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River Cats to Honor Valley High School Baseball Team

May 15, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 15, 2013

RIVER CATS TO HONOR VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL TEAM

On-field recognition ceremony scheduled for Friday, May 17

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Sacramento River Cats will honor the heroic act of the Valley High School baseball team this Friday, May 17, with an on-field ceremony, in addition to treating the entire team to a night of baseball at Raley Field.

The Valley High School team received national attention recently for pulling a car off a young girl and saving her life on Tuesday, May 7. According to the Sacramento Bee, players from Valley High’s varsity and JV baseball teams heard a girl screaming and came to her aid, pulling a sedan off her and allowing their coaches to pull her from underneath the car.

In addition to the on-field recognition prior to Friday’s 7:05 p.m. game, the Cats are treating both teams and their coaches to complimentary tickets to Friday’s game against the Oklahoma City RedHawks.

Valley High School co-head coach Brett Sawyer said that his team is “beyond ecstatic” for the opportunity to take his players to Raley Field this weekend.

“John Wooden once said, Sports don’t build character, they reveal it,” Sawyer said. “The Valley baseball team exuded character in the truest form that day, and the school, administration, community and coaching staff are proud of each and every one of them.”

The Cats open an eight-game homestand beginning Thursday, May 16, at 7:05 p.m. During the homestand, fans will be treated to two nights of fireworks, two Miller Lite Thirsty Thursdays, and the first of nine bobblehead giveaways of the season, scheduled for Sunday, May 19, when 2,500 fans will receive Barry Zito bobbleheads. Tickets are available at rivercats.com, ticketmaster.com, Raley Field’s Round Table Pizza Ticket Office, or by calling (916) 371-HITS.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Sacramento River Cats. Click here to view the original story.

Memorial Day: Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball

April 30, 2013

All-You-Can-Eat picnic in the park for only $10 on May 27

The Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team is coming to CMC-NorthEast Stadium Memorial Day 2013. (woundedwarrioramputeesoftballteam.org/)

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (April 30, 2013) – The Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team is coming to Kannapolis this Memorial Day – Monday, May 27, for a special showcase against the Charlotte Firefighters Association Local 660. The featured game is at noon at CMC-NorthEast Stadium, home of the Kannapolis Intimidators, Class A Affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. Admission to the four-game softball exhibition is only $5, and tickets are now on sale by calling the F&M Bank Box Office at (704) 932-3267 or visiting IntimidatorsBaseball.com/woundedwarrior.

Tigers to Host Benefit for Local Hero & Norwich PD

March 19, 2013

Norwich, CT – A benefit honoring recently wounded Norwich Police Officer Jonathan Ley and the Norwich Police Department will take place Saturday, March 30, 2013 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Dodd Stadium. Officer Ley’s benefit will celebrate courage, bravery and valor. Monies raised will benefit Officer Ley and his everyday living costs. Additionally, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Norwich Police Department to increase their supply of combat tactical gear for their officers.

The event includes the area’s best food provided by Norwich and the surrounding towns, a softball game featuring the Norwich Police and the Norwich Fire Departments, music provided by the band “Malena”, a gamut of raffles, drinks and more!

This is an event for the entire family with a bounce house, petting zoo, egg hunt and more! Saturday, March 30 is a day for families to unite and support one another and especially, the men and women who risk their lives, every day, to ensure our safety.

To purchase tickets for the event at Dodd Stadium in support of Officer Jonathan Ley and the Norwich Police Department, please call (860) 887-7962 and press 0 to speak with a box office representative. For more information, visit www.officerleybenefit.com.

Officer Ley was wounded in the line of duty on January 7, 2013 in Norwich, Connecticut. Officer Ley was first transported to Backus Hospital but then, hospital officials took him by ambulance to Yale New Hospital. From there, Doctors performed necessary procedures for Officer Ley. His current condition is good, but there is still a long road to recovery for this local hero.

The Connecticut Tigers are the Class-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers and play in the New York-Penn League. The Tigers will host the 2013 New York-Penn League All-Star Game on Tuesday, August 13. Tickets for this event, as well as season tickets and mini-plans for the 2013 season are on sale now. 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.

Liberty Bank, Naturals honor Community Heroes

March 9, 2012

Nominate your heroes for public recognition at a game

Nominate your Community Heroes to be honored at a Naturals game.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals and Liberty Bank of Arkansas are proud to introduce a new program for the 2012 season – Community Heroes – which will seek to honor individuals who have done something excellent for their hometown or organization.

Community Heroes are individuals who have gone above and beyond in terms of community service and helping others. Those that are selected will receive on-field recognition at a 2012 Naturals’ home game, four complimentary Super Premium tickets, and a “Community Heroes” award courtesy of Liberty Bank.

Braves and Floyd Co. Police Present Check to Boys & Girls Club

December 21, 2010

The Rome Braves and Floyd County Police Department presented a check Tuesday December 21st to the Boys & Girls Club of Rome for $10,648.00 on the front plaza at State Mutual Stadium. The funds for this donation were raised through the 2nd Annual Celebrity Shootout Golf Tournament hosted by the Rome Braves and the Floyd County Police Department.

This year’s celebrities were former Rome Braves managers Rocket Wheeler and Randy Ingle as well as Atlanta Braves 3rd base coach Brian Snitker and former Rome Braves coach Bobby Moore.

Rome Braves-B&G club 12-21-10 — Photo courtesy of the Rome Braves

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)

Charlie T. RiverDog Aids as Fallen Trooper Memorial Run Raises More Than $30,000

October 11, 2010

Loveable Mascot Lends A Paw for Worthy Fundraising Effort

Charlie T. RiverDog, the loveable mascot of the Charleston RiverDogs, participated in a 24-hour running and walking fundraiser for a memorial wall to honor 49 South Carolina Highway patrolmen killed in the line of duty that has raised more money than expected.

The Fallen Troopers Memorial Run, a 24-hour, 100-mile run/walk at Charleston Southern University held Oct. 5-6, raised more than $30,000, according to Lance Cpl. Bob Beres, the trooper who spearheaded the effort.

The initial goal was $20,000.

“As a community-minded organization, the Charleston RiverDogs – and Charlie T. RiverDog, in particular – are eager to assist whenever possible,” said General Manager Dave Echols. “Our mantra of ‘Be Your Own Fan’ works both ways as we listen to our fans and respond to their needs. It was our pleasure to have Charlie T. RiverDog participate in this worthy fundraiser.”

“I think I can safely speak on behalf of the troopers and families of fallen troopers who participated by saying that this was a touching and meaningful event for all involved,” Beres said. “I learned a long time ago that if you want to go fast, you go alone, and if you want to go far, you go together. Well, we did this together and shattered our original goal that we needed to build this wall.”

The addition money will go toward maintenance and upkeep, possible lighting and landscaping, Beres said.

A granite memorial wall bearing the troopers’ names will be erected at the S.C. Highway Patrol’s headquarters in Blythewood.

At least three of the names on the wall will be of local patrolmen: Cpl. Richard Varn Woods, Trooper First Class Bruce Smalls and Lance Cpl. Mark Coates. All three were killed in the line of duty by drivers of vehicles they had pulled over.

Public Safety Agencies Educate at Coolray Field

October 7, 2010

Gwinnett County’s public safety agencies want residents to know what they do to keep the community safe.

The Gwinnett County Police Department and Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services joined together Saturday for the first Public Safety Fall Festival at Coolray Field, the home of the Gwinnett Braves.

The event featured dozens of displays and demonstrations from the police and fire departments, including specialized units like SWAT, Ground Search and Rescue, HazMat and Swift Water Rescue. Several other governmental and nonprofit agencies were also on hand to provide safety information.

“It has exceeded our expectations,” said Officer Jeffery Richter, spokesman for the Gwinnett County Police Department. “This joint venture has gone off better than we could have ever hoped.”

Richter said the festival provided a stress-free, fun-filled environment for the community to interact with public safety officials.

Saturday’s event also served as a kickoff for National Fire Prevention Week and Fire Prevention Month in Gwinnett County, said Capt. Thomas Rutledge, spokesman for the Gwinnett County Fire Department.

“This is an opportunity to reach people we don’t normally interact with,” Rutledge said. “We want to let them know we’re here to protect them and help them protect themselves.”

Buford resident Kim Arakas and her family came to the festival to see the police and fire vehicles and learn about public safety.

“It was one of those free family events that looked like it would be educational for the kids,” she said. “We learned things as well.”

Haydee Nunez, who lives in Lawrenceville, brought her children and her nephew to the event because they are in Cub Scouts.

“It’s good for them to know about safety,” she said. “I thought it would be good awareness for the kids.”

This article by Heather Darenberg originally appeared in the Gwinnett Daily Post on October 2, 2010

Gwinnett-PublicSafety 10-2-10 — Jonathan Phillips Dressed as a firefighter, Carter Bromley checks out one of the fire department’s ladder trucks during the Public Safety Fall Festival at Coolray Field on Saturday. The festival included demonstrations, safety information, softball games between the Gwinnett County fire and police departments and fun activities for children. (Staff Photo from Gwinnett Daily Post)

The Cody Fund Receives Gwinnett Braves October Grant

October 5, 2010

The Gwinnett Braves announced today that the Cody Fund, at the Community Foundation of Northeast Georgia, is the recipient of the Gwinnett Braves October grant. The $1,000 grant will be used to purchase a new Police K-9 for the Snellville Police Department.

“We are extremely grateful to the Gwinnett Braves and the Cody Fund for providing funds toward the purchase of a new Police K-9 and training of a K-9 and handler,” said Roy Whitehead, Chief of the Snellville Police Department. “Our K-9 units have been extremely beneficial in preventing and solving crimes which make Snellville a safer place to live. The purchase of this dog would not have been possible without this generous grant.”

The Gwinnett County K-9 Unit has six police canine teams that provide support to the Uniform and Criminal Investigations Divisions. Their primary duties include tracking lost or missing persons, tracking wanted persons, finding evidence or lost property, conducting building searches, serving high risk warrants and locating illegal narcotics. In addition the unit also has a K-9 Team trained to detect explosive materials and provides support to the department’s EOD Unit.

The Cody Fund was created to support police K-9 units in Gwinnett County. Kathy Gestar, an avid dog lover, attended the Snellville Police Academy in 1999 and was impressed by the service that officers and their K-9’s provide to protect Gwinnett residents.

Moved by the need for additional dogs and equipment, Gestar founded the Cody Fund, named after her beloved Sheltie that passed away in 2008.

Since its inception in 1999, the Cody Found has awarded grants for the purchase and training of K-9 dogs, as well as for their specialized medical care and K-9 unit equipment.

Organizations interested in applying for a Gwinnett Braves grant can visit the Community page on gwinnettbraves.com for more information.

Louie’s Holiday Hope Project Helps 35 Kids

January 8, 2010

The Bowie Baysox and several community partners were able to help 11 families, including 35 kids, through Louie’s Holiday Hope Project this year. The team worked with Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department, Bowie Youth & Family Services, Lloyd And Associates Real Estate Group and the Bowie Police Department to help more than twice as many families as last year.

Toni Savia from Youth & Family Services noted the importance of the project. “It is absolutely vital. Things are hard for an awful lot of people,” Savia said. “It is so wonderful that you all are available to do so because help is slim this year. We thank you all very much, these families are very much in need.”

Nine of the families helped through the project were from Bowie and the other families were from Pasadena, Md., and Manchester, Md. The Baysox and their lovable mascot Louie donated food and toys to the families.

Yvette Harmon, the mother of one of the families helped through the program was thrilled to see Louie with gifts. “Thank you so much, you don’t know how much we needed this,” Harmon said. “Desperate times, desperate situations.”

This holiday season was the third time the Baysox facilitated the program. Last year, the Baysox and their partners were able to help five families with food, toys and winter coats. The team intends to bring the project back in 2010 and looks forward to working with their community partners.

Prince George’s County Fire Chief Eugene A. Jones looks forward to helping with the project next year. “It provides a great deal of joy and satisfaction to our volunteer and career membership of the Fire/EMS Department to assist those in need,” Jones said. “We are proud to partner with Louie and the Bowie Baysox in this community based relief effort. We look forward to helping again next year.”

Bowie-Louie with Kids — Louie loves helping his friends through Louie’s Holiday Hope Project.

Bowie-Louie w Bowie Youth & Family Services — Louie and members of the Baysox took a picture with their friends from Bowie Youth & Family Services.

ROCKY DELIVERS HOLIDAY CHEER

December 20, 2009

Mascot Visits Over 100 Hospital Patients, Helps Deliver Gifts

The Blue Rocks’ own Rocky Bluewinkle joined forces with the Delaware State Police on Thursday for a visit to Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children to deliver gifts and holiday cheer. As part of the annual visit for the Delaware State Police, donations included gingerbread houses, stuffed animals, baseballs and more. The all-day delivery saw Rocky & Co. visit more than 100 patients.

Rocky did not make his journey solo. Everyone’s favorite furry pal had help from Delaware state troopers, Santa and Mrs. Claus, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph, a storm trooper, the Chick-fil-A Cow and Miss Delaware 2009 herself, Heather Lehman. The super squad posed for hundreds of pictures with patients and their families while dropping off goodies to lift their spirits.

While the dream team patrolled Alfred I. DuPont, other Delaware state police troopers also visited hospitals in Kent and Sussex counties. The Blue Rocks made special stops to Alfred I. DuPont monthly during the season with players and Rocky Bluewinkle in tow.

Link to original article by John Sadak

Wilmington-Hospital 12-17-09 — Rocky’s “dream team” spread holiday cheer to over 100 patients at Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington. (Dave Arthur)

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.