Making Strides Walk Coming Up Saturday, Oct. 21

DAYTON, OHIO – The 2017 “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” walk will take place at Fifth Third Field on Saturday, October 21. Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. The walk will start at 9:00 a.m.

This event is part of a national fundraising effort. In 2016 alone, over 1 million walkers across the country collected more than $60 million to help fight this disease.

One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and it is estimated that over 40,000 lives will be lost to breast cancer in 2017. Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women (excluding skin cancer) and second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer death in women.

You can help win the fight. The walk and donations go directly to the support, transportation, recovery, and other needs that arise with the diagnosis of breast cancer. The American Cancer Society also invests in groundbreaking breast cancer research to better understand, prevent, find, and treat the disease.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. The Dragons website, www.daytondragons.com, has gone pink in October in support of efforts by Kettering Health Network to increase Breast Cancer awareness in the Miami Valley.

To register for the walk, please visit www.makingstrideswalk.org/Dayton.

More Information: The Dayton Dragons are the Midwest League affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and play a 70-game home schedule at beautiful Fifth Third Field in downtown Dayton, easily accessible from Interstate 75. Individuals and groups seeking information about Dayton Dragons group tickets, lawn tickets, the season ticket wait list, sponsorship opportunities or booking a Dragons speaker are encouraged to contact the Dragons by calling (937) 228-2287, by email at dragons@daytondragons.com, 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.

San Jose Giants Lending Support for Fire Victims

SAN JOSE, CA– The San Jose Giants have announced their plan to support victims affected by the catastrophic fires in Northern California. Wildfires began on Sunday, October 8 and, as of Friday morning, have tragically resulted in 31 confirmed deaths, hundreds of missing person reports, over 3,500 destroyed structures, 20,000 evacuations and more than 220,000 scorched acres. The devastation is being forged by nearly two dozen sizeable fires, stretching resources thin. The firestorm is currently one of the deadliest and most damaging in California state history.

“We are deeply saddened by the many tragedies caused by the devastating wildfires and understand that this national disaster is far from over” said Daniel Orum, San Jose Giants President and CEO. “Our organization vows to provide and support relief efforts for the North Bay community during these incredibly difficult times.”

The San Jose Giants have designated Municipal Stadium as a drop-zone for supplies and will be taking a delivery truck north for those impacted by the fires on October 19. Specific items in need include: air mattresses, cots, pillows, blankets, phone chargers, dry and canned pet food, animal crates, food bowls, can openers, diapers, baby strollers, personal protection equipment (masks, latex gloves, etc.), duct tape, camp stoves, propane, water, non-perishable food items, baby food, personal hygiene products (toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, baby wipes, soap, etc.), toilet paper, feminine hygiene products, Band-Aids, antibacterial, duffle bags, children’s books, coloring books and coloring supplies. The San Jose Giants will contribute water, clothing, hats and blankets amongst other needed items. The organization’s front office staff is currently collaborating with local organizations in determining a drop-off location.

The San Francisco Giants also teamed up with other Bay Area sports teams to support the fire relief efforts. The teams have established a You Caring site which donors can visit by Clicking Here. Individuals can also contribute via text by texting REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10 to American Red Cross Disaster Relief.

Municipal Stadium’s Box Office is open to collect supplies from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Thursday, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Friday and 2:00 to 5:00 PM. For more information call 408.297.1435.

Pawsox to Host Thanksgiving Food Basket Drive with First Lady of Pawtucket

The PawSox are teaming up with Lauren Grebien (The First Lady of Pawtucket) to help feed those in need by distributing food baskets on November 21 from 9am-5pm, the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.

This year’s goal is to fill 650 baskets of food for underprivileged families in Pawtucket and Central Falls, and we need your help.

If you are interested in volunteering your time, please contact Sandy Benson at (401)-728-6554.

Those who are unable to donate food or volunteer, but would like to make a financial contribution, please reach out to Herb Weiss, City of Pawtucket’s Economic & Cultural Affairs Officer at 401-728-0500 ext. 437.

The PawSox and the City of Pawtucket would like to thank you in advance for your generosity.

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

Halloween with the Hooks

Here is a link to the original story on the team’s website.

CORPUS CHRISTI – The Fourth Annual Halloween with the Hooks Celebration, presented by Ashley HomeStore, is scheduled for Thursday, October 26.

Whataburger Field gates open at 6 p.m. that evening, and entertainment runs until 9.

“This is a wonderful community event, and we can’t wait to see many of our friends back at the ballpark,” Hooks President Ken Schrom said. “We’ll have a number of sponsors and non-profits giving candy away to the kids and there will be numerous fun activities for young families.”

Among the various activities on Stripes Diamond and in the Driscoll Health Plan Kids Zone:

  • Bounce House
  • Corn Hole
  • Playground
  • Obstacle Course
  • Rockwall
  • Trampoline

Kieschnick’s Korner will be the site of additional child-centered games and contests.

Guests can also enjoy a costume contest and Halloween-themed videos; selections this year come from the Scooby-Doo and Peanuts archives.

Admission to Halloween with the Hooks is free. Guests are encouraged to donate a canned food item for the Coastal Bend Food Bank.

Corpus Christi’s Ashley HomeStore is located at 5001 S. Padre Island Drive, or go to ashleyfurniturehomestore.com

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

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Canadians deliver on Thanksgiving promise

Here is a link to the original story on the team’s website.

(Vancouver, B.C.) – The Vancouver Canadians Baseball Club in partnership with Save-On-Foods and The Salvation Army shared in some Thanksgiving generosity on Wednesday delivering 100 family-sized turkeys to local families in advance of the upcoming long weekend.

“We put our commitment to this community above all else,” states Vancouver Canadians, Vice-President, Sales & Marketing, Graham Wall.

Vancouver Canadians“To help bring families together this Thanksgiving and do it alongside both Save-On-Foods and The Salvation Army is really special for us. These families rely on The Salvation Army on a daily basis so to be able to help bring some cheer as the holiday season approaches is something we take great pride in.”

“Many people we serve find it difficult to afford the necessities of life such as rent, the medications they may need, and heat and hydro. Together with our community partners, we are able to share this gift of a turkey which provides a nutritious meal and the added blessing of precious time spent with family and friends over a meal at Thanksgiving time,” James Hagglund, Major, Salvation Army.

This event marks the 11th consecutive year that the Vancouver Canadians have hand-delivered family-sized turkeys to local families in co-operation with The Salvation Army.

“I’m glad they gave me instructions,” said Karen who brought her basket in tow to help bring home her family-sized turkey.

“My family doesn’t get together a whole lot so maybe this will bring them over,” Karen added while smiling.

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

PawSox Foundation Presents Tomorrow Fund with Donation of $21,156

The PawSox Foundation today presented $21,156 to the Tomorrow Fund at Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence, RI, to help families of children who are battling cancer. The funds are generated at the PawSox’ nightly “Hurl the Pearl” contest presented by six local Honda dealers.

“Childhood Cancer is one of the primary areas of focus of the PawSox Foundation,” said PawSox President Dr. Charles Steinberg. “We are inspired by the great work and good deeds of the Tomorrow Fund, and we are pleased to help their efforts. Talking to the families who have benefited from their care, we recognize what a treasure Rhode Island has in the Tomorrow Fund.”

Tomorrow Fund Executive Director Lisa Abbenante received the donation from a PawSox contingent that included Steinberg, as well as Julie Hershkowitz (Director of Client Services), Mike Lyons (Account Executive, Partnerships) Joe Bradlee (Director of Communications & Community Relations), Jackie Dempsey (Special Assistant to the President), and team mascots Paws and Sox.

At each game, fans purchase soft white baseballs and throw them at a Honda circling the field. Their donations go to the Tomorrow Fund. (Fans who toss balls through the open sun roof receive a PawSox Prize Pack of souvenirs.)

Last year, fans raised $10,008 for the charity.

 

The local Honda Dealers who sponsor the promotion (and provide the decorated vehicle) are Balise Honda, Grieco Honda, Herb Chambers Honda, Majestic Honda, Saccucci Honda, and Colonial Honda of Dartmouth.

For the second straight year, the PawSox helped launch Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (September) in their final weekend of the season.

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

OceanFirst Foundation Completes Home Runs for Heroes Grant Program

In nine years, the Home Runs for Heroes program has raised over $260,000.

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LAKEWOOD, NJ – OceanFirst Foundation donated over $40,000 to area military-based non-profit organizations through the 2017 Home Runs for Heroes Program. The program is a partnership between the BlueClaws, OceanFirst Foundation, and Townsquare Media.

Home Runs for Heroes Grants provide financial support to charities that meet the emergency basic needs of veterans and local service men and women – active and retired – and their families during difficult times. Non-profits were paired with each inning of the game and each BlueClaws home run hit at FirstEnergy Park meant a $1,000 donation to the charity corresponding with the inning in which the home run was hit.

Organization Inning Home Runs Total
Operation First Response 1st 2 $2,000
Chariot Riders & Navy-Marine Corps Relief 2nd 4 $4,000
American Recreational Military Services 3rd 1 $1,000
GI Go Fund & Jewish Federation/Take the Wheel 4th 4 $4,000
Army Emergency Relief & National Guard State Family Readiness Council 5th 1 $1,000
VetGroup & Catholic Charities 6th 5 $5,000
American Red Cross 7th 8 $8,000
Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski Memorial Fund 8th 3 $3,000
Citizens Veterans Advisory Committee 9th + Extras 1 $1,000

Home runs hit in the second, fourth, fifth, and sixth innings meant $1,000 donations to two charities, so $43,000 was donated for the BlueClaws 29 home runs hit at FirstEnergy Park this year.

The program, which just completed its ninth season, has now raised $260,000 to area non-profits thanks to the donations of OceanFirst Foundation.

Darick Hall led the BlueClaws with seven home runs at FirstEnergy Park this year, while Brett Barbier hit four and Arquimedes Gamboa hit three. Austin Listi hit two, including a walk-off home run in the 12th inning of the final game of the season, bringing a $1,000 donation to the Citizens Veterans Advisory Committee. This was the lone BlueClaws home run hit in the ninth inning or extra innings this year.

The BlueClaws are the Jersey Shore’s top stop for affordable, family entertainment. The 2018 schedule has been released and 2018 BlueClaws ticket packages and group outings are currently on sale.

Since its founding in 1902, OceanFirst Bank has built a solid reputation and legacy as a good neighbor and responsible corporate citizen. The Bank’s strong commitment to helping families, organizations, schools and communities throughout central and southern New Jersey meet their financial needs has spanned several generations, reaching new heights in 1996 with the creation of OceanFirst Foundation. The Foundation provides grants to organizations that meet community needs within the OceanFirst market. Since its inception, OceanFirst Foundation has contributed in excess of 6,400 grants totaling more than $32 million to over 750 local charities throughout central and southern New Jersey.

– BlueClaws / OceanFirst –

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

Fort Myers Miracle Ownership Gifts $10,000 to the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools, Inc.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (September 27, 2017) – The Fort Myers Miracle, Advanced-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, have announced that Miracle ownership, SJS Beacon Baseball LLC, will be donating $10,000 to the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools Inc. Those who would also like to donate to the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools Inc. may do so at https://thefoundationforleecountypublicschools.networkforgood.com/projects/36335-hurricane-irma-school-relief-fund.

“With this donation today and our other efforts, the Miracle continue to provide targeted relief to those impacted by Hurricane Irma,” stated Miracle principal owner Jason Hochberg. “Many schools in Lee County and most importantly, their students were impacted by the hurricane. The funds provided today by the Miracle will go directly to help those students and repair the schools. We encourage Miracle fans to support the Foundation as well.”

This is the second major donation from team ownership due to Hurricane Irma. Back on September 13, it was announced that funds would be donated to the Southwest Florida Community Foundation. The foundation has teamed up with the United Way to directly help people displaced from their homes and those suffering losses due to Irma in Lee, Collier and neighboring counties. For more information or to donate, please visit https://floridacommunity.com/

“Thank you to the Fort Myers Miracle for this incredibly generous donation to our students, families, and employees who have been impacted by Hurricane Irma,” said Dr. Gregory Adkins, Superintendent of the school district of Lee County. “The effects of the storm have been devastating to our community, and we very much appreciate the support and partnership of the Fort Myers Miracle in helping families rebuild their lives.”

The Miracle will hold a clothing drive in the team store at Hammond Stadium on Friday, September 29 from 12 PM to 6 PM. Fans are encouraged to bring in clothing items to help those affected by Irma. Each item of clothing donated allows fans to purchase ANY team store item at 50% off. Irma relief shirts and caps will also be available for the first time outside of online sales. However, none of those items are eligible for the 50% discount in the store.

Beyond Friday and into the 2018 Season, the team will continue their Irma Relief shirt and cap sales online. Those items can be found by visiting http://miracle.milbstore.com/store.cfm?store_id=107

To stay up to date, follow the Miracle online at Miraclebaseball.com or through social media; Twitter: @MiracleBaseball, Instagram: fortmyersmiracle, Facebook: Fort Myers Miracle, Snapchat: ftmyersmiracle. For further information or questions once power is restored, call the Miracle front office at (239) 768-4210.

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

Chasers Nominated for John Henry Moss Community Service Award

The Pacific Coast League has announced that the Omaha Storm Chasers’ franchise is the circuit’s nominee for Minor League Baseball’s John Henry Moss Community Service Award. Each league in Minor League Baseball nominated an organization, with the overall winner announced at the annual Baseball Winter Meetings in Orlando, Florida in December.

“A truly great organization is one that shows a high level of commitment to its own community,” stated Omaha Storm Chasers President and General Manager Martie Cordaro. “We are proud to be representing the Pacific Coast League with this nomination, which is a testament to the time and commitment of our front office staff, as well as the Kansas City Royals organization, to the Omaha Metro community.”

Over the course of the 2017 campaign, Chasers Charities, the charitable arm of the Omaha Storm Chasers, donated $808,182 to local charities, setting an all-time record in charitable giving for the fourth consecutive year. The Storm Chasers assisted over 1,500 different organizations, and were also visible in the community with over 420 mascot and player appearances. Front office employees also donated 740 hours of community service throughout the year.

73 different organizations were provided a platform at Werner Park at the Sprint Community Organization of the Night. Over $18,000 was raised through the McDonald’s and Huber Chevrolet Hurl the Pearl promotion for the Ronald McDonald House, while more than $21,000 was raised for various local charities including Methodist Hospital Founation and Moving Veterans Forward via four Jersey Auctions. Initiatives also included Hy-Vee Canned Food Sundays, with nearly 5,000 items donated to Heartland Hope Mission, in addition to Chasers FUNdamentals, with Chasers Charities teaming with DREAM to put on baseball clinics introducing youth to baseball.

Chasers Charities also offered the Chasin’ Dreams Grant, donating a total in excess of $9,000 to help non-profit organizations that operate youth softball/baseball programs make major renovations. Two Jackie Robinson Athletic Scholarships worth $1,000 each were also awarded through Chasers Charities and The Weitz Company, while partnering with the Nebraska State Treasurer’s Office for the 15th annual Why I Want To Go To College Essay Contest.

The Storm Chasers also held their third annual Chasers Community Week presented by Summit Dental, which included the Jirschele Family Memorial Golf Outing to help benfit the Muscular Dystrophy Association, as well as player appearances at Children’s Hospital and the Southwest YMCA and hosting Bellevue Buddy Baseball at Werner Park. The nine-day event culminated in hosting The Wall That Heals, an exhibit that featured a half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. The exhibit was open 24 hours a day from August 3-6 at Werner Park, with the Storm Chasers’ Military Appreciation game preceded the exhibit’s closing ceremonies.

Werner Park also served as a site for local organizations to use the stadium as a venue to host large-scale fundraisers. Those special events included the “Boxer 500” to benefit the Great Plains Colon Cancer Task Force, the “Walk to Defeat ALS”, SHARP Race towards Brain Aneurysm, Heart Heroes Run, and Nebraska 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb.

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

Missing Children Found After Being Featured on ONEOK Field Sign

The Tulsa Drillers are pleased to announce that five of the missing children seen on signage at ONEOK Field this season have been located and returned home safely.

Eight different children were featured this year on The BairFind Foundation signage located on the first base concourse between Drill Bits and the main concession stands. Last year, three of the four kids featured were successfully located after their faces were shown on the sign at Drillers games.

The foundation confirmed that Alexis Bridges, Patrik Morrow, Neydy Amador-Lara, Stacie Dubbs, and Jesika Mosby had all been found and safely returned to their homes in Tulsa and the surrounding area.

The BairFind Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to finding missing children, placed more than 1,000 photos of missing kids in 151 MiLB ballparks this past season. Over 385 of those children featured were safely found. Of those successfully returned home, 31 of the kids shown in the ballparks in the Texas League were safely located. All 151 participating teams had at least one featured child who was found and returned home this summer.

“We are thrilled to have seen more than double the number of kids found from last year to this year while expanding the search in even more ballparks,” said BairFind Foundation Director, Dennis Bair.

The search continues for Tory Ashley and Kaitlyn Hicks from Tulsa, and Paige Moore from Broken Arrow, the three remaining children seen on the BairFind Foundation’s poster this season. Fans wishing to support or learn more about the work of The BairFind Foundation can visit their website at www.bairfind.org.

The Foundation would like to highlight the fact that the top proven method to locating missing children is to have as many eyes as possible looking. If you or someone you know has any information on the whereabouts of a missing child, please call 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or visit www.missingkids.com to report the information.

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

10th Annual Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk, September 30 at Coca-Cola Field

October is National Down Syndrome Awareness Month and the Down Syndrome Parents Group of Western New York will continue its mission of education, support and celebration with a very special 10th Annual Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk, Saturday, September 30th at Coca-Cola Field (11:00 a.m.).

Down syndrome is the most commonly occurring chromosomal condition in newborns in the United States, occurring in approximately one in every 700 babies. But while most people with Down syndrome have a mild to moderate cognitive or intellectual disability, the condition cannot and should not overshadow the many strengths and talents these individuals possess.

The Step up For Down Syndrome Walk aims to educate, support and celebrate those individuals and those families with Down Syndrome. The event runs from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at Coca-Cola Field, beginning with a one-mile walk through the Harbor Center, led by the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts, Arts-Tech Marching Band. Afterwards, all are welcome to stay in the Coca-Cola Field CF Pavilion area to enjoy great food, fun arts & crafts and games, a photo booth, raffles and educational information. There will also be special performances by individuals with Down syndrome as well as music by The Strictly Hip.

Anyone is welcome to attend the event, including day of walkups. Cost is only $10 per person and includes a free lunch. Contact Amy Monson at amonson23@gmail.com or (716)-677-0604 for more information.

The Down Syndrome Parents Group of Western New York is a 501c3 non-profit organization which was formed in 1987 by a group of parents whom connected through the common bond of parenting children born with Down syndrome. Since its inception, the group has supported hundreds of families in and around the Western New York area while promoting awareness of Down syndrome, and acceptance of individuals born with Downs. Through a series of annual events which have become a yearly tradition for many families in the area, DSPGWNY has continually expanded awareness of Down syndrome while enriching the lives of the many people whom have taken part.

For more information, visit DSPGWNY.com any questions or contact the group at (716) 832-9334.

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

Dragons to Host College Prep Night

Dayton, Ohio – The Dayton Dragons and Fifth Third Bank will hold College Prep Night, a free educational event for prospective college students, at Fifth Third Field on Wednesday, September 27 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

College Prep Night is a one-stop college resource event to guide incoming college students and their parents through the process of planning an educational path. High school students can talk to representatives from some of the region’s top colleges, and two lucky students in attendance will win $1,667 college scholarships, courtesy of Fifth Third Bank.

More than 1,000 students and their guests attend and more than 60 colleges and universities participate in this free event. Among the colleges scheduled to appear are Ohio State University, Miami (Ohio) University, University of Notre Dame, University of Cincinnati, University of Dayton, University of Kentucky, Wright State University, and many more schools from around the region. Representatives will be on hand to answer whatever questions that students might have about college life at each particular school.

“College is an important milestone in life for those who choose to pursue it, and it’s important to us at Fifth Third to help students and their parents prepare financially,” said Doug Compton, Dayton city executive for Fifth Third Bank. “This is the tenth year for this great community event and it only seemed fitting to make the quantity and amount of scholarships a Fifth Third Better.”

The $1,667 scholarships will be given away after the event to two lucky college-bound students. To be entered to win, parents or students must RSVP before the event at www.daytondragons.com/collegeprep and must attend the event, although they do not have to be present to win.

In addition to visiting with the different schools, students and parents can participate in dynamic, informative workshops that will tell them everything they need to know about college. In one of the informative seminars, Fifth Third Bank will educate attendees on the new Fifth Third Momentum™ app, which helps pay off student loans faster.

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

2017 Perdue Strike Out Hunger Challenge Delivers Record 180,000 Meals In Fight Against Hunger On Delmarva

SALISBURY, MD. – As part of a company commitment to hunger relief, Perdue Farms teamed with the Delmarva Shorebirds – the Class A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles – and three Delmarva food banks for the annual season-long 2017 Perdue Strike Out Hunger Challenge on Delmarva to deliver a record 180,000 meals across Delmarva communities.

“We’re proud of the collaboration we have with the Delmarva food banks, the Shorebirds and its fans, and the community at-large,” said Kim Nechay, executive director of The Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation. “The way in which everyone responded to the Strike Out Hunger Challenge again this year reflects the passion and commitment our communities have for helping those in need.

“We’re delighted that the Strike Out Hunger Challenge continues to provide a large platform to raise awareness about the problem of hunger on Delmarva and provide much-needed relief to those in need,” she said.

The 2017 Perdue Strike Out Hunger Challenge on Delmarva provided the forum to continue the awareness and community engagement that began with Perdue’s sponsorship of the 2011 South Atlantic League “Perdue Strike Out Hunger All-Star Game” promotions. Since then, the Shorebirds and food banks have embraced the Strike Out Hunger Challenge to generate more three quarters of a million meal equivalents for those in need on Delmarva.

“It’s amazing that the Strike Out Hunger campaign made such a significant jump (40,000 meals) over last season,” said Jimmy Sweet, assistant general manager of the Delmarva Shorebirds. “The Shorebirds look forward to working with Perdue moving forward to surpass 200,000 meals next season.”

To drive this year’s Perdue Strike Out Hunger Challenge on Delmarva, Perdue Farms issued a $15,000 challenge grant funded by the Perdue Foundation – the charitable giving arm of the company – to benefit the Eastern Shore Branch of the Maryland Food Bank, the Food Bank of Delaware and the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore.

Each of the food banks were required to engage the Delmarva community to raise the equivalent of 10,000 meals in order to claim their equal share of the first $10,000 of the Foundation challenge grant. This included any combination of pounds of food collected, funds collected and donated, or volunteer hours throughout the duration of the Shorebirds’ season.

Additionally, Perdue also donated $10 for each time the Shorebirds’ pitchers struck out an opposing batter up to $5,000.

“Eastern Shore residents challenged by hunger continued to find support through community partnerships pledging to donate food, funds and their time through volunteerism in support of the 2017 Perdue Strike Out Hunger Challenge,” said Jennifer Small, managing director of the Eastern Shore branch of the Maryland Food Bank. “Our collaborative efforts have helped provide Maryland’s hungry with more than 260,000 meals. This initiative remains a pivotal part of the Maryland Food Banks’ ability to meet the daily needs of those who struggle to feed their families.”

As Chad Robinson, director of strategic initiatives for the Food Bank of Delaware in Milford, explains, “Strike Out Hunger has been a vital part of summer for the Food Bank of Delaware. The challenge from Perdue and the Delmarva Shorebirds helps us to ensure that we are able to feed hungry Delawareans throughout the summer months, when donations can be low. It also presents a great opportunity for families to have an easy way to give back, as they enjoy America’s greatest pastime.”

Charmin Horton, branch manager of the Foodbank of the Eastern Shore in Tasley, Va., said the partnership helps provided much needed service to more than 12,000 people. “Our long-term partnership with Perdue and now the Shorebirds has enabled us to provide much-needed food and programs to those facing food insecurities here on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. These programs provide meals and nutrition education to families, children and seniors who are currently facing issues of hunger.”

About The Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation
The Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Perdue Farms, was established in 1957 by company founder Arthur W. Perdue and is funded through the estates of Arthur W. Perdue and Frank Perdue. As part of our belief in supporting the communities where and with whom we do business, the Foundation provides grants on behalf of Perdue Farms in communities where large numbers of our associates live and work. At Perdue Farms, we believe in responsible food and agriculture.®

About Perdue Farms

We’re a third-generation, family owned, U.S. food and agriculture company. Through our belief in responsible food and agriculture, we are empowering consumers, customers and farmers through trusted choices in products and services.

We focus on continuously improving everything we do, constantly learning, and sharing those insights across different production methods. That innovative approach is driving change throughout the company and onto farms. This continuous advancement is leading us toward our vision of becoming the most trusted name in food and agricultural products.

            The PERDUE® brand is the number-one brand of fresh chicken in the U.S., and Perdue AgriBusiness is an international agricultural products and services company. As we approach our 100th anniversary in 2020, our path forward is about getting better, not just bigger. We never use drugs for growth promotion in raising poultry and livestock, and we are actively advancing our animal welfare programs. Our brands are leaders in no-antibiotics-ever chicken, turkey and pork, and in USDA-certified organic chicken. We’ve increased our support for the family farm by creating new markets, including specialty crops. Through agricultural services, we give farmers more options for the acre, including conversion to organic production and products and services that increase the sustainability of conventional agriculture. Learn more at www.perduefarms.com.

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

Fort Myers Miracle Announce Initial Hurricane Irma Relief Efforts

FORT MYERS, Fla. (September 13, 2017) – The Fort Myers Miracle, Advanced-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, announce initial Hurricane Irma relief efforts aimed at helping Lee, Collier and neighboring counties. Ownership will donate money, and the staff will volunteer their time within the community. The team also announces a new logo symbolizing aid to Southwest Florida.

Miracle ownership, SJS Beacon Baseball LLC, is leading the relief efforts by donating funds to the Southwest Florida Community Foundation. The foundation has teamed up with the United Way to directly help people displaced from their homes and those suffering losses due to Irma in Lee, Collier and neighboring counties. For more information or to donate, please visit https://floridacommunity.com/

“We are grateful that Hurricane Irma did not have the terrible impacts that were initially forecast,” stated Miracle principal owner Jason Hochberg. “However, many people are suffering from the storm. The Miracle will do their part to help relieve some of the suffering, and we cannot wait to see everyone back at the ballpark in 2018 for spring training and Miracle season. I also wanted to especially thank Brandiose, Jason and Casey, for donating their time to create the Hurricane Irma Relief logo.”

The Miracle are also pleased to announce a new “Hurricane Irma Relief” logo designed by Brandiose (https://www.brandiose.com). Brandiose generously donated their time and labor to create the logo. The team expects to produce shirts and hats with the logo during the offseason with all proceeds of these items going to those impacted by Hurricane Irma.

Upon initial review, the CenturyLink Sports Complex / Hammond Stadium sustained minor damage from Hurricane Irma. The stadium and Miracle offices are currently without power and remain officially closed until further notice. The complex is being used as a staging ground for the National Guard and other hurricane relief efforts. Miracle staff will volunteer a portion of their time to assist with the local cleanup.

Finally, the Miracle will be presenting new related events at the ballpark during the upcoming 2018 season to further the relief efforts. They will be designated by the logo as a “Hurricane Irma Relief” event with proceeds from each event benefitting those affected by Hurricane Irma. If you or your company would like to aid in the Miracle relief effort, please e-mail Executive Vice President / Chief Operating Officer Ben Hemmen at Ben@miraclebaseball.com.

To stay up to date, follow the Miracle online at Miraclebaseball.com or through social media; Twitter: @MiracleBaseball, Instagram: fortmyersmiracle, Facebook: Fort Myers Miracle, Snapchat: ftmyersmiracle. For further information or questions once power is restored, call the Miracle front office at (239) 768-4210.

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

Shuckers to team up with Corpus Christi for Hurricane Harvey relief efforts

The Biloxi Shuckers front office staff is teaming up with the Corpus Christi Hooks to aid the Texas Coastal Bend residents in Hurricane Harvey relief efforts! Members of the front office staff will travel to Texas to help in the cleanup efforts and deliver much-needed supplies.

ITEMS NEEDED:
Water, diapers, animal food, bug spray, and toiletries are all in high demand. Fans can drop off items at the Biloxi Shuckers front office at MGM Park.

You can also provide a monetary donation via this LINK. 

Donations will be accepted after the week of September 18, as any donations dropped off after our trip will be donated to Hurricane Irma relief efforts in Florida.

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The Corpus Christi Hooks are meeting Texas Coastal Bend residents at their point-of-need by partnering with local and national charities in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. The devastating Category 4 storm made landfall at Rockport, Texas, on Friday, August 25, 2017.    

Please help our efforts to get Texas Coastal Bend residents back on their feet. 

This relief initiative is vitally important to the Corpus Christi Hooks Baseball Club because so much of the affected region is in our area. For example, of 51 high school communities, approximately 40 percent were affected by Harvey, including those hardest hit: Rockport-Fulton, Port Aransas, Aransas Pass, Ingleside, Refugio, Woodsboro, Victoria, Port Lavaca, Flour Bluff, Sinton, Taft, Gregory-Portland, Beeville, and Odem.    

Fans from these towns and others have been instrumental in our success since the Hooks began play in 2005 and we want to use our platform to give back and make sure their needs are met during this time of great adversity.   

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