Grasshoppers Announce $100,000 Playoff Guarantee For 2011 Season

The Greensboro Grasshoppers announced a new charity initiative, Guarantee To Give – Hoppers Playoff Pledge, today during a brief press conference at NewBridge Bank Park.

The core of the pledge will be based on the Greensboro Grasshoppers going to the South Atlantic League playoffs for the first time in over ten years.  All Grasshopper season ticket holders and sponsors will have the opportunity to select their local charity of choice, and a Hoppers 2011 playoff berth will result in 20 of the charities receiving a $5,000 donation.  The winners will be announced at a date and time to be determined upon completion of the 2011 season.

If the Hoppers do not make a playoff appearance, the Grasshoppers will donate $5,000 to ten local charities, for a total donation of $50,000.

“Today was an exciting day for us as we announced a program that promotes the Grasshoppers making the playoffs for the first time in over ten years and also strengthens our commitment of guaranteed giving to the Greensboro community,” said Hoppers President and General Manager, Donald Moore.

Grasshoppers Make Major Gift for School Supplies

School bells ring and the Hoppers are not looking for baseball players; instead the focus is on contributing inventory of pens, scissors, paper, paper clips, etc., to the Teacher Supply Warehouse. The Greensboro Grasshoppers donated $10,000 to the Guilford Education Alliance to be used for supplies at the Teacher Supply Warehouse, Hoppers President and General Manager Donald Moore announced Wednesday.

The Guilford Education Alliance mission of quality education for all county residents becomes a reality through the Teacher Supply Warehouse. Over 170 teachers visit the warehouse, shopping for all the materials needed during their school year.

“We are happy to help our local teachers and students with this donation,” said Greensboro Grasshoppers President and General Manager Donald Moore. “This adds to our long-term commitment to the children of Guilford County.”

The donated school supplies were purchased at the Walmart store on S. Elm/Eugene Street. Store manager, John Brewer, coordinated the $10,000 spend with representatives from the Guilford Education Alliance.

“At Walmart we are proud to support communities in which we live and work. We know of no greater mission than that of your organization to provide supplies for your great teachers and students of the community”, said store manager, John Brewer. “Thanks to the Greensboro Grasshoppers for selecting our store and letting our team help support their work with the Guilford Education Alliance.”

The Grasshoppers are proud to partner with Guilford County Education Alliance and Walmart. However, this is not the first time the Greensboro Grasshoppers have stepped outside the ballpark to provide aid to the community.

FLORIDA STATE LEAGUE PARTNERS WITH MARLINS TO AWARD SCHOLARSHIPS

For the past 11 years the Florida Marlins and the Florida State League have paired up to fund the Florida State League Scholarship Program. The purpose of the program is to encourage and reward school-aged applicants with $1,500 scholarships, sending them a message that education is the key to success in life. Since the inception of the program, over a 120 scholarships have been awarded. If you would like to donate to the Florida State League Scholarships please call 305-623-6497.

“The scholarship that I received last summer has meant a lot to me. It helped me pay for much more of my tuition last semester than I would normally be able to pay. Since I was fortunate enough to receive this award, I have been able to focus on my classes and not worry so much about my financial status as a student.”– Cory Wilder, Jupiter Hammerheads FSL Scholarship Winner

Winning the award before heading off to college was a great way to end my high school career and look forward to the future. I felt very welcomed by the Florida Marlins Community Foundation and the Florida State League organizations upon receiving the award and appreciate what they have done for the community and myself.”– Michael Maggio, Tampa Yankees FSL Scholarship Winner

“The Florida State League scholarship was a huge accomplishment for me. The scholarship allowed me the opportunity to begin graduate school and work towards a master’s degree in Sports Administration. I am so thankful to the Florida State League offices and the Florida Marlins Community Foundation for allowing me this opportunity.”– Adam Vilk, Palm Beach Cardinals FSL Scholarship Winner

Donald Moore Receives Unsung Community Hero Award

The Joseph M. Bryan Foundation announced Thursday that Donald Moore, President and General Manager of the Greensboro Grasshoppers, earned its 2010 Unsung Community Hero Award.

The Bryan Foundation awards this honor annually in recognition of individuals who have made significant contributions to the community, but whose good works are not widely recognized.

“I am extremely humbled to have been selected from amongst my peers for this prestigious distinction,” said Moore. “As a life-long resident of Greensboro, I have tremendous passion for this community and the potential that it holds.”

Carole Bruce, a member of the board of directors of the Bryan Foundation, presented the award to Moore during the Bryan Foundation’s annual luncheon and meeting, with his family and staff present.

As part of the award, the Bryan Foundation will give $25,000 to the Atlantic Coast Conference in Moore’s honor to be used on behalf of the ACC Baseball Tournament that will be hosted in May at NewBridge Bank Park.

Under his leadership, the Hoppers have welcomed over 2.1 million fans in their first five seasons, becoming the only Class A team in the history of Minor League Baseball to draw over 400,000 fans and grow its attendance four straight years in a new ballpark.

The Grasshoppers were the proud recipients of the South Atlantic League’s Club Merit Award four of the past five years, with Donald garnering additional accolades as the league’s General Manager of the Year Award in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.  Baseball America honored Moore and the Grasshoppers with the prestigious Bob Freitas Award for the Single-A level in 2008.

Moore has created several college scholarship funds, including the Bill Lee Memorial Scholarship and the Charlie Harville Memorial Scholarship. He currently sits on the board of The Bryan Family YMCA, The Guilford County Sports Hall of Fame, Downtown Greensboro, Inc., and is President-Elect of the Greensboro Sports Council.