Hot Rods Host Relay For Life Night

The Bowling Green Hot Rods, Class-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, were pleased to host the first annual Relay For Life Night at Bowling Green Ballpark on Friday, May 13th.

In conjunction with the local American Cancer Society, the Hot Rods reached out to local Relay For Life teams and presented them the opportunity to not only fundraise for ACS, but also the chance to enjoy a ballgame, be honored on field pre-game and share their personal stories with fans.

Relay For Life is an over-night event hosted across the country that celebrates survivors, honors those who have lost their battle with cancer and all while raising money for the American Cancer Society.

Relay For Life team representatives threw out first pitches to kick off the night and participated in a on field check presentation. Over 700 Relay participants were on hand for the festivities. Through the fundraising program with the Hot Rods, over thirty Relay For Life teams from four separate counties raised $3,580 for the American Cancer Society.

Mother’s Day: Brunch at the Ballpark

Wisconsin-Timber-RattlersPrior to the game on Sunday, May 8th the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers paid tribute to the mothers in attendance in various ways.

In the weeks leading up to the game the Rattlers offered fans the opportunity to purchase tickets to a pre-game brunch that included a very special offer for moms. Their brunch and game tickets were complimentary with a paid guest.  Nearly 300 fans took advantage of the Mother’s Day brunch offer.

Upon arrival to the ballpark mothers attending the brunch were escorted by players to the pavilion where brunch was being served. When guests checked in they were offered the opportunity to purchase tickets for a raffle, which was exclusive to those attending the brunch. Each mom received two complementary tickets for the brunch and had the option of purchasing additional tickets. Some of the items in the raffle were a team autographed pink bat, team autographed ‘pink’ jersey, Timber Rattlers merchandise, Brewers tickets and Seroogy’s Chocolates gift certificates.

The menu included mimosas, typical brunch items and sweet desserts. The tables were decorated with mini chocolate gift boxes and tribute cards written by players to their moms. Regina (Reggy the Purple Party Dude’s mom) was a special guest at the brunch and was on-hand throughout the game that day to help honor moms in attendance.

Susan-G.-KomenDuring the game Timber Rattlers players and coaches wore ‘pink’ jersey which fans could bid 0n via silent auction up until the 7th inning. After the game the players were available to autograph the jerseys for the winning bidder. At the end of the day $1,447 was raised and donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, dedicated to education and research about causes, treatment, and the search for a cure.

WTR Mothers Day 2011
Cameron Garfield, Carlos George, and Austin Ross wearing their 2011 Mother’s Day jerseys

 

Akron Aeros, Fans Turn Triple Play: Donations Made to Alabama Tornado Relief Fund, Relay for Life & Local Challenger Baseball League This Past Weekend

The Akron Aeros were pleased to contribute to three worthwhile causes this past weekend.

Friday night, the Aeros teamed up with TTR Shipping of Stow, OH, to collect donations for the Alabama Tornado Relief Fund. Aeros fans stepped up donating more than 1,300 items, including clothing, toys, toiletries and non-perishable food items to the cause. These donations helped fill a 53’ tractor trailer that left Akron this weekend en route to Alabama.

As part of the team’s Breast Cancer Awareness Day, the Aeros wore special pink jerseys on Mother’s Day. Throughout the game, fans had the opportunity to bid on game-worn jerseys of the entire roster with proceeds benefitting Relay for Life. Aeros fans raised more than $2,800 for the continued search for a cure for cancer.

Following Sunday’s Aeros game, the local Challenger baseball leagues of Barberton, Canton, Tallmadge, and Tuscarawas County played a game at Canal Park.  Challenger Baseball provides children and young adults from ages five to 22 with special needs the opportunity to play baseball. Aeros front office members, players and coaches participated in Sunday’s event with the challenger participants, by helping them run the bases and field ground balls, as well as signing autographs and posing for a team photo following their game.

The Akron Aeros also donated autographed merchandise to the Barberton Challenger League to raise funds for the State Tournament they are hosting in July. The silent auction raised nearly $500 for the tournament.

“We had an amazing weekend at Canal Park and Aeros fans showed heart-warming generosity in support of those in need. The Aeros would like to thank those fans who brought items to donate to the Alabama Tornado Relief Fund and those who contributed to Relay for Life. Our entire front office staff and players enjoyed hosting the Challenger Baseball group and hopefully created some fantastic memories for all participants,” Aeros Chief Operating Officer JIM PFANDER said.

For information on additional Akron Aeros community outreach efforts, visit akronaeros.com

Nicole Blum, Community Relations Coordinator, sorts boxes of items donated by Aeros’ fans last Friday. (Photo courtesy of Akron Aeros)
Aeros players high-five their Challenger Baseball teammates. (Photo courtesy of Akroon Aeros)
The Akron Aeros pose with the Challenger Baseball team for a group photo after Sunday’s game. (Photo courtesy of Akron Aeros)

Lakeland Flying Tigers Raise Money for Mary Kay Foundation

The Lakeland Flying Tigers Pink in the Park Night on April 16 at Joker Marchant Stadium helped the Mary Kay Foundation raise over $6,000 for the 2nd annual event. The Mary Kay Foundation proudly supports research dedicated to finding cures for cancers that affect women and programs committed to ending domestic violence.

Flying Tiger players and coaches wore pink jerseys during the game and fans had the opportunity to take the jersey off the back of their favorite player after the game.

There was a pre-game cancer survivor parade as well as a pink Cadillac parade on the field. Even the post-game fireworks show had bursts of pink. The event was a great success helping raise awareness and funds for the Mary Kay Foundation.

Tony Plagman gives the “shirt off his back” following the game.

RiverDogs Community Outreach Branches Out

Community outreach is nothing new to the Charleston RiverDogs as the leader of the Lowcountry’s professional sports team clearly sets the bar.  But in return for the overwhelming support the region has provided the RiverDogs over the years, the team is happy to extend itself in return.

At beautiful Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park, that philanthropic spirit can be witnessed through our weekly “Dogs with a Cause Night,” where local nonprofit organizations promote their worthy causes to patrons at home games that fall on Mondays.  Away from the friendly confines, the “Be Your Own Fan” mission shines through in the “Reading and Running with the RiverDogs” program for schoolchildren, as well as monthly community service projects staffed by RiverDogs employees during the offseason.

This year, the RiverDogs are pleased to announce partnerships with Lowcountry Food Bank, Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy, Water Missions International and Teacher Supply Closet, which all position themselves to better help the Holy City and surrounding areas.

“Being a part of the mainstream community is vital to us and we’d like to think that we’re making a difference,” said General Manager Dave Echols.  “Of course, we offer wholesome, family entertainment at a most reasonable price and pretty good baseball at the same time.”

In conjunction with local grocer Piggly Wiggly, RiverDogs fans have the opportunity to aid the needy and catch every ballgame with a special two-for-one rate by donating two canned food items to the Lowcountry Food Bank.  With a grassroots network of more than 320 member agencies providing hunger-relief services throughout the 10 coastal counties of South Carolina, the Lowcountry Food Bank has been a pillar in the Charleston community since 1983.

Our “Raising Cane Launch-A-Ball” promotion has long been a popular part of the gameday experience as fans purchase $1 tennis balls and takes aim at on-field targets after each game for the chance to win tickets and cash.

This season, however, one has the ability to “have a ball” while supplying funds for the Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy in their quest to lend a helping hand to emergency agencies and personnel in the Charleston area during emergency situations.  Half of the proceeds from the “Launch-A-Ball” postgame throw will be donated to the Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy, which has proven a comforting presence in trying times, including the 2007 Sofa Super Store tragic fire that claimed the lives of nine of Charleston’s firefighters.

On the concourse this season, the Riley Park faithful may notice the Living Water Treatment System that Water Missions International has provided.  A nonprofit Christian engineering organization, Water Missions International constructs these systems to allow for simple, durable water purification in developing countries and disaster areas.

Located near the left field line adjacent to the customer relations desk, Water Missions International is able to support a community of 3,000-5,000 people with the treated water.  The RiverDogs are pleased to provide the space and hope that loyal supporters will strive to find out how they can help provide clean water as “the source of life” and add to the more than two million people that have received relief and hope through Water Missions International’s work.

Last but certainly not least is the club’s alliance with the Teacher Supply Closet, which serves the educational needs of children in the Tri-county area by providing a unique means to offer free merchandise for teachers to use in their classrooms.  During all RiverDogs home games, fans are able to drop off items at the customer relations desk which go toward the Teacher Supply Closet’s goal to give every Lowcountry child the supplies they need to succeed in school.

With nearly the entire home slate still on tap, there are many chances to catch exciting RiverDogs action and “Be Your Own Fan” while jumping on board to strengthen the fiber of the Charleston community … like the RiverDogs have.

RiverDogs and Gildan Partner to Help Peninsula Youth

Peninsula Baseball and Softball Teams Outfitted with Free Jerseys with RiverDogs Logo

Charleston-RiverDogsWe know that every child that steps onto a baseball or softball diamond dreams of putting on a big league uniform.  While few will realize that goal, the youth of Charleston’s peninsula will now be able to come close. The Charleston RiverDogs have partnered with Gildan Distributors to lend free t-shirts to all Peninsula Parks and Recreation youth baseball and softball teams.

“We appreciate so much the contributions of the Riverdogs and Gildan to the baseball playing youth of our city,” said Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. “Pride in their team and what they learn is a big factor of success and the T-shirts will be a great contribution to success.”

Peninsula youngsters will also have the opportunity to “Be Your Own Fan” and save their parents some cash at every Sunday home game.  Any child that comes to Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park sporting their uniform will receive a free general admission ticket to our Family Sundays, which feature Free Parking and Kids Eat Free.

Dressing like the Yankees of tomorrow is one thing but taking the field with them is another.  On Sunday, May 22, Peninsula Parks and Recreation baseball and softball players will get to do both as the RiverDogs host the inaugural Peninsula Youth Sports Day.  Prior to the RiverDogs game versus the Augusta GreenJackets (5:05 pm first pitch), all Little Leaguers will be invited onto the field to participate in a pregame parade in recognition of their dedication and hard work.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for those youngsters that are participating in the Peninsula Parks and Recreation baseball and softball leagues,” said RiverDogs General Manager Dave Echols.  “We are proud to partner with Gildan to make this happen.”

Gildan is a vertically-integrated marketer and manufacturer of quality branded basic apparel.  The company is the leading supplier of active wear for the screenprint market in the U.S. and Canada.  It is also a leading supplier to this market in Europe, and is establishing a growing presence in Mexico and the Asia-Pacific region.  Gildan’s corporate head office is located in Montreal, Canada

SI Yanks Help Major League Umpires Make ‘An Easy Call for Kids’!

Club Participates in 3rd Annual UMPS CARE Charities Online Auction

IslandYankees_2011-03-17

New York, NY- The Staten Island Yankees are among the more than seventy Minor League Baseball (MiLB) clubs participating in the 3rd Annual UMPS CARE Charities Online Auction. Fans can win luxury suites and blocks of 24 tickets at an incredible savings from 66% to 85% off of the retail value or gate price.

The 12-day online auction, with more than 200 items, is currently underway and closes Sunday, March 20. Sports fans can visit and win items at: www.biddingforgood.com/UmpsCare.

Proceeds from the online auction help to provide Major League Baseball experiences for children awaiting adoption, Build-A-Bear Workshop® experiences for children with cancer, and college scholarships for young adults who were adopted as children.

“Bidding is a win-win for everyone involved and we are overwhelmed by the support offered by Minor League Baseball and its member clubs”, said Tim Timmons, MLB umpire and UMPS CARE Charities Board Director. “Baseball fans win luxury suites and tickets at a discount, ball clubs showcase community involvement, and children awaiting adoption are treated to a special day at the ballpark as they wait for a forever home to call their own.”

In addition to MiLB suites and tickets, the auction also includes 2011 MLB All-Star Game tickets, the chance to watch batting practice from the field at a variety of MLB stadiums, Green Monster seats for a Red Sox-Yankees game, the chance to go behind-the-scenes at ESPN Baseball Tonight or play golf with ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt, 2-night hotel with ticket packages, dinner with financial guru Guy Adami after a taping of CNBC’s hit show Fast Money, a Pinehurst Resort Golf Experience with PGA Teaching Pro Dan Kochevar, memorabilia signed by President Obama and both Presidents Bush, and a selection of signed golf and football memorabilia.

Special “Bid for a Buck” auctions, contests, and giveaways will be announced via Twitter and Facebook throughout the 12-day event. Items starting at one dollar and available for a day or less will include game tickets, sportswear, memorabilia, and gift certificates. Follow UMPS CARE Charities on Twitter and Facebook for “Bid for a Buck” details.

Of course the real winners are the children served by the men in blue of UMPS CARE Charities. UMPS CARE Charities is a 501(c)(3) non-profit established by MLB umpires to provide financial, in-kind and emotional support for America’s youth and families in need. Since 2006, umpires have provided memorable baseball experiences for more than 4,000 children awaiting adoption and at-risk youth in mentoring programs. They have also hosted more than 50 children’s hospital events to provide Build-A-Bear Workshop experiences for children with cancer and other serious illnesses. Learn more at UmpsCare.com.

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

Stockton Ports contribute to local Little League renovation

The Stockton Ports teamed up with the California District 8 Little League to help enrich the lives of Stockton youth through the gift of baseball. The Ports and District 8 Little League announced that Eastern Little League had been selected as the recipient of a grant that helped with field renovation.

“The 12 Little Leagues within California District 8 are extremely fortunate to have the ongoing support of the Stockton Ports,” said Dee Dee Martinez, a CA District 8 Little League Administrator. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with the Stockton Ports as we work together to provide a program of service to the youth of our community through our baseball and softball programs.”

The grant, worth $1,146, went to the renovation of the East Side Community Park in Stockton where the Eastern Little League plays. The Ports have worked with California District 8 Little Leagues in the past, with the League being active participants in the Ports Little League days. The grant, which was from the Player Fine Money distributed by the California League, marks the first time the Ports have partnered with the League to renovate a field. In addition to the Ports grant, We Paint donated all painting supplies and a free power washing to the renovation efforts.

“We are proud of the relationship we have established with our area little leagues and are looking forward to being able to give back to the league by improving their field for the upcoming season.” said Tim Pasisz, the Ports Director of Business Development and coordinator of the team’s youth baseball programs.

The Ports front office staff donated their time to help with the renovation on March 5. The Ports spent the morning tearing down the worn and broken fence surrounding the little league field.

“Believe it or not, tearing down this fence was a lot of work,” said Community Relations Manager Margaret Sacchet. “We are just happy that we have the opportunity to help out with projects like this. This is where it all starts for these kids. We want them to have a nice, safe field to play on. We may see them play at Banner Island Ballpark one day!”

Legends’ Fan Fest Raises Funds for St. Baldrick’s

Opening Day is only a month away, and Lexington Legends fans showed Saturday that they are ready for a new baseball season.

Despite the cold, rainy weather, several hundred fans turned out at Whitaker Bank Ballpark for the Legends’ annual Fan Fest. Games and a variety of free food were offered, and the Legends teamed up with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation to raise funds in the fight against children’s cancer.

“The enthusiasm for this new season and our new sponsors has been very exciting,” Alan Stein said. “As long as this winter has been, we are all in the mood for baseball.”

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives. Since the first St. Baldrick’s event in 2000, five principles have directed the Foundation in its quest to Conquer Kids’ Cancer: integrity, efficiency, transparency, pioneering spirit, and sense of fun. This foundation was a perfect fit for the Lexington Legends.

Nine Lexington people had their heads shaved in a show of support for children undergoing cancer treatment, and more than $2,000 was raised for St. Baldrick’s. Hair stylists from Bak 4 More Studio were at the ballpark to donate their services and a monetary amount to assist the Foundation.

“Fan Fest is a lot of fun, and it’s another important date as we get ready for a new season,” said Legends General Manager Andy Shea. “It was great to see the fans at the ballpark. We were also very pleased to work with St. Baldrick’s, and happy to help out such a worthy cause.”

The Junior League of Gwinnett and North Fulton receives Gwinnett Braves February Grant

Team’s grant will help expand the Kids in the Kitchen initiative

The Gwinnett Braves announced today that the Junior League of Gwinnett and North Fulton is the recipient of the Gwinnett Braves February Grant. The $1,000 grant will be used to support the organization’s Kids in the Kitchen initiative.

The goal of the Junior League’s Kids in the Kitchen initiative, which is supported by The Association of Junior Leagues International Inc., is to empower youth to make healthy lifestyle choices and help reverse the growth of childhood obesity and its associated health issues. The program engages kids in the preparation of healthy meals and educates them and their parents regarding nutrition and healthy choices.

The initiative provides lessons and demonstrations related to preparation of healthy meals and snacks in partnership with local community organizations, chefs and nutritionists. In addition to healthy eating, the Junior League encourages physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle. This past year, the initiative provided healthy eating education and demonstrations to more than 300 children and their families. The grant will triple the reach of the Kids in the Kitchen initiative to more than 900 children in our community.

“The Junior League of Gwinnett and North Fulton Counties is honored to receive this grant from the Braves Foundation. We are celebrating our 25th year of service to the community and are striving to expand our impact. The Braves Foundation grant provides our organization with support that will help us expand our programs to reach more families in the area”, said Misty Sutton, Fund Development Chair. “We plan to utilize this grant to expand our Kids in the Kitchen program, which promotes healthy, and economical, food choices for children and their families. The Braves Foundation grant will help us to more than triple the number of children that we are able to educate through this program.”

About the Junior League
The Junior League of Gwinnett and North Fulton Counties, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization of women who are developed as civic leaders to create lasting community impact through training, leadership opportunities, advocacy and hands-on community service. Its purpose is to develop the potential of women to be leaders in their communities and to strengthen local communities by creating and implementing collaborative volunteer projects.

BlueClaws Charities Donates Over $150,000 In 2010

BlueClaws Charities, the non-profit foundation of the Lakewood BlueClaws, contributed over $150,000 to area organizations and fundraising events in 2010, the BlueClaws announced.

Charitable donations totaled $157,721 through a variety of different categories.

“Being a strong and active part of the community has been a priority for us since day one,” said BlueClaws General Manager Geoff Brown. “We’re grateful to those that have supported all of our charitable events and fundraising efforts to make this possible.”

Various BlueClaws fundraising events included the first Nine and Dine Golf Outing, the first Manager’s Luncheon, and the ALS Celebrity Waiter event in May (which has raised over $110,000 in 10 years).

BlueClaws Charities donated thousands of dollars to the Susan G. Komen Fund, American Cancer Society, and other Community Partners through BlueClaws jersey auctions last year and will again do the same in 2011.

More than $50,000 was raised by local organizations through the BlueClaws concession fundraising program, which enables groups to raise money by volunteering in the team’s concession stands.

Over $45,000 was donated through ticket requests and sponsorships of charitable golf outings.

Organizations received an extra $18,000 from BlueClaws Charities through 50-cent donations for each ticket used as part of a BlueClaws ticket fundraiser. Local organizations also bought discounted BlueClaws tickets and re-sold them for face value to raise an additional $130,000 during the 2010 season.

Record $43,313 Raised for Charity at Whitecaps Winter Banquet

The West Michigan Whitecaps’ 17th annual Winter Baseball Banquet raised a record $43,313 for charity Wednesday night at the Frederik Meijer Gardens. The event raised funds for the Whitecaps RBI/YMCA Inner-City Youth Baseball and Softball Program and the Detroit Tigers Foundation, an affiliate of Ilitch Charities. The $43,313 raised brings the grand total of funds raised for charity through the winter banquets over the past 17 years to more than $461,000.

The total raised edged out the funds raised for charity at the 2007 banquet, when nearly 1,000 attended to see Tigers manager Jim Leyland and a caravan of Tigers stars fresh off their World Series appearance three months prior.

Tigers CEO, President and General Manager Dave Dombrowski was the featured speaker at the event. Other special guest speakers were Whitecaps’ 2011 manager Ernie Young, former Whitecaps and current Tigers players Will Rhymes and Brennan Boesch.

WOOD TV 8’s Jack Doles announced the 2011 inductees into the Whitecaps Hall of Fame; they are 2003 Whitecaps and current Tigers pitcher Joel Zumaya, 1994-1998 Whitecaps and current Tigers Head Groundskeeper Heather Nabozny and 1996 Whitecaps and current Cincinnati Reds catcher Ramon Hernandez. Zumaya and Nabozny were both present to accept their awards for the induction.

Silent and live auctions of sports memorabilia and other items were the primary source of fundraising at the event. The top item of the night was the use of Dave Dombrowski’s personal luxury suite for a Tigers game (donated by the Tigers Foundation), which sold for $3,800 in the live auction. Dombrowski then graciously threw in a second suite at the same price to the other high bidder for another $3,800. Other top live auction items were a spring training trip for two, including airfare, four nights in a hotel and tickets to three Tigers games ($3,500); a Windy City Adventure for four including Cubs tickets, an on-field photo opportunity at Wrigley Field and four VIP tickets to Shedd Aquarium ($3,100) donated by the Cubs and Shedd Aquarium; and a World Series package that includes two tickets to games 3 and 4 with hotel ($2,500).

Top silent auction items included three innings on the air on a Whitecaps radio game broadcast ($1,200), a Kirk Gibson autographed jersey ($999) donated by the Tigers Foundation, the use of a Whitecaps suite for a game with a $100 catering credit ($600) and two Tiger Stadium seats ($550) donated by Jeff Spurrier.
Two raffles, including one that included a 40-inch TV and a Microsoft XBox with Kinect system, raised a total of $5,795.

Centrix Bank Community Outing Fundraising Program Raises $109,869.15 for Local Community in 2010

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, and Centrix Bank today announce that the Centrix Bank Community Outing Fundraising Program helped to raise $109,869.15 for various organizations in the local community during the 2010 baseball season through ticket sales, 50/50 raffles and concessions sales at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium.

“Centrix Bank is delighted to again partner with the Fisher Cats to raise greatly needed money in support of numerous local charitable organizations: made even more important during this challenging economic period,” said Joe Reilly, President and CEO of Centrix Bank.

Through the Centrix Bank Community Outing Fundraising Program, non-profit organizations can retain up to $4 for every ticket they sell for a Fisher Cats game, along with a portion of the funds raised through 50/50 raffles and special concessions sales. Groups are also able to raise awareness for their causes through flyers, concourse displays and on-field presentations at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium.  The Fisher Cats and the Fisher Cats Foundation have helped to generate over $1.6 million for 1,900 regional non-profit organizations by making donations, in-kind donations and by hosting 482 fundraisers at the ballpark.

“We are fortunate to work along side Joe Reilly and Centrix Bank in our efforts to have a positive impact in the community,” said Fisher Cats President Rick Brenner.  “Being able to help the non-profit organizations in our area raise money and awareness for their causes is something we try to do whenever we can.”

Centrix Bank is a full-service commercial bank offering highly personalized and responsive service to small to medium sized businesses and professionals, municipalities and not-for-profits throughout New Hampshire. For more about Centrix Bank, please visit www.centrixbank.com.

Foster Children’s Foundation receives Gwinnett Braves January Grant

Team’s grant will help deliver the Tomorrow Matters® mentoring program to foster children in North Georgia.

The Gwinnett Braves announced today that the Foster Children’s Foundation is the recipient of the Gwinnett Braves January grant. The $1,000 grant will be used to support the organization’s Tomorrow Matters® mentoring program.

According to Suzanne Geske, Executive Director, “the children we serve come from negative backgrounds and often believe that following their dreams will only lead to disappointment. All children deserve to hope for a better tomorrow and it begins with a dream. The funds received from the Gwinnett Braves will help the Foster Children’s Foundation support foster and at risk youth and allow them to believe in themselves and begin a path that will lead them to a successful future and allow them to achieve their dreams.”

The Tomorrow Matters® program provides critical life skills training to youth between the ages of 14 and 21. Trained, caring mentors deliver the program to ensure that the participants have what they need to reach their potential and become self sufficient citizens.

The Foster Children’s Foundation is a 501(C) 3 non-profit support organization that provides for the unmet material and emotional needs of youth in foster care. Their mission is to improve the quality of life for children who are in foster care or are in danger of entering the foster care system by identifying the economic, environmental, educational and emotional needs and implementing ways to raise public awareness and establish programs in an effort to serve these issues.

The Gwinnett Braves operate under the Atlanta Braves Foundation and specifically focus on those organizations in Gwinnett and its surrounding counties. The Atlanta Braves Foundation is the non-profit arm of the Atlanta Braves that actively supports community organizations and their programs within the metro Atlanta area. Through the foundation, the team is dedicated to providing social, educational and scholarship opportunities for the youth in our surrounding communities in connection with the activities of the Gwinnett Braves baseball club.

Shorebirds Raise Over $1,400 for United Way

The Delmarva Shorebirds, the class “A” affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, hosted a very successful 10th Annual Hot Stove Banquet on Jan. 30 at the Fountains Wedding & Conference Center. Through a silent auction that featured items such as a Matt Wieters autographed jersey and a Troy Polamalu signed picture, over $1,400 dollars were raised to benefit the United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore. The Shorebirds also collected over 200 food items to kick off the “Strike Out Hunger” campaign, the official initiative of the 2011 SAL All-Star Game, to be contested on June 21 at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.

One of the major announcements during the banquet came from 7th Inning Stretch, L.P. president Pat Filippone, who declared that Arthur W. Perdue Stadium will receive a significant upgrade in 2011. The Shorebirds will install a brand new Daktronics line scoreboard to replace the old one in left-center field. The board will feature all the traditional columns including: score by inning, runs, hits, errors and more. Installation of the scoreboard is expected to begin in the middle of February and be completed prior to opening day. The Shorebirds will post periodic updates of the installation process on our website, www.theshorebirds.com.

“I’m so pleased with how the hot stove turned out on many fronts,” said general manager Chris Bitters. “The speakers were awesome, the funds raised for the United Way and “Strike Out Hunger” were phenomenal and everyone was excited about the new line scoreboard.”

The Hot Stove Banquet served as an excellent precursor for the 2011 season. The nearly 150 people in attendance enjoyed speeches by: 14-year MLB veteran Mike Bordick, 2011 Shorebirds manager Ryan Minor, 2011 Bowie BaySox manager Gary Kendall, Orioles Assistant Director of Player Development Tripp Norton, former Shorebirds pitching coach Dave Schuler and more. Fans also had a chance to get autographs from the guests and ask additional questions after the event finished.

In addition to the speeches, guests had the opportunity to bid on the nearly 30 items in the silent auction that ranged from signed baseballs to collectable items from other Minor League Baseball teams. All the proceeds from the auction were donated to the United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore. In addition, Kathleen Momme, the Executive Director of the United Way, was on hand to deliver a powerful message about the importance of the United Way.

All guests that contributed a canned food item to the “Strike Out Hunger” campaign received a free raffle ticket. The Shorebirds raffled off nearly 20 items such as: four tickets to opening day and paraphernalia from other minor league and major league teams. The “Strike Out Hunger” campaign will benefit the three local food banks along the Eastern Shore; Maryland Food Bank, Food Bank of Delaware & Foodbank on the Eastern Shore.