandatory evacuation for several areas due to severe flooding.

“We’ve seen time and again that the residents of North and South Carolina are strong and resilient. In difficult times we stand by one another and lift up those in need. This time won’t be any different,” said the General Managers of the 13 MiLB teams in a joint statement. “Our teams are an integral part of the fabric of the community within our respective cities across North and South Carolina. While most days we operate as separate organizations, today we band together to support the citizens of these two great states.”

Those wishing to contribute can head to the #CarolinaStrong GoFundMe page at the following link: http://bit.ly/GoFundCarolinaStrong. All funds raised through this campaign will be donated to the American Red Cross in affected areas of North Carolina and South Carolina.

ABOUT THE ASHEVILLE TOURISTS: They are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Colorado Rockies and play their home games at McCormick Field in Asheville, North Carolina. Their General Manager is Larry Hawkins. For more information on the Tourists please call (828) 258-0428.

ABOUT THE BURLINGTON ROYALS: They are the Rookie affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and play their home games at Burlington Athletic Stadium in Burlington, North Carolina. Their General Manager is Mikie Morrison. For more information please call (336) 222-0223.

ABOUT THE CAROLINA MUDCATS: They are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers and play their home games at Five County Stadium in Zebulon, North Carolina. Their General Manager is Joe Kremer. For more information please call (919) 269-2278.

ABOUT THE CHARLESTON RIVERDOGS: They are the Class A affiliate of the New York Yankees and play their home games at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park in Charleston, South Carolina. Their General Manager is Dave Echols. For more information please call (843) 723-7241.

ABOUT THE CHARLOTTE KNIGHTS: They are the Class AAA affiliate of the Chicago White Sox and play their home games at BB&T Ballpark in Charlotte, North Carolina. Their General Manager is Rob Egan. For more information please call (704) 274-8300.

ABOUT THE COLUMBIA FIREFLIES: They are the Class A affiliate of the New York Mets and play their home games at Spirit Communications Park in Columbia, South Carolina. Their President is John Katz. For more information please call (803) 726-4487.

ABOUT THE DOWN EAST WOOD DUCKS: They are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Texas Rangers and play their home games at Grainger Stadium in Kinston, North Carolina. Their General Manager is Wade Howell. For more information please call (252) 686-5172.

ABOUT THE DURHAM BULLS: They are the Class AAA affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays and play their home games at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, North Carolina. Their Vice President-Baseball Operations is Mike Birling. For more information please call (919) 687-6500.

ABOUT THE GREENSBORO GRASSHOPPERS: They are the Class A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates and play their home games at First National Bank Field in Greensboro, North Carolina. Their Vice President of Baseball Operations is Katie Dannemiller. For more information please call (336) 268-2255.

ABOUT THE HICKORY CRAWDADS: They are the Class A affiliate of the Texas Rangers and play their home games at L.P. Frans Stadium in Hickory, North Carolina. Their General Manager is Mark Seaman. For more information please call (828) 332-3000.

ABOUT THE KANNAOPLIS INTIMIDATORS: They are the Class A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox and play their home games at Intimidators Stadium in Kannapolis, North Carolina. Their President/General Manager is Brian Radle. For more information please call (704) 932-3267.

ABOUT THE MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS: They are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs and play their home games at TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Their General Manager is Ryan Moore. For more information please call (843) 918-6000.

ABOUT THE WINSTON-SALEM DASH: They are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago White Sox and play their home games at BB&T Ballpark in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Their Vice President of Baseball Operations is Ryan Manuel. For more information please call (336) 714-2287.

Knights Announce 2015 Scholarships with Founding Partners

From L-R -- 2014 Charlotte Knights Healthcare Scholarship recipients: Adam Miranda (NC State), Xena Nguyen (UNC - Chapel Hill), Sarah York (Wake Forest) and Homer the Dragon.
From L-R — 2014 Charlotte Knights Healthcare Scholarship recipients: Adam Miranda (NC State), Xena Nguyen (UNC – Chapel Hill), Sarah York (Wake Forest) and Homer the Dragon.

Charlotte-Knights-2014The Charlotte Knights are once again teaming up with two of their founding partners to provide educational funding through two unique scholarships for high school students. The Charlotte Knights Healthcare Scholarship, presented by Carolinas HealthCare System, along with the Charlotte Knights STEM Scholarship Program, presented by Piedmont Natural Gas, each represent the team’s focus on community initiatives.

“We are excited to once again team with Carolinas HealthCare System and Piedmont Natural Gas on these very important scholarships for local high school students,” said Chris Semmens, Charlotte Knights vice president of sales. “Supporting education is one of our primary goals and we look forward to working with our founding partners to help local students prepare for successful careers.”

The Knights and Carolinas HealthCare System began their partnership in 2013 with the Charlotte Knights Healthcare Scholarship program. That season, the Knights honored high school students John Dock Tallent (Appalachian State University), Gisele Bailey (Harvard University) and Stephanie Smith (UNC – Chapel Hill) as the inaugural recipients of the Charlotte Knights Healthcare Scholarship program presented by Carolinas HealthCare System. Last season, three more high school students were awarded a $1,000 scholarship each — Adam Miranda (NC State), Sarah York (Wake Forest), and Xena Nguyen (UNC – Chapel Hill).

In an effort to improve educational funding for high school students who are interested in pursuing a career in health care, the Charlotte Knights and Carolinas HealthCare System will once again provide three $1,000 college scholarships to local high school seniors in 2015.

“Carolinas HealthCare System’s vision is to lead the transformation of health care delivery and a key part of that effort is attracting the next generation of motivated, creative health care professionals,” said Carol Lovin, Executive Vice President of Carolinas HealthCare System. “Partnering with the Charlotte Knights to provide these scholarships is a great way to help turn that vision into reality.”

The Knights and Piedmont Natural Gas also will award three $1,000 college scholarships to high school seniors from the Charlotte region who plan to attend college and pursue studies in the STEM disciplines of science, technology, engineering or math. Last year, Piedmont and the Knights awarded three $1,000 scholarships to students attending college within Piedmont’s service territories in North and South Carolina. The three winners of the inaugural scholarship were EmmaLee Apple (Alamance Community College), James Reynolds (Bob Jones University), and Cody Wright (Guilford Technical Community College).

“STEM education is a focus area for Piedmont Natural Gas, and we are happy to join the Knights in offering these scholarships to students in the Charlotte region,” said Timothy Greenhouse, managing director of community relations for Piedmont Natural Gas. “Piedmont will continue to support programs like this that expand educational opportunities in our communities.”

The Carolinas HealthCare System scholarships will be awarded during an on-field ceremony at BB&T Ballpark on Tuesday, July 21, while the Piedmont Natural Gas scholarships will be awarded during an on-field ceremony on Thursday, July 23.

More details about each of the scholarships, along with applications to apply, guidelines and more, are now available at charlotteknights.com. All applications must be emailed to scholarships@charlotteknights.com or mailed to Charlotte Knights Annual Scholarship at 324 South Mint St., Charlotte, NC 28202. All applications must be postmarked by May 1, 2015.

* 2015 Charlotte Knights Healthcare Scholarship Application
* 2015 Charlotte Knights STEM Scholarship Application

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

Charlotte Business Journal Honors Knights & BB&T Ballpark With Two Awards

The Knights welcomed 696,601 fans through the gates in 2014. (Jon Strayhorn)
The Knights welcomed 696,601 fans through the gates in 2014. (Jon Strayhorn)

Charlotte-Knights-2014The Charlotte Business Journal named the Charlotte Knights among their inaugural Heavy Hitters Commercial Real Estate award winners earlier this week. The Knights were honored with the Economic Development Award for New & Existing Industry and the Top Hospitality/Entertainment Development Award. Members of the Charlotte Knights staff will accept the awards on Tuesday, Oct. 28 at The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte.

“We are very honored to be the recipient of these prestigious awards,” said Charlotte Knights Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer Dan Rajkowski. “We are very proud of BB&T Ballpark and very appreciative of the support we have received from the Greater Charlotte Region and our fans throughout our inaugural season.”

The awards honor the best commercial real estate deals and developments across the region from June 30, 2013, to July 1, 2014. The winners were selected by a panel of industry experts working in combination with the Charlotte Business Journal staff.

BB&T Ballpark, which opened its gates on Friday, April 11, 2014, was the most visited Minor League Baseball venue this season. Including the Triple-A National Championship Game, the Knights welcomed 696,601 fans during their inaugural season in Uptown Charlotte — leading all of Minor League Baseball in attendance. The ballpark also welcomes thousands of additional guests year-round with events such as Charlotte BeerFest, the Toshiba trade show, and the City of Charlotte’s Back To School Day.

The Charlotte Knights will begin their second season at BB&T Ballpark on Thursday, April 9 with their 2015 home opener against the Norfolk Tides (Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles). Season tickets are currently available and fans can purchase tickets online at charlotteknights.com, by phone at 704-274-8282, or in person at the BB&T Ballpark Ticket Office.

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

BB&T Ballpark Awarded Prestigious LEED ® Green Building Certification

CharlotteKnights_2014-09-04
LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices.

Charlotte-Knights-2014The Charlotte Knights announced that BB&T Ballpark has been awarded LEED ® (level of certification). LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices.

“The Knights organization was committed to the LEED certification of the ballpark,” said Gau Gupte, Odell. “The entire team, including the architects, contractors and engineers, focused the goal of being LEED certified from day one. This included energy efficient systems, high performance building envelope design and green material choices and construction processes.”

The LEED rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the foremost program for buildings, homes, and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained and operated for improved environmental and human health performance. More than 58,000 commercial and institutional projects are currently participating in LEED, comprising more than 10.7 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and more than 140 countries.

BB&T Ballpark achieved LEED certification for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions aimed at achieving high performance in: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

“The green building movement offers an unprecedented opportunity to respond to the most-important challenges of our time, including global climate change, dependence on non-sustainable and expensive sources of energy and threats to human health,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. “The work of innovative building projects such as BB&T Ballpark is a fundamental driving force in the green building movement.”

The 2014 inaugural season at BB&T Ballpark was a record-breaking one for the Knights, who led all of Minor League Baseball in attendance with 687,715 fans in 71 games. With 31 sell-out crowds, and an average of 9,686 fans per game, BB&T Ballpark was the most visited ballpark in the country in just its first season.

In anticipation of more interest in the Knights Uptown, Charlotte Knights ownership authorized the creation of a new 501 (c) (3) organization named Knights Charities. The first initiative involved a commemorative brick program installed in phases at BB&T Ballpark’s main gate. Fans responded by investing in hundreds of bricks that netted more than $75,000 to the coffers of Knights Charities.

Knights Charities has already made an impact in the Charlotte community. With help of corporate sponsors, the team has generated more than $70,000. Annual events such as Pink Knights, the Charlotte Knights Golf Classic, and others resulted in more than $35,000. Knights players contributed to the cause with funds raised for runs scored, double plays, and triples.

 

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

Two Peanut-Controlled Nights Set for August

For both games, the Knights will welcome all fans with peanut allergies in Power Alley sections 124-126 for a great night of baseball.
For both games, the Knights will welcome all fans with peanut allergies in Power Alley sections 124-126 for a great night of baseball.

Charlotte-Knights-2014On Wednesday, August 6, the Charlotte Knights will host their first of two “Peanut-Controlled Games” at BB&T Ballpark this season. Fans with peanut allergies will be able cheer on the Knights in the team’s “Peanut-Controlled Zone” where sales of peanuts will be halted in that section and fans will not be allowed to consume peanut products in that area.

“We wanted to make sure that those with peanut allergies have their chance to enjoy a game at BB&T Ballpark this season,” said Knights COO Dan Rajkowski. “Our hope is that these two games will provide those fans and families with peanut allergies a chance for a safe and enjoyable game in Uptown Charlotte.”

Gates open at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 6 as the Knights host the Gwinnett Braves (Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves) in a 7:05 p.m. game. The second of the two games will take place on Sunday, August 24 at 5:05 p.m. at BB&T Ballpark as the Knights host the Norfolk Tides (Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles). Gates open at 4:00 p.m. on August 24.

For both games, the Knights will welcome all fans with peanut allergies in Power Alley sections 124-126 for a great night of baseball. Signage will be present to alert other fans that the area is a “Peanut-Controlled Zone” and no peanuts will be consumed in that area for the duration of the day. For the least peanut-exposed path to the Power Alley sections, fans should enter BB&T Ballpark through the center field gate.

Tickets in the Power Alley sections for each of the “Peanut-Controlled Games” are just $8 in advance and are available by phone at 704-357-8071, online at www.charlotteknights.com, or in person at the BB&T Ballpark Ticket Office. Fans ordering online should use promo code “peanutfree”.

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

Charlotte Knights Announce Scholarship Programs for 2014

CharlotteKnights_2014-02-18

 

(Uptown Charlotte, NC) – A year ago, the Charlotte Knights teamed up with Carolinas HealthCare System and announced an initiative to provide three high school seniors with a $1,000 scholarship each. With the success of Charlotte Knights HealthCare Scholarship Program, presented by Carolinas HealthCare System, the Knights and Carolinas HealthCare System are once again continuing their partnership for 2014. In addition, the Knights are pleased to announce a partnership with one of their founding partners – Piedmont Natural Gas – on another exciting scholarship program. Both scholarships will provide students with educational funding for college.

In an effort to improve educational funding for high school students who are interested in pursuing a career in healthcare, the Charlotte Knights and Carolinas HealthCare System will provide three $1,000 college scholarships to local high school seniors. New for 2014, the Charlotte Knights along with Piedmont Natural Gas, will provide three $1,000 college scholarships to sophomore students attending college in Piedmont Natural Gas’ service territory. This scholarship is for college students who are interested in pursuing a career in Engineering, Business Administration and Environmental Science.

Last year at Knights Stadium, the Knights honored high school students John Dock Tallent, Gisele Bailey, and Stephanie Smith, as the inaugural recipients of the Charlotte Knights HealthCare Scholarship Program presented by Carolinas HealthCare System. This year’s winners will be honored before a game at BB&T Ballpark.

Applications for both the Charlotte Knights Healthcare Scholarship Program, presented by Carolinas HealthCare System, and the Piedmont Natural Gas Scholarship Program, are available at charlotteknights.com. All applications must be emailed to community@charlotteknights.com or mailed to Charlotte Knights Annual Scholarship at 324 South Mint St., Charlotte, NC 28202. All applications must be postmarked by April 4, 2014.

About Carolinas HealthCare System
Carolinas HealthCare System (carolinashealthcare.org), one of the nation’s leading and most innovative healthcare organizations, provides a full spectrum of healthcare and wellness programs throughout North and South Carolina. Its diverse network of care locations includes academic medical centers, hospitals, freestanding emergency departments, physician practices, surgical and rehabilitation centers, home health agencies, nursing homes and behavioral health centers, as well as hospice and palliative care services. Carolinas HealthCare System works to enhance the overall health and wellbeing of its communities through high quality patient care, education and research programs, and numerous collaborative partnerships and initiatives.

About Piedmont Natural Gas
Piedmont Natural Gas is an energy services company primarily engaged in the distribution of natural gas to more than one million residential, commercial, industrial and power generation utility customers in portions of North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, including customers served by municipalities who are wholesale customers. Our subsidiaries are invested in joint venture, energy-related businesses, including unregulated retail natural gas marketing, and regulated interstate natural gas transportation and storage, and regulated intrastate natural gas transportation businesses. More information about Piedmont Natural Gas is available on the Internet at http://www.piedmontng.com/.

The Knights will open BB&T Ballpark on Friday night, April 11 at 7:05 p.m. against the Norfolk Tides. Season tickets, as well as group tickets and partial season ticket plans for the 2014 inaugural season at BB&T Ballpark, are on sale now and can be purchased by phone at (980) 207-0079 or by email at seasonseats@charlotteknights.com. For more information about Charlotte Knights Baseball, log on to www.charlotteknights.com. Uptown Knights are Better Than Ever!

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

Knights Announce 2013 HealthCare Scholarship Award Winners

The winners were honored at the July 19 game at Knights Stadium. (Audrey Stanek/Charlotte Knights)
The winners were honored at the July 19 game at Knights Stadium. (Audrey Stanek/Charlotte Knights)

(Fort Mill, SC) – The Charlotte Knights, Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, and Carolinas HealthCare System, are pleased to announce the names of the three winners of the 2013 Charlotte Knights Healthcare Scholarship Program. The winners are John Dock Tallent, Gisele Bailey, and Stephanie Smith.

The scholarship program is dedicated to providing educational opportunities to the youth in our communities. A $1,000 scholarship has been awarded to the winners to assist them in future academic endeavors. Each of their names will be inscribed on a plaque that will be prominently displayed on the Carolinas HealthCare System Home Run Porch at BB&T Ballpark.

“We are proud to announce such accomplished winners for our first scholarship,” said Knights Vice President of Sales Chris Semmens. “We feel these recipients closely represent the values and mission of the Knights and Carolinas HealthCare System. We look forward to hearing about their future achievements and wish them luck in all their endeavors.”

Brief information about the 2013 Charlotte Knights HealthCare Scholarship Program recipients:

•    John Dock Tallent – Tallent graduated from West Lincoln High School and was ranked #1 in his class. He played varsity golf and was the student body president. Tallent will attend Appalachian State University this fall to pursue a degree in the medical field. John hopes to one day become a doctor.

•    Gisele Bailey – Bailey is a recent graduate of Charlotte Christian High, where she held a 4.9 GPA this year. Also an athlete, Bailey was a varsity basketball player who ranked 27th at her position nationally by ESPN. She is heading to Harvard this fall and will be a member of the Crimson Women’s Basketball team.

•    Stephanie Smith – Smith is a recent graduate of Lake Norman High School. Last summer Stephanie performed research at Davidson College laboratories. She will be attending UNC-Chapel Hill this fall and hopes to become a neurosurgeon. She plans to focus on biomedical engineering, with an emphasis on neuroscience.

The three winners were recently honored at the Charlotte Knights game on Friday, July 19 during a special pre-game on-field ceremony. Dr. Michael Gibbs, Chair of Emergency Medicine, was on hand to present the award to the recipients.

High school seniors enrolled in one of the following North or South Carolina counties: Cabarrus, Catawba, Chester, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lancaster, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Union, or York County, are eligible for the 2014 Charlotte Knights Healthcare Scholarship Program. Applicants must be attending an accredited institution of higher education in the fall of 2014, and will be judged on academic performance; volunteer and community involvement; and sports and extracurricular activities. More information, along with applications, will be available online at charlotteknights.com in the fall.

About Carolinas HealthCare System:
Carolinas HealthCare System (carolinashealthcare.org), one of the nation’s leading and most innovative healthcare organizations, provides a full spectrum of healthcare and wellness programs throughout North and South Carolina. Its diverse network of nearly 800 care locations includes academic medical centers, hospitals, freestanding emergency departments, physician practices, surgical and rehabilitation centers, home health agencies, nursing homes and behavioral health centers, as well as hospice and palliative care services. CHS works to improve and enhance the overall health and wellbeing of its communities through high quality patient care, education and research programs, and numerous collaborative partnerships and initiatives.

Tickets for the 2013 season are on sale now and can be purchased in person at Knights Stadium, by phone at 704-357-8071 ext. 2106, or online at www.charlotteknights.com. Knights Baseball… Tradition Never Ends.

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

Bark in the Ballpark A Success!

The Knights presented a check to the Human Society of York County on Sunday. (Audrey Stanek/Charlotte Knights)
The Knights presented a check to the Human Society of York County on Sunday. (Audrey Stanek/Charlotte Knights

(Fort Mill, SC) – It was a beautiful day for baseball on Sunday, June 2 as the Charlotte Knights welcomed all fans and dogs out to Knights Stadium for a 2:15 p.m. matinee game between the Knights and Rochester Red Wings (Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins).

The team’s annual Bark in the Ballpark celebration was filled with dog-themed tables on the concourse, a pre-game on-field dog parade, pooch-friendly music, and more. The great people from the Human Society of York County were on-hand for the event and the goal of the day was to raise money and find a good home for some of their puppies.

All of the dogs in attendance strutted their stuff during the parade and later in the day. Dogs of all ages and sizes were in attendance on Sunday.

Fans had a chance to see some dog clips on the in-stadium videoboard. One of the mound visits featured a clip from the Jetsons’ Astro. Other video dogs were Scooby Doo, Snoopy, and Brian from Family Guy.

Later in the day, the Knights had a special check presentation on the field to announce that the team raised $2,526 for the Human Society of York County. The money raised will go to insuring that all of the dogs at the shelter are well taken care of before they are adopted.

In all, three of the five dogs were adopted on Sunday at Knights Stadium and will now go to a great new home.

The entire Bark in the Ballpark celebration was sponsored by Nutramax Laboratories and Spay Neuter Clinic of the Carolinas.

Sunday’s game gave true meaning to “Dog Days of Summer”. It was a barking good time!

Tickets for all games this season are on sale now and can be purchased in person at Knights Stadium, by phone at 704-357-8071 ext. 2106, or online at http://www.charlotteknights.com.

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

Knights and CHS to Hold Health Fair Friday

CharlotteKnights_2013-05-30

 

(Fort Mill, SC) — The Charlotte Knights and Carolinas HealthCare System (CHS) will host their fifth annual health fair this Friday, May 31st at Knights Stadium. Fans will have the chance to visit with medical experts from multiple facilities in the area on topics of health, wellness, fitness and lifestyle improvements. The health fair is free with a ticket to that night’s game.

Medical experts will be on-site to answer questions and provide general health information and giveaways for attendees.

“The Charlotte Knights along with Carolinas HealthCare System are committed to making a positive contribution to the health and well-being of all of our fans,” said Knights Vice President of Sales, Chris Semmens. “The Knights are proud to host this event for the 5th season.”

Over the past four years, CHS and the Charlotte Knights have worked together to educate more than 36,400 fans at Knights Stadium on preventative medical practices.

Friday’s game also features a retro baseball card set giveaway to the first 1,000 fans and the Knights will wear their 1990 “throwback” jerseys. Gates are set to open at 6:00 p.m. as the Knights host the Rochester Red Wings in game one of an exciting four-game series. First pitch at Knights Stadium is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.

Carolinas HealthCare System, one of the nation’s leading and most innovative healthcare organizations, provides a full spectrum of healthcare and wellness programs throughout North and South Carolina. Its diverse network of care locations include academic medical centers, hospitals, healthcare pavilions, physician practices, destination centers, surgical and rehabilitation centers, home health agencies, nursing homes and hospice and palliative care. CHS works to improve and enhance the overall health and wellbeing of its communities through high quality patient care, education and research programs, and numerous collaborative partnerships and initiatives.

Tickets for Friday’s game are available at the Knights Ticket Office located at Knights Stadium, online at www.charlotteknights.com, or by phone at 704-357-8071. Knights Baseball… Tradition Never Ends.

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

Knights to Honor Veterans on Memorial Day

CharlotteKnights_2013-05-24

 

(Fort Mill, SC) – The Charlotte Knights will hold the first of their three Military Appreciation games of the 2013 season on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27 at Knights Stadium. All veteran and active Military members are welcome to come out and enjoy a great night of baseball. All three Military Appreciation games are presented by Bank of America, OrthoCarolina, and Uncle Bob’s Self Storage.

Gates open at 6:00 p.m. on Monday and first pitch between the Charlotte Knights and the Toledo Mud Hens (Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers) is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.

Before the game, the Knights will welcome a Military member from each of the most recent wars. All five veterans will throw out a ceremonial first pitch.

Here is a list of recent war veterans that will be honored on Memorial Day and will be throwing out a ceremonial first pitch:

– Jessie Hopkins, Iraq & Afghanistan
– Everette Hullette, Iraq
– Tony Harper, Vietnam War
– Jim Kerr, Korean War
– Floyd Hailey, World War II

The entire night will have a Military theme and fans coming out to the game are encouraged to send a photo of a loved one who has served, or is serving in the Military to Tommy Viola at tommyv@charlotteknights.com. The photos will be used in a special slideshow that will be played on the in-stadium videoboard before the first pitch of Monday’s game.

As part of the Military-themed game, all Knights players will wear special Military jerseys on Monday and for all three games this season (May 27, June 29, and July 3rd). A jersey auction, which will take place online at charlotteknights.com, will run until Sunday, July 7 at 11:59 PM. Fans can bid on the game-worn, autographed jerseys right from their home computer. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the USO of NC.

Tickets are on-sale now and can be purchased in person at Knights Stadium, by phone at 704-357-8071 ext. 2106, or online at http://www.charlotteknights.com. Currently, fans can purchase field box tickets to Monday’s game for just $5 by using the promo code “starsandstripes” online at charlotteknights.com. Offer ends on Sunday, May 26 at 11:59 p.m. Knights Baseball… Tradition Never Ends.

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

2013 Knights Charity Golf Classic a Success

Thanks to some great organizations, the Knights raised $14,500 on Wednesday. (Tony Ulchar)
Thanks to some great organizations, the Knights raised $14,500 on Wednesday. (Tony Ulchar)

The Charlotte Knights held their 6th Annual Charity Golf Classic, presented by Duke Energy, on Wednesday, May 22 at the Tega Cay Golf Club. The event was a huge success.

Over 150 golfers arrived on Wednesday eager to get on the course. The weather was beautiful and the competition was fierce — and it was all for a great cause.

Registration began at 8:30 a.m. and by 10:00 a.m., the golfers hit the course ready for a full day of fun in the sun. Golfers competed to win some great prizes, but the day was more about raising money for charity.

Knights Community Relations Director Lindsey Roycraft did an outstanding job putting the entire event together.

Wednesday’s annual golf classic was set up to help raise money for the Levine Children’s Hospital. Each year, the Knights, along with many of their great partners, hold this golf event to raise awareness and money for children and families in need. 100% of the money raised from the golf classic goes directly to Levine Children’s Hospital.

After all of the golf, the players made their way back for some delicious food and the award presentation. At that time, Knights Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer Dan Rajkowski, along with Mark Griffith of Levine Children’s Hospital, announced the grand total raised. In all, Wednesday’s event raised $14,500 surpassing the total raised in 2012. In the six-year span that the Knights have held the tournament, the team has raised over $100,000 for Levine Children’s Hospital.

The Knights would like to take a moment to thank all of the great people who helped make Wednesday’s golf classic a success. We look forward to continuing our great relationship with the fine people at Levine Children’s Hospital and we can’t wait to raise even more money in 2014.

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

Knights Stadium is Now a “Bully-Free” Zone

The first Education Day game was a success! (Erica Caldwell/Charlotte Knights)
The first Education Day game was a success! (Erica Caldwell/Charlotte Knights)

(Fort Mill, S.C.) — Knights Stadium, home of the Charlotte Knights since 1990, is set to become a “bully-free” zone during the upcoming 2013 season as the Knights and The Foundation for Respect Ability are introducing an Anti-Bullying program that will focus on educating kids, teachers, and parents on the importance of living a bully-free life. The program will feature two 11:15 a.m. games during the month of April focused on Education Days for the surrounding school districts of North Carolina & South Carolina. The first game is Tuesday, April 16 and the second game is set for Wednesday, April 24. Both games are presented by Duke Energy, Barton Malow, and Midrex Technologies, Inc.

“Partnering with the Foundation for Respect Ability enhances the educational component of these two dates and expands our commitment to providing opportunities for the community to enjoy a game at the stadium,” said Knights Director of Ticket Sales & Hospitality Sean Owens. “This program gives us a great platform to provide important information about the seriousness of bullying in our life and how to identify, respond, and prevent these acts from occurring.”

Featuring interactive concourse displays, a pre-game educational performance and in-game trivia/PSA’s, participating schools and organizations will receive a full day of education and entertainment. Tickets are as low as $5 for groups of 15 or more and a $5 lunch meal is available for pre-purchase as well.

“We are very excited to partner with the Charlotte Knights to help create awareness about bullying and to help promote strategies for children, parents and teachers to better deal with this behavior,” stated Diane Benson, Executive Director of the Foundation for Respect Ability. “Bullying in sports is also an area of concern and this is a wonderful platform to help to create “upstanders” on and off the playing field.”

About the The Foundation for Respect Ability:
The Foundation for Respect Ability is a nonprofit organization that seeks to convert “bystanders” into “upstanders” and to empower people to address bullying in all its forms. Their goal is to facilitate opportunities for communication and to develop programs and strategies for helping parents, students, and educators as they deal with these issues. The work is delivered through music and activities using Operation Respect’s Don’t Laugh at Me international curriculum. The Foundation offers community workshops for children and parents, in school programs and professional development workshops for staff and teachers. www.xbullying.org

To schedule a group event for Education Days, please contact the Charlotte Knights at 704-357-8071, ext. 2106 or hospitality@charlotteknights.com.

Select single-game tickets are now on-sale online by using the special pre-sale code “presale2013”. Full season and partial season ticket packages are on-sale now and can be purchased by calling 704-357-8071 ext. 2106 or online at www.charlotteknights.com. Season Tickets offer such benefits as a VIP parking pass, invitations to special events, and a unique unused ticket program. They are also the best way to ensure priority selection of seats at BB&T Ballpark. Call a Knights’ representative today for more details! Knights Baseball… Tradition Never Ends!
This article originally appeared on the official website of the Charlotte Knights. Click here to view the original story.

Knights Partner with Carolinas HealthCare System

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(Fort Mill, SC) – The Charlotte Knights, Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, and Carolinas HealthCare System are dedicated to providing educational opportunities to the youth in our communities. Earlier today, in an effort to improve educational funding for high school students who are interested in pursuing a career in healthcare, the Charlotte Knights and Carolinas HealthCare System announced that they have committed to providing three $1,000 college scholarships to local high school seniors.

“The Charlotte Knights will continue to make education a primary focus for many of our community initiatives,” said Chris Semmens, Vice President of Sales, Charlotte Knights.  “The Knights are excited to work with our long time partner Carolinas HealthCare System, along with local high school administrators, teachers, parents and students in providing these annual scholarships.”

The 2013 Charlotte Knights Healthcare Scholarship Program is open to any high school senior enrolled in one of the following North or South Carolina counties: Cabarrus, Catawba, Chester, Gaston, Iredell, Lancaster, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Union, or York County. Applicants must be attending an accredited institution of higher education in the fall of 2013, and will be judged on academic performance; volunteer and community involvement; and sports and extracurricular activities. The three winners will be honored before a select Knights game this summer.

“Carolinas HealthCare System’s vision is to lead the transformation of healthcare delivery and a key part of that effort is attracting the next generation of motivated, creative healthcare professionals,” said Carol Lovin, Executive Vice President of Carolinas HealthCare System.  “Partnering with the Charlotte Knights to provide these scholarships is a great way to help turn that vision into reality.”

Applications for the Charlotte Knights Healthcare Scholarship Program presented by Carolinas HealthCare System, are available at charlotteknights.com, and must be postmarked by April 30, 2013 to the Charlotte Knights for consideration. The scholarship committee will be comprised of two Charlotte Knights employees, two Carolinas HealthCare System employees, and one outside party to be selected by the Charlotte Knights.

About Carolinas HealthCare System:
Carolinas HealthCare System (carolinashealthcare.org), one of the nation’s leading and most innovative healthcare organizations, provides a full spectrum of healthcare and wellness programs throughout North and South Carolina. Its diverse network of nearly 800 care locations includes academic medical centers, hospitals, freestanding emergency departments, physician practices, surgical and rehabilitation centers, home health agencies, nursing homes and behavioral health centers, as well as hospice and palliative care services. CHS works to improve and enhance the overall health and wellbeing of its communities through high quality patient care, education and research programs, and numerous collaborative partnerships and initiatives.

Full season and partial season ticket packages are on-sale now and can be purchased by calling 704-357-8071 ext. 2106 or online at http://www.charlotteknights.com. Season Tickets offer such benefits as a VIP parking pass, invitations to special events, and a unique unused ticket program. They are also the best way to ensure priority selection of seats at BB&T Ballpark. Call a Knights’ representative today for more details! Knights Baseball… Tradition Never Ends.

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

Knights Raise Money for Salvation Army

Charlotte-KnightsThe Charlotte Knights’ season of giving continued on Thursday, December 20 at the Six Pence Pub in Fort Mill. For over three hours, front office staff members volunteered their time to raise money for the Salvation Army.

The Knights arrived around 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, eager to learn a new trade and give back to the community. With help from seasoned professionals – a.k.a Six Pence Pub bartenders, the crew quickly got the hang of things.

Beginning at 6:00 p.m., staff members served drinks and food to the crowd.

Becka Leveille, Knights Merchandise Director, and Justin Fulbright, Knights Assistant Groundskeeper, both stepped right in and began making drinks.

“It was a lot of fun,” exclaimed Leveille. “I learned a few things about bartending and I got to talk to some passionate Knights fans. I may have found my second career!”

Salvation-ArmyErik Hassy, GM of Ovations, and Knights Media Relations Director Tommy Viola, were also on-hand to help with the volunteering efforts on Thursday. Knights Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer Dan Rajkowski came out to support the Salvation Army and his team’s efforts on Thursday.

Every 30 minutes, Viola rang a bell located behind the bar and announced a raffle prize. Lucky fans won shirts, tickets to a 2013 Knights game, a Knights jersey signed by the 2012 team, a Brian Anderson autographed bat, and more.

“It was great to get behind the bar, serve drinks, announce raffle prizes, and talk to our fans,” stated Viola. “There’s nothing like getting out in the community and meeting Knights fans. It was especially gratifying to know that all of the money we raised was for the Salvation Army.”

Knights Community Relations Director Lindsey Roycraft also played a key role on Thursday. Thanks to her strong ties with the community, events like the one on Thursday are made possible.

“It was a very positive event,” said Roycraft. “I look forward to working with Ray and the entire Six Pence Pub staff again during our upcoming 2013 season. Next time, we’ll bring a Knights player or two.”

Overall on Thursday, the Knights and Six Pence Pub raised $625.00 for the Salvation Army.

Members of the Knights front office volunteered their time on Thursday, December 20.

Members of the Knights front office volunteered their time on Thursday, December 20.Earlier in December, the Knights held a toy and coat drive at Knights Stadium during the team’s first-ever “Winter Wonderful” event. The team also worked with Angel Tree this year to make sure two boys received all of the presents they asked for this year.

Over the next couple of weeks, staff members will volunteer at the Men’s Shelter of Charlotte and Classroom Central.

“Volunteering and giving back is a big part of what we enjoy doing,” added Roycraft. “We look forward to keeping that going in 2013 and beyond.”

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

Charlotte Knights visit Levine Children’s Hospital

On April 19, 2010, children at Carolinas Medical Center Levine Children’s Hospital were treated with a visit from several Charlotte Knight’s ballplayers. The monthly visits are a part of the Knights ongoing outreach in the Charlotte and area community.

Levine’s 234-bed children’s hospital combines the medical expertise the community already relies on with a spectacular new state-of-the-art facility designed to care for the physical and emotional needs of children and their families.

The Knights’ players, personnel, and mascots make regular visits to the hospital to help provide hope, joy and fun activities for Levine’s patients and families. Besides making their monthly visits, players and personnel of the Charlotte Knights also keep in touch with several of Levine’s patients via e-mail and online communities such as Facebook.

Charlotte Knights Wes Whisler, Adam Ricks, Daniel Hudson, Erick Threets, Jeff Marquez and Brent Lillibridge visit with 6 year old Ben Aguallo. This picture was posted on Facebook by the Aguallo family immediately following the visit. The caption read: “One of Ben’s highlights…… meeting Pro Baseball Players… thank you Charlotte Knights!”