Tortugas High School Ambassadors plan community beach cleanup

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Tortugas Care Foundation will also unveil new beach cleanup station

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Daytona Tortugas will host a community beach cleanup and unveil a new beach cleanup initiative on Wednesday, Aug. 26.

The event is being planned and produced by the Tortugas High School Ambassadors, a group of high school students from across Volusia County who explore careers in the sports and entertainment business as part of the team’s partnership with Volusia County Schools.

The public is invited to join in Wednesday’s cleanup from 10 a.m. to noon at Sun Splash Park, 611 S. Atlantic Ave. Supplies and water will be provided, but volunteers are asked to bring reusable gloves and a reusable bucket or bag if possible. Want to participate but can’t make it to the park? Go to your local beach and do your own cleanup with family and friends! Don’t forget to post about your cleanup on social media using #TugasCleanup.

The event will also include a ceremonial unveiling of a new beach cleanup station established by the Tortugas Care Foundation. TCF has partnered with Volusia County and Fill A Bag, a Key Biscayne nonprofit organization, to create and maintain the station.

Fill A Bag stations make it easy to turn walks on the beach into meaningful cleanups. Starting Wednesday, the public is invited to grab a bucket from the station and pick up trash while walking the beach. Once finished, users should empty the collected items into the nearby trash or recycling bin and return the bucket to the station for future users.

ABOUT THE DAYTONA TORTUGAS

The Daytona Tortugas are the High-A Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and a member of the Florida State League. The Tortugas play at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in downtown Daytona Beach, Fla. Jackie Robinson Ballpark also plays host to Bethune-Cookman University and many large community events and initiatives throughout the season.

ABOUT THE TORTUGAS CARE FOUNDATION

The Tortugas Care Foundation is a nonprofit philanthropic organization of the Daytona Tortugas. It was established in 2016 and supports the community through financial and in-kind contributions with a focus on youth sports and sea turtle conservation initiatives.

Tortugas planning special event in honor of Jackie Robinson Ballpark’s namesake

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Daytona Tortugas invite the community to celebrate Jackie Robinson Day with a special event at Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Aug. 28.

Attendees will have the opportunity to watch on the Tortugas’ 36-foot-wide videoboard as the Cincinnati Reds take on the Chicago Cubs from Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati as part of Major League Baseball’s celebration of Jackie Robinson Day. In addition, fans will be invited to play catch on the field and win prizes by playing Baseball Bingo.

Tickets are $15 per person and include an official Florida State League baseball with each ticket. Tickets must be purchased in advance via the Tortugas’ website. Fans also can purchase Stand With The Jack jerseys for only $15 as an add-on option at checkout.

Gates will open at 6:30 p.m., and the Reds-Cubs game is scheduled to start at 7:10 p.m. All Tortugas staff will wear face masks in accordance with the Tortugas’ Re-Opening Protocols, and all attendees are encouraged to do so as well.

Tortugas to Host Graduation for Richard Milburn Academy

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Daytona Tortugas will host graduation for Richard Milburn Academy of Florida’s class of 2020 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark, the team and school announced today.

The graduation will be held on the field at the ballpark at 6 p.m. on June 30 with students receiving their diplomas at home plate. The students’ families will be permitted to watch from the grandstands.

All Tortugas staff will wear masks to prevent against the spread of COVID-19. Students and family members are encouraged to wear masks and asked to adhere to social distancing guidelines.

Richard Milburn Academy decided to host graduation at the ballpark because the school wanted a venue that could provide a memorable and safe experience for its graduating class of about 160 students and their families.

“We are so excited to have our graduation at Jackie Robinson Ballpark this school year,” RMA Principal Art Sands said. “It’s our first time holding an event here, but it more than likely will not be the last. The accommodations we are receiving for our graduates and their families are the best!”

The Tortugas are excited to partner with RMA and welcome the school’s students and families to the ballpark.

“We are thrilled to partner with Richard Milburn Academy and provide a memorable experience for the graduating class of 2020 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark,” Tortugas General Manager Jim Jaworski said. “We believe The Jack is the perfect setting for community events like this.”

ABOUT THE DAYTONA TORTUGAS

The Daytona Tortugas are the High-A Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and a member of the Florida State League. The Tortugas play at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in downtown Daytona Beach, Fla. Jackie Robinson Ballpark also plays host to Bethune-Cookman University and many large community events and initiatives throughout the season.

ABOUT RICHARD MILBURN ACADEMY

RMA Florida is a free public charter school designed to help at-risk students who have experienced difficulty in a traditional school setting. RMA Florida opened its first charter high school in Daytona Beach in 2005 and another in Deland in 2010. RMA helps students complete their high school education and graduate prepared for post-secondary education or work.

Tortugas Seek Nominees for Community All-Stars

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Daytona Tortugas want your help to honor all-stars who are going above and beyond to assist others in the community.

The Tortugas will select Tortugas Care Foundation Community All-Stars from the community’s nominations. Each All-Star will receive a customized virtual trading card and an invitation to an exclusive event including the opportunity to take batting practice on the field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark later this summer. Nominations can be submitted here through July 7, selections will be announced on the Tortugas’ social media channels beginning July 14, and the batting practice event is scheduled for Aug. 11.

The Tortugas were scheduled to host the Florida State League All-Star Game today in what would have been Daytona’s first time hosting the FSL’s midsummer classic since 2007. The festivities were also to include a home run derby, celebrity softball game and fan fest. When those events had to be canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the team was determined to create a new way to showcase and celebrate the community.

“We know there are so many people from all walks of life working tirelessly to help our community through these unprecedented times, and we cannot wait to give them the recognition they deserve and treat them to an unforgettable experience at Jackie Robinson Ballpark,” Tortugas General Manager Jim Jaworski said. “While we were incredibly disappointed not to be able to host the Florida State League All-Star Game and all that comes with it for our fans, sponsors and partners this year, we wanted to use this opportunity to honor and thank the tremendous all-stars who make our community better each and every day.”

The Tortugas have already applied to host the FSL All-Star Game in 2021.

ABOUT THE DAYTONA TORTUGAS The Daytona Tortugas are the High-A Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and a member of the Florida State League. The Tortugas play at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in downtown Daytona Beach, Fla. Jackie Robinson Ballpark also plays host to Bethune-Cookman University and many large community events and initiatives throughout the season.

ABOUT THE TORTUGAS CARE FOUNDATION The Tortugas Care Foundation is a nonprofit philanthropic organization of the Daytona Tortugas. It was established in 2016 and supports the community through financial and in-kind contributions with a focus on youth sports and sea turtle conservation initiatives.

Nominate Your Community Hero Here!

Bats to host second virtual concert to benefit charity

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[CLICK HERE TO WATCH LIVE]

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Louisville Bats will be hosting their second live virtual musical performance from home plate at their ballpark, Louisville Slugger Field on Sunday, May 31 to help benefit the One Louisville: Covid-19 Response Fund.

The initiative, “Live At Home(Plate)” will treat fans to “live” music from popular cover band Jake & Elwood and The Boys. Jake & Elwood and the Boys is a high energy band that has been playing together for over 25 years…all over the U. S., and even West Virginia. Michael Hamburg is Jake Blues and Brennan Latkovski is Elwood Blues, and together they’re backed 7 of the best musicians around.

The band will perform live at home plate at Louisville Slugger Field from 6 – 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 31. Fans will not be permitted to attend the performance in-person, but instead are encouraged to tune in to the live performance on a live stream from the Bats’ Facebook page. Throughout the performance, fans will have the option to donate directly from their Facebook accounts to benefit One Louisville: COVID-19 Response Fund.

The fundraising initiative seeks to provide an entertainment outlet for fans at home during these difficult times, while also creating the opportunity to chip in for a charitable effort to benefit those in need in the Louisville area.

The second Live At Home(Plate) performance marks the most recent effort by the Bats to help raise funds for those affected by COVID-19. The Bats have also participated in Buddy’s Curbside Pick-Up to benefit local restaurant partners and the “Team Kentucky” campaign with fellow Kentucky-based Minor League teams from Bowling Green and Lexington to benefit respective local charities.

About One Louisville: COVID-19 Response Fund:
One Louisville: COVID-19 Response Fund is an assistance program designed to attract and provide financial assistance to help those who are disproportionately impacted by the virus and its economic consequences. Grants from the program are directed weekly by the One Louisville Fund Committee, whose membership includes representatives of the philanthropic, nonprofit, corporate, and government sectors. Financial support is deployed to households, businesses and nonprofit organizations working at the frontlines of the Louisville-area Coronavirus outbreak.

Louisville Bats Lend a Helping Hand

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Louisville Bats are proud to help serve the Kentuckyiana area and continue to unveil programs this offseason to provide support to those affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. The team has launched six initiatives during April alone and looks forward to continuing to offer help during this time of need.

Below are the programs launched this offseason with information/links if fans wish to become involved or view additional details:

Buddy’s Curbside Pick-Up: Through a partnership with ImagineAR, the Bats are encouraging fans to order takeout from local restaurant partners. Fans who activate the ImagineAR app when picking up their to-go orders can spot a digital Buddy Bat on their cellphone. After taking a picture of the AR Buddy Bat, fans will be entered to win a variety of team prizes by simply sharing the photo on social media with #CurbsideBuddy. The initiative also features a grand prize sweepstakes with the chance to win a complimentary luxury suite, $100 worth of concession/team store credit and the opportunity to throw out a ceremonial first pitch at an upcoming Bats home game.
**Click here for additional information on Buddy’s Curbside Pick-Up

Team Kentucky T-shirts: The Bats partnered with fellow Kentucky-based Minor League Baseball teams the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Class-A Tampa Bay Rays) and Lexington Legends (Class-A Kansas City Royals) on a limited-edition T-shirt available for online purchase. The shirts honor each of the three baseball teams and a portion of the proceeds from each shirt sale benefit a respective local charity. Shirts are available for just $15 through the Bats team store, with proceeds benefiting One Louisville: COVID-19 Response Fund.
**Click here for additional information on Team Kentucky T-shirts

Live at Home(Plate): To provide an entertainment outlet for fans wrestling with cabin fever, the Bats streamed a free live concert from within their ballpark on their Facebook page. The concert was hosted by staff member and longtime local singer-songwriter, Jeremy Sharfe, who performed rousing covers of all-time classics and treated fans to several of his own original songs. The Facebook Live stream reached more than 50,000 fans over the 90-minute show.
**Click here for additional information on Live at Home(Plate)

Kids Night with Texas Roadhouse: The Bats and Texas Roadhouse treated customers to an in-person special delivery from Buddy Bat and Andy Armadillo for curbside orders during the restaurant’s Kids Night. Fans who stopped by during a select time period had the chance to win a free membership to the Bats’ Kids Club for the upcoming baseball season and the opportunity to be a Play Ball Kid at an upcoming Bats home game.
**Click here for additional information on Kids Night with Texas Roadhouse

MiLB CommUNITYFirst: The Louisville Bats partnered with Minor League Baseball in a league-wide initiative to raise money for local chapters of the Feeding America Food Bank and provide a free ticket for an upcoming home game for a local hero. Each $10 donation under the Louisville Bats’ name on the website goes directly to Louisville’s Dare to Care Food Bank and provides one game ticket to a local hero such as hospital staff, first responders, nursing home staff, grocery store employees and many others.
**Click here for additional information on MiLB CommUNITYFirst

Hometown Heroes: The Bats launched the Hometown Heroes program to recognize individuals in the Kentuckiana area who provide a vital service for our hometown community. From healthcare employees and police officers on the front lines, to those helping behind the scenes like truck drivers and utility workers, the Bats are honoring a different hometown hero each week with special, dedicated posts on social media. Fans are invited to nominate a hometown hero by simply filling out the form on the following link:
**Click here for additional information on Hometown Heroes

Fan Donations to Benefit Local Food Bank, Provide Free Ticket to Local Heroes

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Louisville Bats, in conjunction with Minor League Baseball™ (MiLB™) today announced the launch of MiLB CommUNITY First, a new national initiative developed with Feeding America® to raise funds for local food banks and honor individuals risking their lives on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the initiative, the Louisville Bats are accepting donations that will benefit Louisville’s local Feeding America Food Bank, the Dare to Care Food Bank, and provide a free ticket for an upcoming Bats home game to a local hero.

Fans can visit MiLB.com/CommUNITYFirst through May 31 to donate. Simply select the “Louisville Bats” from the “participating team name” drop down menu on the website to activate our team’s donation to the program.

Each $10 donation will provide one ticket to a future Bats home game to a local hero, such as hospital staff, first responders, nursing home staff, grocery store employees and many others. The monetary donations will go directly to the Dare to Care Food Bank as they continue to support our community during this time of need.

Fans are also encouraged to use #MiLBCommUNITYFirst on social media to show their support.

Bats to Stream Live Concert From Ballpark to Treat Fans to Show, Raise Money for Charity

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[WATCH LIVE ON THE BATS FACEBOOK PAGE]

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Louisville Bats today announced an effort to raise funds for those affected by COVID-19 by hosting a live stream of a live musical performance from home plate at their ballpark, Louisville Slugger Field.

The initiative, “Live At Home(Plate)” will treat fans to “live” music from a member of their promotional staff, Jeremy Sharfe. Sharfe, along with working on the Bats’ staff for the last 18 seasons, is also a singer-songwriter from Louisville who has been performing around the region since 1999. He has opened for bands such as Trick Pony, Tracy Lawrence, The Kentucky Headhunters and Joan Jett, and has contributed on studio recordings for tracks with country star, Billy Ray Cyrus.

Sharfe will perform live at home plate at Louisville Slugger Field from 7 – 8:15 p.m. on Friday, April 24. Fans will not be permitted to attend the performance in-person, but instead are encouraged to tune in to the live performance on a live stream from the Bats’ Facebook page. Throughout the performance, fans will have the option to donate directly from their Facebook accounts to benefit One Louisville: COVID-19 Response Fund.

The fundraising initiative seeks to provide an entertainment outlet for fans at home during these difficult times, while also creating the opportunity to chip in for a charitable effort to benefit those in need in the Louisville area. Fans will be treated to a mix of covers of all-time classics and several original songs from Sharfe during the performance.

Live At Home(Plate) marks just the most recent effort by the Bats to help raise funds for those affected by COVID-19. The Bats have also participated in Buddy’s Curbside Pick-Up to benefit local restaurant partners and the “Team Kentucky” campaign with fellow Kentucky-based Minor League teams from Bowling Green and Lexington to benefit respective local charities.

About One Louisville: COVID-19 Response Fund:
One Louisville: COVID-19 Response Fund is an assistance program designed to attract and provide financial assistance to help those who are disproportionately impacted by the virus and its economic consequences. Grants from the program are directed weekly by the One Louisville Fund Committee, whose membership includes representatives of the philanthropic, nonprofit, corporate, and government sectors. Financial support is deployed to households, businesses and nonprofit organizations working at the frontlines of the Louisville-area Coronavirus outbreak.

Bats, Hot Rods & Legends Announce “Team Kentucky” COVID-19 Relief Effort

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Louisville Bats, in conjunction with the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Class-A Tampa Bay Rays) and Lexington Legends (Class-A Kansas City Royals), today announced they have formed a joint effort “Team Kentucky” campaign to benefit respective local charities that are offering assistance to those affected by COVID-19.

The three clubs have joined for the first time to create a T-shirt which showcases both the unity of the teams and their shared goal of providing assistance to those in need from the Coronavirus pandemic. The shirts proudly display the state of Kentucky and feature each of the three teams’ logos in relative location to where to their home ballpark is located. The words “We are Team Kentucky” surround the silhouette from above and below, stressing that everyone in the commonwealth is banding together in this time of need.

Shirts will be available for just $15 online through the Bats team store by clicking HERE. A portion of the proceeds from each shirt ordered through the Bats’ website will benefit One Louisville: COVID-19 Response Fund. Likewise, $5 from each purchase through the Hot Rods (HOTEL Inc., a Bowling Green based nonprofit dedicated to finding solutions for the housing crises and homelessness) and Legends (The Coronavirus Response Fund, which is organized by the United Way of the Bluegrass and Blue Grass Community Foundation to provide resources to organizations who support the region) will benefit a respective local charity.

Fans can order shirts beginning today (April 16). The Bats will only take preorders for this limited-edition T-shirt, and production is slated to begin May 15.

For additional information, contact the Bats’ team store at (502) 614-4509.

Bats Launch “Buddy’s Curbside Pick-Up” To Support Local Restaurants

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Louisville Bats today announced they are partnering with ImagineAR – a company specializing in delivering augmented reality (AR) – to help support local restaurant partners whose operations have been affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. The “Buddy’s Curbside Pick-Up” initiative offers fans the chance to win a variety of great Louisville Bats prizes by simply ordering curbside pick-up from a partner restaurant and sharing a picture of their trip on social media with a special hashtag.

“The Louisville Bats are committed to helping our community in these challenging times,” said Bats president Vic Gregovits. “We partnered with ImagineAR to offer a unique experience that gives fans the chance to win great prizes, and in-turn, support our valuable local restaurant partners.”

As part of the initiative, ImagineAR has equipped each restaurant with unique AR engagements at their food pick-up locations. When fans arrive to pick up their carryout, they can use ImagineAR’s app to unlock an exclusive AR model of Buddy Bat on their mobile phones.

Fans can then take a photo of the digital Buddy Bat at the restaurant and share the photo on social media with #CurbsideBuddy. Each fan who posts a picture of the AR Buddy Bat with the hashtag will be entered to win a variety of Louisville Bats prizes, including tickets, team gear and game-day experiences.

Buddy’s Curbside Pick-Up will also feature a grand prize sweepstakes. Fans who visit at least two different restaurants and submit their pictures online via the Bats’ website will receive four complimentary ticket vouchers and be entered to win an ultimate VIP experience for a Bats home game during the 2020 season. The VIP experience includes a complimentary luxury suite, $100 worth of concession/team store credit and the opportunity to throw out a ceremonial first pitch.

To participate, visit any of the following restaurant partners:
Bubba’s 33
Chick-fil-A
Hardee’s
Jimmy John’s
Papa John’s
Penn Station
Rootie’s Sports Bar & Grille
Smoothie King
Texas Roadhouse
White Castle

For additional information regarding rules and regulations, visit batsbaseball.com.

National Anthem Tryouts Set for Saturday, February 22

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DAYTON, OHIO – A traditional sign that baseball season is just around the corner in the Miami Valley is National Anthem Tryouts, presented by the Dayton Daily News. Tryouts for national anthem performers for the 2020 season will take place on Saturday, February 22 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Mall at Fairfield Commons.

Finalists will perform the national anthem at Dragons games throughout the season, with the grand prize winner performing on Opening Day 2020 before the Dragons host the Great Lakes Loons on Thursday, April 9 at 7:00 p.m.

While all time slots have been filled with performers who registered at DaytonDragons.com, there are still opportunities to perform at the tryouts on a stand-by basis.
To register as a stand-by performer, you must come to the Saturday, February 22 tryouts at the Mall at Fairfield Commons. You will receive a stand-by number that will be called when a spot becomes available. Standby performers are not guaranteed a chance to tryout.

A panel of local citizens including media personalities, city officials, and community leaders will be judging the event. The panel will make its selections based on voice quality, creative style, stage presence, and appearance.

The Dragons Green Team as well as mascots Heater and Gem will entertain fans throughout the auditions at the Mall at Fairfield Commons on Saturday.
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Registration Underway for Dragons 5K

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Dayton,Ohio-Registration is underway for the 10th annual Dragons 5K presented by Orthopedic Associates on Saturday, July 18, 2020 starting at 8:00 a.m. at Day Air Ballpark. The event began in 2011 and has become a local tradition as one of the Miami Valley’s largest races with over 2,000 runners and walkers participating annually.

All participants in the race receive four (4) lawn tickets to a Dragons game, Dragons 5K t-shirt, Dragons hat, NEW home plate finisher’s medal, and entry to the post-race party inside Day Air Ballpark.

Additionally, if participants sign up for the race in the first 30 days (by March 1), they will receive a bonus of two (2) stadium seat tickets to a Dragons game in April.

The registration fee is $25 in advance or $30 after July 12. Kids age 17 and under can sign up for $15. People can sign up today to reserve their spot at www.daytondragons.com/dragons5ksignup.

Participants may choose to run or walk the course and strollers are also permitted. The race will feature the same great family-friendly entertainment you see at every Dragons game, including Dragons mascots and Green Team! The race course will move through downtown Dayton and end back at Day Air Ballpark for a post-race party.

The post-race party inside Day Air Ballpark is open to all participants and their family/friends. Activities include fruit and water for participants, inflatables, health and wellness booths, and more!

The top three male and female finishers will receive a specially-engraved baseball bat. The top three male and female runners in each age group will be awarded a Dragons Den gift certificate. Also, top finishing groups and high school running groups will receive great group prizes with the grand prize being a luxury suite at a Dragons game.

For more information on the 2020 Dragons 5K presented by Orthopedic Associates, go to www.daytondragons.com/dragons5k.

Orthopedic Associates Returning as Dragons 5K Presenting Sponsor

The Dayton Dragons also announced today that Orthopedic Associates is returning as the presenting sponsor of the Dragons 5K on Saturday, July 18, 2020.

“The Dragons 5K has become a local tradition and we are very excited to have Orthopedic Associates returning as the Dragons 5K presenting sponsor at Day Air Ballpark,” said Robert Murphy, President & General Manager of the Dayton Dragons. “Orthopedic Associates have been the trusted orthopedic provider for the Dayton Dragons team so we are excited for our fans to get to know their amazing staff.”

David Mohler, COO of Orthopedic Associates said, “We are thrilled to once again sponsor the Dragons 5K. As the region’s leader in sports medicine, and especially as a proud orthopedic provider to the Dragons Team, this fun, family event is one of Dayton’s great summer highlights for the community. We encourage everyone to register and participate!”

The 2020 Dragons 5K is being presented by Orthopedic Associates. As the regional leader in comprehensive orthopedic care, Orthopedic Associates’ passion is helping Dayton’s families get back to doing what they love. Orthopedic Associates is proud to be the trusted orthopedic provider serving your Dayton Dragons for more than a decade. Learn more at www.OAdoctors.com.

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

Dragons Mascots, Green Team Performing at Local Schools

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Dayton, Ohio-Opening night for the 2020 baseball season at Day Air Ballpark is nine weeks away, but Dayton Dragons mascots Heater and Gem along with the Dragons Green Team are already bringing the excitement of baseball season to local elementary schools. For the eighth straight year, the Dragons entertainment team is performing assemblies at Miami Valley elementary schools. The program continues into April.

Each 30-minute interactive, fun, high-energy performance includes a visit by Heater or Gem and members of the Green Team, the Dragons signature group that facilitates skits, contests, and sing-a-longs during Dragons games at Day Air Ballpark. Each assembly in 2020 focuses on “Healthy Habits,” making smart food choices and being physically active. The performances, typically held in the school gymnasium, include some of the same entertainment skits seen at the ballpark, plus some new material designed specifically for the schools.

All Dragons assemblies are performed free of charge for schools that sign up. Participating elementary schools on board so far stretch from Springboro to Sidney.

The assemblies provide an introduction to the Dayton Dragons School Program, an incentive-based school fundraiser that provides prizes to students and allows the schools to keep a portion of ticket sales to Dragons games.

The Dragons are providing prizes as part of the program including team merchandise, an invitation to a Donatos Pizza Party with Dragons players, a Dragons Frisch’s Kids Club membership, and the grand prize, a Google Chromebook.

The Dragons 2020 Opening Night game is set for Thursday, April 9 at 7:00 p.m. at Day Air Ballpark against the Great Lakes Loons (Los Angeles Dodgers affiliate).

For information on Dragons season tickets, group outings, and luxury suites, go to daytondragons.com or call (937) 228-2287.

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

CareSource Continues Partnership with Dragons to Salute Area Veterans

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Dayton, Ohio–CareSource, a nonprofit multistate health plan, is partnering with the Dayton Dragons for the second year in a row for the CareSource Veteran Salute. The program is an extension of CareSource’s commitment to improve the lives of veterans and their families through innovative programs and partnerships to support their health and well-being.

CareSource’s Veteran Salute is open to any living military veteran in the Miami Valley. Five veterans will be selected from entries submitted between February 4, 2020 and June 30, 2020. Selected honorees will be recognized at a Dayton Dragons home game during an inning break at Day Air Ballpark, April through August 2020.

Each veteran will receive VIP treatment during their night, including pregame activities, in-game recognition, seating in a luxury suite at the ballpark, a special gift and more.

“At CareSource, we lead with heart. We see our service members, past and present, as the heartbeat of our nation and we are proud to partner with the Dayton Dragons to recognize our local veterans. This program is a way to bring their amazing stories of service to audiences across the region and thank all veterans for their valuable contributions,” said Rachel Goodspeed, Director of Veteran Relations and Outreach.

“The Dragons are excited to once again partner with CareSource to honor local veterans,” said Robert Murphy, Dragons President & General Manager. “We look forward to continuing to recognize these individuals who have served our country and sharing their stories with our fans at Day Air Ballpark in 2020.”

A look back to our veterans who were recognized during the 2019 season through CareSource’s Veteran Salute Program:

Robert Looper – U.S. Marine Corp, Korean War Veteran. Robert Looper joined the Marine Corps after graduating high school in 1949, and was sent to Korea once the Korean War began. Looper and his brigade survived negative 40-degree temperatures in the Taebaek Mountains, where 15,000 Marines fought over 200,000 Chinese. Looper participated in every single major battle in Korea and was also a Prisoner of War for 17 days before escaping. Looper was awarded the Purple Heart for his time in Korea.

Daniel and Nicole Powers – U.S. Air Force, Desert Storm Veterans. Husband and wife Daniel and Nicole Powers are no strangers to the military. Both joined the U.S. Air Force in college, and met while deployed in Iraq in 2006. Nicole was deployed multiple places including Saudi Arabia, Italy, and Iraq. During Daniel’s almost six years of deployment overseas, Daniel was an intelligence collector, where he would visit towns and gather human intelligence from local shops and people. Both have been deployed a number of times, and have over 40 years of combined service in the U.S. military.

John Brown – U.S. Army, World War II, Korean War, & Vietnam War Veteran. John Brown joined the Army when he was 18 years old, and is a veteran of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. During his career, Brown was stationed in Washington, D.C., where he was responsible for reviewing and preparing the daily summary of intelligence that was presented to the high-level staff, including President Nixon. Brown had top-secret clearance in the Counterintelligence Corp for most of his service career, and served in the Army for almost 30 years.

Gene Camp – U.S. Marines, Vietnam War Veteran. Gene Camp joined the Marines in 1968 and was sent to fight in the Vietnam War. On his last patrol before he was scheduled to go back home to the U.S., Camp’s battalion was ambushed and Camp was severely injured in an explosion. Camp was honorably discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps in 1973 and was awarded three Purple Hearts for his time in Vietnam and has over 17 years of service.

Ed Damron – U.S. Army, Vietnam War Veteran. Ed Damron enlisted with the United States Army in September of 1970 at the age of 23 and was sent to fight in the Vietnam War. On September 6, 1971, Damron’s helicopter went down in the middle of a North Vietnamese Army (NVA) base camp with 5,000 enemy soldiers. Damron saved the lives of his helicopter pilot and gunner and hid in the enemy camp for over three hours before help arrived. Because of his heroic actions on that day, Damron was awarded the Purple Heart and Silver Star, and later was awarded the Bronze Star.

Nominations for CareSource’s Veteran Salute program are open to the public. Any living military veteran from the Miami Valley is eligible to be nominated. To nominate a veteran, go to www.daytondragons.com/veteransalute

About CareSource

CareSource is a nonprofit, multistate health plan recognized as a national leader in managed care. Founded in 1989, CareSource administers one of the nation’s largest Medicaid managed care plans and offers a lifetime of access to care through health insurance, including Medicaid, Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicare Advantage and a dual-eligible program.

Headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, CareSource serves nearly 2 million members in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia. CareSource understands the challenges consumers face navigating the health system and is transforming health care with industry-leading programs that improve the health and well-being of our members.

For more, visit caresource.com, follow @caresource on Twitter, or like CareSource on Facebook.

About the Dayton Dragons

The Dayton Dragons are the Midwest League affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and play a 70-game home schedule at beautiful Day Air Ballpark in downtown Dayton, easily accessible from Interstate 75.

Individuals and groups seeking information about Dayton Dragons group tickets, lawn tickets, season tickets, sponsorship opportunities, or booking a Dragons speaker are encouraged to contact the Dragons by calling (937) 228-2287, by email at [email protected], or on the web at daytondragons.com.

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

Tortugas announce 12-week charitable donation campaign

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Daytona Tortugas have announced a 12-week campaign of charitable donations to give back to the community that has stood steadfastly with the team in its quest to keep affiliated professional baseball at historic Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach.

The Tortugas Care Charity Foundation, the team’s philanthropic organization that supports local youth sports and sea turtle conservation initiatives, will make a financial contribution to a deserving community organization each week leading up to April 9, the 2020 season’s Opening Day. Recipients will be selected through an open application process that will begin immediately.

The Tortugas decided to launch the 12 Weeks of Thanks campaign after being overwhelmed with support from the community in the wake of news that Daytona is one of 42 communities slated to lose affiliated professional baseball under a plan put forward by Major League Baseball that would take effect in 2021.

“We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support we’ve received from the community to ‘Save our Tortugas'” said Tortugas co-owner Bob Fregolle. “From the support we’ve gotten from local government, the media, and the fans, it’s meant a lot to us as we do everything we can to save baseball here in Daytona. This seemed like a wonderful way to say ‘Thank You’ and to generate even more momentum as we head into what promises to be an amazing season at The Jack.”

To start off the campaign, the Tortugas will make a donation to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Volusia/Flagler. Boys & Girls Clubs of Volusia/Flagler operate in eight communities in the areas of greatest need within Volusia and Flagler counties and provide young people with adults who respect and listen to them, a safe environment, and constructive activities that channel youthful energy into challenging pursuits. The Tortugas are proud to support their efforts.

“The Tortugas organization is a great partner for the Boys & Girls Club and the Daytona Beach community,” said Joe Sullivan, Chief Professional Officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Volusia/Flagler Counties. “They have made it possible for our kids and families to attend games and provided financial support for our clubs. Our Daytona Tortugas are involved champions of our organization and area.”

Organizations that would like to be considered for subsequent contributions during the Tortugas’ 12 Weeks of Thanks campaign should contact Josh McCann, Community Relations & Outside Events Manager, by emailing [email protected].

The Tortugas begin the 2020 season on April 9th against the Florida Fire Frogs. Jackie Robinson Ballpark and the Daytona Tortugas will host the Florida State League All-Star Game on Tuesday, June 23rd. For more information, contact the team at 386-257-3172 or visit the Tortugas website at www.daytonatortugas.com.

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