Equipment Donations

Nationals Donate Pfitzner Stadium Field Tarp to University of Mary Washington Baseball Program

February 28, 2014

Potomac Nationals Pay it Forward with Field Tarp Contribution to Division III UMW Baseball

Woodbridge, VA-The Potomac Nationals have donated their Pfitzner Stadium field tarp to the University of Mary Washington Baseball program (Fredericksburg, Virginia) in an ongoing effort to bolster the resources of amateur and collegiate baseball in the Northern Virginia region.

The University of Mary Washington Eagles compete in the Division III Capital Athletic Conference at V. Earl Dickinson Stadium and will play 29 regular-season home games in 2014.

Dickinson Stadium holds a seating capacity of over 1,000 fans and is one of the finest facilities in all of NCAA Baseball.

“Any time the Potomac Nationals can positively impact another baseball program in our community, our club is going to jump at that opportunity. We are glad to donate our field tarp to the University of Mary Washington Baseball program, and we trust it will complement their terrific facility in a way that will minimize the amount of games postponed or lost due to the elements,” said Potomac Nationals Vice President/General Manager, Josh Olerud.

University of Mary Washington Baseball Head Coach, Wayne Riser reached out to the Nationals in advance of the Eagles’ home opener on February 15th to inquire about the availability of the Potomac Nationals’ field tarp.

“Everyone involved with our program is immensely appreciative of the generosity of the Potomac Nationals and especially the efforts of Mr. Olerud,” said UMW Head Coach, Wayne Riser.

“This tarp will benefit UMW Baseball student-athletes for years to come and is a great boost to our program.”

Riser coordinated with Olerud to arrange for members of the University of Mary Washington Baseball team to make the drive from Fredericksburg to Woodbridge to load the tarp on a flat-bed vehicle and haul it back to the Home of the Eagles.

“We are grateful to the Potomac Nationals for their recent donation of a tarp for our baseball facility,” said UMW Director of Athletics Ken Tyler.

“We appreciate the club’s generosity and engagement with UMW Athletics, and we hope our student-athletes and fans will support the Potomac Nationals this season.”

The University of Mary Washington Baseball team is off to a red-hot (4-1) start to the 2014 campaign and is riding a four-game winning streak as of February 28th.

Call the University of Mary Washington Athletics Ticket Office at 540-654-1039 for tickets to see UMW Baseball in action or head to www.umweagles.com for more information.

About UMW Baseball

One of the most successful NCAA Division III baseball programs in the nation, the University of Mary Washington has tasted nothing but success in its 26 year history, building a tradition as a power in the Middle Atlantic region and in the ultra-competitive Capital Athletic Conference. The Eagles are poised for success again in 2014, as second-year head coach Wayne Riser, who won more than 500 games at Shepherd University prior to coming to UMW, has the Eagles knocking on the door of national accolades.

The program has been among the elite in the region since its inception in 1988, winning 10 conference tournaments and advancing to 11 NCAA Division III Tournaments. In addition, 15 former Eagles have gone on to play professionally, with ’13 grad Mike Straub joining the group for the 2014 season, as he will pitch for Alpine in the Independent Pecos League.

The Potomac Nationals of the Carolina League play at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Virginia, and are the Class-A Advanced affiliate of the Washington Nationals. P-Nats 2014 season tickets and mini plans are now on sale. Sponsorship opportunities for the 2014 season and beyond are available. Plan your corporate outing now for the 2014 season to see the future stars of the Washington Nationals at The Pfitz as the P-Nats offer discounted group rates and all-inclusive picnic options. Visit the P-Nats online at www.potomacnationals.com or call the Potomac Nationals Ticket Office at 703-590-2311 for more information!

— Potomac Nationals —

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

BB&T Ballpark to host Armed Forces Night

June 28, 2013

Dash to offer special military discounts for tickets on July 11

The Dash will honor our military with a special Armed Forces Night on June 11 at BB&T Ballpark.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (JUNE 28, 2013) – On Thursday, July 11, the Winston-Salem Dash will hold an Armed Forces Night at BB&T Ballpark to honor those who are currently serving or have served in any branch of the military.

RailRiders to Hold Baseball Equipment Drive Saturday

June 18, 2013

Adult Equipment to be Sent to Troops Overseas, Youth Donations to Local Little Leagues

Moosic, Pa. – The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) will hold a baseball equipment drive to benefit both soldiers in Afghanistan and local little leagues. The drive will take place on Saturday, June 22, when the RailRiders host the Norfolk Tides (Baltimore Orioles) in a split doubleheader. Equipment will be accepted at both games with the first contest starting at 12:05 p.m. and game two getting underway at 7:05 p.m.

“We wanted to bring a little piece of home to our troops overseas,” said RailRiders community relations manager Rachel Mark. “Giving them the ability to participate in America’s favorite pastime is the least we can do for the men and women who have given so much.”

Donation bins will be set up at the front gates at PNC Field and will be manned by volunteers from The American Legion Post 665 in Dickson City until the third inning of each game. This will allow fans to drop off their gently-used equipment as they enter the ballpark. The drive is designed to bring a piece of home to our soldiers, and also make a direct impact in the NEPA community.

Following the game, all of the equipment that was donated will be sorted by the volunteers. The adult equipment will be shipped to soldiers stationed in Afghanistan, while the youth equipment will be donated throughout the NEPA area. The RailRiders will be accepting all baseball equipment that is in usable condition.

Gates will open up at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 22. The first 2,500 fans in game one will receive a free bat courtesy of Kost Tire & Auto. The gates for game two will open at 6 p.m. and the Cowboy Monkey Rodeo will perform after the nightcap. With no upper deck at PNC Field anymore, every seat in the ballpark provides the supreme views and intimacy that make minor league baseball so special at incredibly affordable prices. For more information, please visit the team’s official website, www.swbrailriders.com, or call 570-969-BALL (2255).

– SWB RailRiders – All Aboard! –

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees. Click here to view the original story.

Safe Kids Upstate Day is Sunday

April 27, 2013

First 300 kids through the gates receive a complimentary bike helmet

Safe Kids Upstate is an organization whose mission is to prevent accidental childhood injury, a leading killer of children 14 and under. Led by the Children’s Hospital of Greenville Health System, Safe Kids Upstate and its Safety Patrol members will be celebrated Sunday at Fluor Field.

Prior to the game members of Safety Patrol from across the Upstate will participate in a “Parade of Champions” around the Fluor Field warning track.

Safe Kids Upstate will also be providing complimentary bike helmets to the first 300 children through the gates at the ballpark. Each child receiving a helmet will be properly fitted for one their size.

First pitch for Sunday is set for 4:05 PM, with gates to Fluor Field opening at 3 PM. To purchase tickets visit the Fluor Field Box Office, call charge-by-phone at (864) 240-4528, or by logging onto GreenvilleDrive.com.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Greenville Drive1. Click here to view the original story.

Gloves for Kids Drive

March 20, 2013

The SeaWolves, have announced a Gloves for Kids Drive to collect equipment for youth baseball and softball players in the Erie community. The project is a joint effort between the SeaWolves and the SeaWolves Student Ambassadors.

The SeaWolves Student Ambassador Program provides area high school students with opportunities to learn about careers in sports and participate in community service projects such as the Gloves for Kids Drive.

The SeaWolves and SeaWolves Student Ambassadors are collecting new or gently used baseball and softball equipment, including gloves, balls, youth bats, and catcher’s gear, from now through April 20. Fans are invited bring their items to the game on Saturday, April 20 or drop off equipment in advance at the SeaWolves Ticket Office. Items collected will be donated to Erie area youth organizations including Boys and Girls Baseball in Erie, Inc.

“The SeaWolves want to encourage kids in our community to play ball ,” said SeaWolves President Greg Coleman. “We’d like to thank the Student Ambassadors and SeaWolves fans alike for lending their support so we can give deserving kids the resources they need to get out and play.”

Thanks to support from SeaWolves sponsors, each fan that donates a glove or other youth baseball equipment will receive a complimentary ticket any SeaWolves home game from May 25-June 6, 2013.

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

South Bend Silver Hawks Wrap Up Equipment Drive

March 19, 2013

Mishawaka Little League to Receive New Equipment

The Silver Hawks collected monetary donations, bats, gloves, helmets and other various baseball equipment over the past few weeks on behalf of the Mishawaka Little League. The local community support will allow the little league to rebound after being vandalized.

All those who donated to the equipment drive received a free ticket voucher good for (2) free tickets to one home game played between April 8th to April 24th. Watch full video

This article originally appeared on the official website of the South Bend Cubs. Click here to view the original story.

2013 Grant Beneficiaries Announced

January 26, 2013

IronPigs Charities presented by The Air Production Foundation, a non-profit organization striving to provide educational and recreational opportunities for children in the Greater Lehigh Valley area, will award a total of $85,700 in cash grants to 20 non-profit organizations during Thursday’s sold-out Phillies Winter Banquet featuring 1,100 guests at the Sands Events Center. Since debuting in 2007, IronPigs Charities has contributed a total in excess of $550,000 in cash grants and $215,000 in in-kind donations to dozens of local non-profit entities.

“Without question, this is the most rewarding night of the year for our organization,” remarked IronPigs Charities President Kurt Landes. “Make no mistake; these contributions would not be possible without the loyal support of our fans and business partners. We are truly humbled by the generous backing that IronPigs Charities receives and we look forward to continuing to make a tangible impact in our wonderful community.”

One of the annual highlights of the Winter Banquet event is the distribution of grants to local non-profit organizations. In fact, over $280,000 has been distributed at this event alone since debuting in 2008.

The 2013 beneficiaries along with a brief synopsis of their benefitting programs are listed below:

Allentown School District Foundation: An after-school intra-district middle school baseball program will be started in Allentown School District. At current, the Allentown School District does not have a baseball program at the middle school level. This program will allow for dozens of 6th, 7th and 8th graders to play baseball.
Boys and Girls Club of Bethlehem: Mind, Body and Soul are the three components of the Triple Play program. The multi-faceted program is designed to help young people become healthy and active while forming new relationships.
Boys and Girls Club of Easton: The Triple Play program consisting of the Mind, Body & Soul components, addresses a need for low-income youth to get more structured exercise in sports, explore healthy nutrition and learn social skills.
Community Bike Works: Children participate in a three month “Earn a Bike” program in which they receive instruction on bike mechanics, bike safety, employment skills and business concepts. At the successful conclusion of the program they earn a bike and a helmet.
Easton Police Athletic League: New uniforms and equipment will be purchased for the Easton Police Athletic League’s wrestling program. This program serves 50 youth from the Easton area.
Family YMCA of Easton, Phillipsburg & Vicinity: The Family YMCA Summer Youth Basketball League serves boys and girls ages 8 to 18. This program supports 80 youth and focuses on low income families.
Friends of the Allentown Parks: The Queen of the Court will give girls in the city of Allentown the opportunity to play basketball. Nearly 100 girls are expected to participate in the four week program.
Lehigh County Conference of Churches: The Aspires mentoring program addresses the health and wellness of at-risk youth in the Allentown School District. The IronPigs Charities grant will fund ten weeks of recreational and educational group activities.
Lehigh County Youth Association: LCYA serves over 100 youth who participate in a variety of sports, including baseball. The IronPigs Charities grant will provide new catchers equipment, a pitching machine, new bases as well as field maintenance equipment.
Lehigh Valley Zoo: The Lehigh Valley Zoo’s Wildlife & Wellness Program is a nature inspired health and fitness after-school program to benefit primarily disadvantaged, school-age youth in our community.
Lower Macungie Youth Association: After receiving a 2012 grant for field maintenance related items, Lower Macungie Youth Association will now receive funding for a storage shed for the items that were purchased last year.
Mikayla’s Voice: This June, Mikayla’s Voice will be hosting a one-of-a-kind triathlon for children with and without disabilities. Children with physical disabilities will participate in all three phases of a triathlon with a little help from their friends.
Miracle League of the Lehigh Valley: Their mission is to provide an all-inclusive baseball program for children with various special needs. The IronPigs Charities grant will provide uniforms and equipment for the nearly 300 players in the league.
Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley: Golden Dippers Ice Cream Parties will take place at the Children’s Hospital at Lehigh Valley Health Network for children battling cancer who are hospitalized. Additionally, PCFLV will celebrate the end of chemotherapy treatments with a Last Round of Chemo party.
Sacred Heart Hospital: An afternoon program of health and wellness will provide over 400 low-income youth with fitness activities, healthy snacks, fresh fruits and vegetables and a backpack giveaway filled with school supplies.
Salvation Army: The Breaking Barriers Fitness Camp will teach youngsters how to get fit, how the body works and the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. Each child will receive a personalized workout routine after the instructional sessions.
Special Olympics Lehigh County: A full course of track and field events will be setup for over 500 Special Olympics Athletes at Whitehall High School.
Valley Youth House: Valley Youth House will be building “Pigtown” as the fifth element of the adventure course at Camp Fowler. Throughout the year nearly 850 youth will participate in the adventure course.
YWCA of Bethlehem: The YWCA will give over 50 girls the opportunity to learn the game of golf. Held at Southmoore Golf Course and Wedgewood Golf Course, the young women will learn the necessary skills needed to play in tournaments throughout the area.

Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr., manager Charlie Manuel along with Dave Brundage (IronPigs manager), C Erik Kratz and INF Kevin Frandsen headline the sold-out 2013 Phillies Winter Banquet presented by The Air Products Foundation, Coca-Cola and the Lehigh Valley Health Network to be held on Thursday at the brand-new Sands Events Center in Bethlehem. Other Phillies dignitaries include Benny Looper (Asst. GM), Joe Jordan (Dir., Player Development) and Steve Noworyta (Asst. Dir., Player Development).

The Phillies Winter Banquet beneficiary, IronPigs Charities, is a recognized 501(c) (3) non-profit organization on the state and federal level.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Click here to view the original story.

Connecticut Tigers Assist Local “Non-Profit”

July 11, 2012

NORWICH- The Connecticut Tigers will be partnering with “Bikes For Kids” in hosting a bike drive prior to and during the game on Saturday, July 21st between Tigers and the Lowell Spinners, the New York-Penn League affiliate of the Boston Red Sox at 7:05 PM. The gates will open at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 21.

Bikes For Kids is a Connecticut-based non-profit organization that provides bicycles and equipment to children and families in need. The organization focuses its donations locally in Connecticut, but has also given bicycles and equipment to Haiti, Africa and various causes from around the United States.

Bikes For Kids was founded by the late Chuck Graeb in 1989. Graeb founded the organization on the idea that “every child should be able to experience the enjoyment of owning and riding their own bicycle.” Upon Graeb’s passing in 2009, current president David Fowler assumed leadership of the organization. “We put people on wheels that would either be walking or not really going anywhere at all,” said Fowler.

Representatives from Bikes For Kids will have a table set up on the concourse behind the press box during the game collecting new to slightly-used bikes, new helmets and other new or slightly-used equipment.

The organization reached 13,000 bicycles donated in November of 2011 and has already collected 700 bikes in the 2012 calendar year. With the assistance of the Tigers and the bike drive at Dodd Stadium, Bikes For Kids hopes to surpass a total of 14,000 bicycles donated by the end of the month.

The Connecticut Tigers are the Class-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers and play in the New York-Penn League. The Tigers saw a 23% increase in attendance in 2011 (the 4th highest in Minor League Baseball), and are entering their 3rd season at Dodd Stadium. The Box Office is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. In addition, tickets can be purchased over the phone at (860) 887-7962. For more information go online to cttigers.com.
This article originally appeared on the official website of the Connecticut Tigers. Click here to view the original story.

Donate to Help the Elkhart FOP Little League

March 19, 2012

South Bend, Indiana (March 19, 2012) – The South Bend Silver Hawks are asking the local baseball community to join them in efforts to help the Elkhart F.O.P. Little League recover from vandalism. Last week unknown vandals broke into the park and stole about 80% of their equipment.

The Silver Hawks announced today they are initiating a donation drive to help replace the little league’s stolen equipment. Anyone who makes a $10 donation or donates new or gently used baseball equipment will receive two complimentary tickets to see the Silver Hawks play the Dayton Dragons on Saturday, April 14. People can drop off donations of bats, baseballs, helmets, gloves and other equipment at the Silver Hawks’ centerfield box office Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The little league is in particular need of catcher’s equipment and helmets, but will be grateful for any help.

“This is one of the best ways kids can spend time in the summer,” said Joe Hart, President of the Silver Hawks. “More than 150 kids and teenagers participate in the Elkhart F.O.P. Little League, but without equipment they can’t play. Their season starts in only two months, so we want to do all we can to help. The Hawks are going to donate $500 to kick off the donation drive. We’ll deliver everything we collect directly to the league, so people can bring their equipment to the Cove and know they’re making a difference for these kids.”

The South Bend Silver Hawks are a Class A minor league team affiliated with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The team is owned and operated by Swing-Batter-Swing, LLC whose sole shareholder is Andrew T. Berlin of Chicago, IL.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the South Bend Cubs. Click here to view the original story.

BLUE ROCKS DONATE NEARLY $750,000 TO LOCAL CAUSES

October 21, 2010

Team’s Efforts with Marketing Partners & Fans Touch Thousands

The Wilmington Blue Rocks continued their commitment of giving back to the community throughout the 2010 season. The year saw the team, in tandem with its marketing partners and fans, raise $744,721.99 worth of contributions to local charities, schools and community organizations. The sum includes many different types of contributions including cash, tickets and services.

“We take pride in being able to contribute at this level to youth and charitable organizations in the greater Wilmington area,” said Blue Rocks general manager Chris Kemple. “I’m certain that we could not have done this without assistance from our 2010 marketing partners and fans that also played a large role in raising these funds.”

Below is a breakdown of the team’s efforts in the community during the campaign:

Cash Donations – $19,115

The Wilmington Blue Rocks were able to donate $19,115 to local organizations in 2010. These donations included Little League sponsorships, specialty game-worn memorabilia auctions, ticket kickbacks, and a sponsorship with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Delaware.

During select games, the Blue Rocks wore special jerseys or hats. That apparel was then auctioned and raffled off during those games. Some items were auctioned off online as well. Below are a few examples:

Boots on the Ground – Blue Rocks wore Camo hats
Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition – Blue Rocks wore Pink jerseys
B+ Foundation – Blue Rocks wore Throwback jerseys

Other organizations that benefited from this included: The Ronnie Williams Foundation, the ING DIRECT Kids Foundation, United Cerebral Palsy of Delaware, and the Kelly Heinz-Grundner Brain Tumor Foundation.

Ticket Donations – 66,798 tickets, Value – $601,182

Each year, the Blue Rocks are able to accommodate almost every donation request. Through those donation requests, school programs, and by offering bulk tickets to select local organizations (Kind to Kids, USO Delaware, Delaware Police Departments, and more), the Blue Rocks were able to donate almost 67,000 tickets for the 2010 season.

Centerplate Concession Stand Money – $63,149.99

During the 2010 season, local organizations had the opportunity to work the concession stands during Blue Rocks games. In exchange, Centerplate, the concessionaire for the Wilmington Blue Rocks, gave them a portion of the revenue from that game. Throughout the season, over $63,000 was donated to these organizations for their efforts.

Non-Ticket Donations – $21,575

These donations are for extraordinary cases that call for something extra special. Non-ticket donations consist of:

Luxury Suites
Experience Items (first pitches, on-field inclusion)
Autographed Items (bats, baseballs)
Merchandise/Promo Items
Blue Rocks Baseball Camp Scholarships
Used Baseballs/Gloves/Equipment

Advertising Donations – $8,500

During home games, the Blue Rocks allowed select non-profits to promote themselves or upcoming events. This promotion was executed through the use of the RocksVision video board, the public address system, and by providing concourse tables.

Speaking Appearances

The Blue Rocks Front Office donated over 50 hours of their time to speak at community events. These events included speaking to children at local elementary schools, high schools, and colleges about careers in sports, and speaking to local organizations about the Blue Rocks.

Player Appearances

Wilmington Blue Rocks Players made many appearances over the 2010 season. Some of these appearances included visiting the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children (at least once a month), a youth detention center, local schools, United Cerebral Palsy’s summer camp, as well as other local summer camps.

Mascot Appearances – $7,500

Rocky Bluewinkle visited 196 community events this year. (Spanned over 240 hours; Value of free or discounted appearances – $7,500).

In-Stadium Fundraising at Frawley Stadium – $23,700

The Blue Rocks opened up Frawley Stadium to select charitable organizations during home games, and enabled them to raise money for their respective causes. Money was raised by selling t-shirts, raffle tickets, and by collecting donations. There have also been a number of check presentations before Blue Rocks games during the 2010 season.

K’s for Kids: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware donated money every time a Blue Rocks pitcher recorded a strikeout at home. At the end of the season, Delaware Guidance Services for Children and Youth, Inc. was presented with a $5,000 check.
Stolen Base Learning Initiative: SBLI Life Insurance donated money for each Blue Rocks stolen base during a home game. At the end of the season, BooksFirst! was presented with a $5,000 check.
Stolen Bases for Happy Faces: New Castle County Chamber of Commerce donated $5,000 to the Bear Babe Ruth Baseball League Miracle League Field project.
B+ Score for the Cure: AstraZeneca donated money for each Blue Rocks run scored at home. At the end of the season, the B+ Foundation was presented with a $5,000 check.

Miscellaneous

Make-A-Wish Night: On Aug. 31, the Blue Rocks hosted Make-A-Wish Night. Wish Kids were treated like stars. They were able to participate in some unique activities before and during the game, and they received lots of autographs and free stuff.
Challenger Little League: The Blue Rocks continued the tradition of working with the Challenger Little League to host its season’s Opening Ceremonies. Each player was introduced individually, and all teams get to play on Judy Johnson Field.
Stadium Tours: The Blue Rocks offer stadium tours for free. Tours are usually 30 minutes long. In 2010, the Blue Rocks hosted 60 tours, many to community organizations with little to no funding.
Toy Drive: The Blue Rocks were once again, able to contribute toys to the Mary Campbell Center. Rocky Claus surprised guests at the Mary Campbell Center’s youth and children holiday party with a sack full of donated toys.

Tackling Childhood Obesity

The Wilmington Blue Rocks are committed to tackling the epidemic of childhood obesity. To do so, the Blue Rocks have partnered with local programs like Nemours Health and Prevention Services, Titus Sports Academy (CHAMPIONS program), and Girls on the Run. Through these partnerships the Blue Rocks have been able to reward kids who participate in health/fitness-related extracurricular activities.

Wilmington-Hospital 10-20-10 — One of the many visits by Blue Rocks players and team mascot Rocky Bluewinkle to A.I. duPont Hospital included (left-to-right): Rocky, Ivor Hodgson, Buddy Baumann, Barry Bowden, Adrian Ortiz. (Photo by Dave Arthur)

Bisons’ Adoption of Buffalo High School Baseball Program Enters Fourth Season

April 30, 2010

Led by team owners Bob and Mindy Rich, the Buffalo Bisons have extended their adoption of the City of Buffalo High School Baseball Program for a fourth season in 2010. The adoption will include 14 high schools –with the recent additions of Buffalo Early Middle College and Vocational and Performing Arts High School- and the continuation of the “Junior Bisons” summer team.

The Rich Foundation and the Buffalo Bisons officially adopted the City of Buffalo High School Baseball Program in April of 2007 as a commitment to assist in the revival and development of the city’s high school program. In the four years since, the Bisons have facilitated and assisted in the funding of the renovation of Johnnie B. Wiley Stadium, provided stipends for each school to hire assistant coaches and purchased extensive baseball equipment for schools that lacked even basic supplies.

The Bisons have also invited teams to use the faculties located at Coca-Cola Field, including the team’s indoor batting cages. Each year, the Bisons coaches and players have held one-day clinics for both the coaches and players of Buffalo high school teams.

One of the highlights of this adoption is the Junior Bisons. Each year, around 18 players are selected from the 14 Buffalo public high schools for a team that competes in the scholastic division of the CEBA -the County of Erie Baseball Association. The team has made the post season in each of the past two seasons. Two former Junior Bisons are currently playing baseball at the collegiate level.

With the growing interest this adoption has created, the Bisons have also found it necessary to be active in Buffalo middle schools as well. In 2008, the Bisons assisted in the forming of the Buffalo Middle School Developmental Fall Baseball Program where three to four teams (60 total students) are formed from area seventh and eighth grade students. The season is run at no-cost to the players and is the first of its kind in the city of Buffalo. This league focuses on skill development, sportsmanship and team building.

sports mccoy bisons — Bisons adopt Buffalo Public School baseball program on April 23,2007. Pictured are Mindy Rich (far left), Bob Rich (second in from right) and Dave Thomas (far right), Athletic Director, City of Buffalo Public High Schools (now retired). (Photo by James P. McCoy Buffalo News staff photographer)

Blue Rocks Donate Nearly Half a Million for Local Causes

September 22, 2009

The Wilmington Blue Rocks proudly announce that the 2009 season saw the team, in tandem with its marketing partners and fans, donate and raise $424,000 worth of contributions to local charities, schools and community organizations. The sum represents a collective of many different types of contributions with the majority coming from monetary and ticket donations.

“We take pride in being able to contribute at this level to youth and charitable organizations in the greater Wilmington area,” said Blue Rocks general manager Chris Kemple. “I’m certain that we could not have done this without assistance from our 2009 marketing partners and fans that also played a large role in raising these funds.”

Blue Rocks concessionaire, Centerplate, allows community organizations the opportunity to volunteer at the concession stands during home games in return for a percentage of the money received at each stand. Thanks to this program almost $74,000 was given back to community organizations.

The Blue Rocks continue to support local youth baseball and donated over $1,600 as well as used baseball equipment to local Little League organizations.

Game-worn memorabilia auctions saw an increase in frequency and dollar amounts, helping to raise over $6,300. On April 19, the Blue Rocks wore purple hats to raise money for the Bernadette Farrell Memorial Fund as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Night. The Rocks sported pink jerseys on May 29 to benefit the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition.

The Rocks wore camouflage hats on May 30 and August 1 to raise money for Delaware Boots on the Ground and USO Delaware. On July 3, Wilmington donned patriotic jerseys to support United Cerebral Palsy of Delaware (UCP). The Rocks wore Red hats on June 25 to raise funds for the American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula. The Rocks also sported gold jerseys on Aug. 13 for Elvis Night to benefit the local chapter of the American Lung Association. Blue Rocks players went beyond the laundry too, donating game-worn cleats and batting gloves that were auctioned off for charity.

Almost 60,000 tickets were distributed to area schools over the course of the season. Mascot Rocky Bluewinkle led the charge to promote literacy with

his Reading Challenge, presented by the Delaware State Ed ucation Association. The Blue Rocks worked with local schools to reward kids who met their reading goal. In 2009, over 150 area schools were awarded a total of 57,000 tickets. Along with Rocky’s Reading Challenge the Blue Rocks donated over 2,500 tickets through programs like the IFS Outstanding Students Program, which allows teachers to reward students who display excellence in behavior and performance in the classroom.

The team also donated over 8,000 tickets to community organizations throughout the 2009 campaign with 6,000 going to local fundraisers, 1,000 donated to the USO Delaware to use for their soldiers and staff, and the remainder finding a number of other local non-profit organizations in need. Those same non-profit groups received another $2,000 worth of free/discounted video board advertising and concourse tables to promote themselves and their worthy events.

The Blue Rocks organized special events to collect money and goods for those less fortunate. Before the season, the team held a gift drive for kids at the Mary Campbell Center. The team also offered ticket discounts to fans that donated items to the Food Bank of Delaware. The Blue Rocks Charity Golf Classic, held at Deerfield Golf and Tennis Club on Aug. 17, raised over $1,500 for UCP and CHILD, Inc. in one day.

Community appearances proved a regular item on the team’s calendar. Mascot Rocky Bluewinkle and numerous Blue Rocks players visited A.I. duPont Hospital for Children at least once a month throughout the season in addition to other appearances. Rocky logged over 60 community service hours at schools and charitable events as well. Rocks’ players put in over 20 hours despite their grueling 140-game schedule over five-plus months time. The Blue Rocks visited schools and community organizations throughout the Delaware Valley, tallying over 40 hours of their time throughout the season.

The K’s for Kids Program presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware (BCBSDE) completed its fourth season with great success. BCBSDE donated $10 to a local charity for every home game strikeout the Blue Rocks pitching staff recorded. Thanks to this program, BCBSDE presented Girls on the Run a check for $5,000 before the Blue Rocks game on Sept. 2.

Challenger Little League returned for its annual day of baseball on May 12. Teams from the league were able to play their games on Judy Johnson Field before the Rocks’ contest later that night in a tradition that has spanned over a decade.

During the last homestand of the regular season, the Wilmington police department collected donations for the daughter of a slain Georgetown police officer Chad Spicer. The generosity of Blue Rocks fans contributed over $5,000 to Aubrey Spicer’s trust fund.