2017 Red Wings Baseball Camp, July 19-20

The Red Wings 2017 Baseball Camp presented by Advantage Federal Credit Union will take place at Frontier Field July 19-20. The camp is open to boy and girls ages 7-12. Camp will run 9 am to 12 om on July 19 and 9 am to 1 pm on July 20.

Campers will learn techniques and fundamentals of the game from Red Wings players and coaches. The instructors will cover everything from fielding and pitching to hitting and base running. Each session will include games.

CLICK HERE FOR A CAMP BROCHURE

The camp fee is $115 and includes two days of camp instruction from Wings players/coaches, FREE camp t-shirt, a picnic after the final day of camp, two tickets to a Red Wings game and refreshments/snacks during the camp.

Early registration is suggested as enrollment is limited. For more information call Kevin at (585) 454-1001 ext. 3046.

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

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Pay It Forward Wednesdays Return

Moosic, Pa. – Wednesday baseball at PNC Field will continue to mean a little bit more in 2017. The SWB RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) proudly announce the return of a special wrinkle for Wednesday night home games this season, “Pay it Forward Wednesdays”. On these nights the team will donate a portion of walk-up ticket sales to non-profit/charitable organizations.

For those select nights, the designated Community Organization of the Game will receive a donation from a portion of the club’s walk-up ticket sales. The donation structure sits below:

Walk-up Price                    Amount Donated to COG

$16-Infield Box                  $5

$15-Field Reserve $3

$13-Bleacher                     $2

$12-Lawn                           $1

Eligible beneficiaries must be a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. For more information, groups are encouraged to contact the RailRiders by phone at (570) 969-BALL, by e-mail to RailRiders Director of Community Relations Jordan Maydole (jmaydole@swbrailriders.com) or in person at the team’s PNC Field front office from Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

“The first-year success of the Pay it Forward program exceeded our expectations and the goals our team had set forth,” said RailRiders President/General Manager Josh Olerud. “We are excited to see the growth of the program this season as we continue to serve our community to the best of our abilities.”

Fans will also get an opportunity to taste the best selections of local wineries as part of “Wine and Dine Wednesdays” at PNC Field. Fans 21 years and older have the opportunity to participate in tasting a variety of wines from Bartolai Winery out of Harding, Pa., Grovedale Winery from Wyalusing, Pa., and Barefoot wines. For a $2 flight sample fee, fans receive a one-hour sampling session and a punch card with an exclusive deal from that winery.

The 2016 Gildan Triple-A National Champion RailRiders open their 2017 home schedule on Monday, April 10 against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Philadelphia Phillies). For tickets and more information, please call 570-979-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.

– SWB RailRiders Baseball – The Place to Be! –

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

PawSox Foundation to Present “A Veterans Home Run: 5k Walk ‘N Run” on May 20

The Pawtucket Red Sox and the PawSox/Skeffington Charitable Foundation today announced exciting changes to their annual 5K Walk ‘N Run, which this year will take place on Saturday, May 20th at 9:30 am with the route both starting and finishing at McCoy Stadium. An earlier time of year (the race was held Labor Day weekend the past five years), a revamped course which will now take runners by downtown Pawtucket, and an enhanced partnership with area veterans are among the new highlights for this popular event.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

The revitalized PawSox Foundation, now in its 18th year, has worked closely with both Operation Stand Down RI and 21 Heroes among other veterans organizations. Proceeds from the race will benefit the Foundation’s veterans initiatives. Operation Stand Down serves the Ocean State’s 67,800 veterans and their families while 21 Heroes was established to honor the 21 soldiers from Pawtucket who lost their lives in the Vietnam War. A 21 Heroes memorial dedication will take place the day after the 5K on Sunday, May 21 at Slater Park capping off an historic weekend for veterans causes in Pawtucket.

“We are so pleased to work with the wonderful people from Operation Stand Down and with Terry Nau of 21 Heroes to honor and give something back to the many amazing Rhode Island veterans and their families,” said PawSox Senior Vice President/Club Counsel Kim Miner, who also runs the PawSox Foundation. “In our ongoing effort to build on the PawSox legacy of celebrating our veterans, we were especially pleased to introduce a nightly ‘In Debt to a Vet’ salute during each game at McCoy Stadium last year and that tradition will continue this season.”

One of the premier road races in the area, the PawSox Foundation 5K will start from the McCoy Stadium parking lot, weave through the streets of downtown Pawtucket, and eventually finish at home plate on the McCoy playing field. This new and improved route will help showcase the beautiful riverfront and other reinvigorated areas of the Pawtucket downtown.

“Our veterans and those currently serving in the armed services give so much to us to ensure that our freedom and the American Dream endure,” said Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien. “Partnering to promote causes to support our veterans is the least that we can do. Thank you to the PawSox Foundation for working with our local organizations and investing in our community. And thank you to Operation Stand Down and Heroes 21 for ensuring that our veterans are never left behind.”

The race is sponsored by National Grid, Planet Fitness, W.B. Mason, and Coast 93.3. The first 500 participants who register on pawsox.com will receive a free race t-shirt. Pre-registration is $25 per person, and teams of 10 or more will be just $20 per person. On the day of the race, registration will open at 7:30 am and the cost will be $30.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the winners. Festivities will continue after the race with food and entertainment in the PawSox Party Tent area at McCoy. All participants will also receive tickets to the PawSox game on May 23 vs. Louisville at 6:05 pm, and will be invited to take part in a pre-game on-field parade and award ceremony that evening.

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

Family Campout Night Announced for August 25

For a second straight year we’ve got a FAMILY CAMPOUT NIGHT planned at Frontier Field on Friday, August 25 presented by Dunkin’ Donuts and Meyer’s RV Superstores! 

Any fan with a ticket to the game on Friday, August 25 can CAMPOUT under the stars at Frontier Field that night! Following the game we will be showing the movie “Little Big League” on the videoboards. Popcorn, soda and water will be available for purchase from one of the Red Wings concession stands before and during the movie.

 In the morning, Dunkin’ Donuts will be here with FREE coffee and donuts for all those who camped out!

Campout in Style: One lucky campout group will be upgraded to spend the night in an RV on the field, courtesy of Meyer’s RV Superstores. For your chance to spend the night in the RV, use promo code CAMPOUT when purchasing tickets online and you will automatically be registered for the upgrade experience. We’ll announce the guest upgrade before the movie begins. Don’t have a tent but want to camp out? The staff from Meyer’s will be here selling discounted tents and supplies.

In an effort to keep track of how many fans we’ll have sleeping over on August 25, please use promo code: CAMPOUT (all caps) when purchasing tickets online if you plan on staying over. To order tickets over the phone, please call Mike Ewing at (585) 454-1001 EXT. 3036.

PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE HERE (Be sure to use the promo code)

We can’t think about a Campout Night without remembering TENT BOY! In the Summer of 2002, with the Wings mired in a long losing streak, Wings GM Dan Mason took to a tent in the Red Wings bullpen…

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

Tides to renovate Surry County youth field

After nearly 7,500 votes were cast on the Norfolk Tides Facebook page, Surry County Pony Baseball has won a contest in which the Tides organization will renovate their baseball field. This field makeover will include an upgrade to the playing surface and an improvement to existing dugouts, with the renovations taking place in mid-April.

Surry County Pony Baseball received nearly 2,000 votes to win the contest, which consisted of nine local youth fields. Tides groundskeepers and front office staff will visit Surry to assist in renovating their field.

“We’re thrilled to offer our assistance to the people of Surry, as they demonstrated a remarkable amount of support for this contest” said Tides General Manager Joe Gregory. “The number of votes cast shows how important youth baseball is to families in the Surry community, and our entire organization can’t wait to get started.”

2017 is the sixth consecutive year in which the Tides are renovating a field in Hampton Roads. Over the first five years of the program, the Tides have renovated eight local fields: Ocean View Little League (Norfolk), Smithfield Recreation Association (Smithfield), Bennett’s Creek Little League (Suffolk), Phoebus Little League (Hampton), Shore Little League (Nassawadox), Cradock Little League (Portsmouth), Little Creek National (Norfolk) and Gloucester Youth Baseball (Gloucester).

The project is made possible thanks to the Tides Youth Baseball Fund, a program established by the Tides in 1990 as a way to raise money for youth baseball and softball programs in Hampton Roads. In addition to assisting with field renovations, the Youth Baseball Fund also helps local teams and leagues with travel expenses. The Youth Baseball Fund is partially financed by scoreboard announcements at Harbor Park throughout the season, and those wishing to make a donation directly to the Youth Baseball Fund can do so via norfolkides.com under the “community” section.

Volunteers from Safelite AutoGlass will join the Tides staff in assisting with the field renovation efforts, with the exact date of the renovation being announced at a later date.

The Tides will play their first game of 2017 at Harbor Park on Friday, March 31st in an Exhibition Game against the Baltimore Orioles. Norfolk will then open its regular season on Thursday, April 6th with a 7:05 contest at Charlotte before kicking off the home portion of its schedule on Monday, April 10th with a 6:35 game vs. Gwinnett.

Season Tickets, group tickets, picnics and patios are currently available for the 2017 season. For pricing and additional information, visit the Harbor Park box office or call (757) 622-2222.

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

PawSox Introduce “Paws for a Cause” Community Initiative

The PawSox today announced a 2017 community initiative to give Rhode Island charities the opportunity to raise awareness at the club’s home games.

“Paws for a Cause” invites area nonprofits to be featured on the field in pre-game ceremonies, to have their key message delivered over the stadium’s communications system, and to have their spokesperson visit the PawSox broadcast booth for an inning during the game. The club plans to welcome a charity at each of its 71 home games.

Mascots Paws and Sox will also participate, and where applicable, will wear the clothing and logos of the charity. The organizations are also invited to distribute literature and address fans’ questions at a table on the Main Concourse at McCoy Stadium.

“We enjoy discovering new ways for baseball to provide a service to our community,” said PawSox President Dr. Charles A. Steinberg. “And as we encounter so many charities that seek to raise awareness, we are pleased to shine our spotlight on them at PawSox Baseball games.”

All accredited 501(c)3 organizations in the PawSox community are welcome to apply. The slots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Requests can be submitted to the PawSox’ head of community relations, Joe Bradlee. His email is jbradlee@pawsox.com.

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

PawSox Deliver Roses and Spread Cheer to Local Seniors

For the second consecutive year, the PawSox delivered roses to local senior citizens in an effort to spread cheer surrounding Valentine’s Day. This year, the PawSox visited the North Attleboro Senior Center, St. Elizabeth Manor in Bristol, and the Darlington Assisted Living Home in Pawtucket.

“Paws made everyone’s day a little brighter,” said Rose Carreiro, Activity Director at St. Elizabeth Manor in Bristol, RI. “The residents were so thrilled with the roses, and we’re excited to see a baseball game at McCoy Stadium this spring.”

“What a joy it is to open hearts, lift spirits, and elicit smiles with something as simple as a flower from a polar bear,” said PawSox President Dr. Charles A. Steinberg. “We are continually amazed and inspired by the power of baseball to enhance the lives of the members of our community.”

In a week where the PawSox mascots have made nearly fifty rose deliveries to fans in the area, the embraceable polar bears once again elicited bright smiles from some of the team’s most passionate fans.

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

Have a ball at Future Mud Hen Baseball Camps

Play ball where the Mud Hens play! Have fun in the sun and improve on your skills at our Future Mud Hen Baseball Camps. All camps and clinics will be held at Fifth Third Field and camp instructors will be current Mud Hens players and coaches.

For all camp registrations, contact CJ O’Leary at 419-720-6543 or email coleary@mudhens.com.

FIELD OF DREAMS CLINIC: SATURDAY, MAY 27 12:00 P.M. – 2:00 P.M.

The Future Mud Hen Special Needs Field of Dreams Clinic is open to any child between the ages of 5 and 18 with special needs. This two-hour camp will take place on the field prior to the Mud Hens game at Fifth Third Field. The camp will feature three simultaneous games on the field with Mud Hens players, including an opportunity for each child to get at least one at bat at home plate at Fifth Third Field, complete with an introduction on the public address system and a live shot on the video board!

One adult chaperone is required to be in attendance with each child attending the clinic.

Field of Dreams Clinic registration is $25.

What you get:

  • Future Mud Hen Camp T-shirt
  • Souvenir baseball
  • May 27 Mud Hens game ticket (Additional tickets are $12 each)

THREE-DAY SKILLS CAMP: TUESDAY, JUNE 13 – THURSDAY, JUNE 15 10:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. EACH DAY

The Future Mud Hen Three Day Skills Camp is for kids ages 7 to 14 and will feature in-depth instruction on all aspects of the game of baseball. The first two days of the camp feature stations around the field where Mud Hens players teach the campers baseball fundamentals. Stations will include instruction on fielding (infield & outfield), hitting, base running, pitching, strength & conditioning and more. The final day of the camp will feature several competitions (Speed Pitch, Gold Glove and Speed Running) and an on field game!

Each Future Mud Hen Three-Day Skills Camp concludes with an awards ceremony at Fifth Third Field with a special appearance by MUDDY! The awards ceremony is open to anyone wishing to attend. Certificates will be awarded to the competition winners and prizes will be drawn randomly! Mud Hens players will be available for a post-camp autograph session at this time.

Three-Day Skills Camp registration is $140.

What you get:

  • Future Mud Hen Skills Camp T-Shirt
  • Souvenir baseball
  • Lunch on all three days (Hot Dogs, Hamburgers and Pizza with chips and pop)
  • Mud Hens game ticket for either June 13, June 14, or June 15. (Additional tickets are $12 each)

ADULT/CHILD CAMP: SATURDAY, JULY 15 10:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

The Future Mud Hen Adult & Child Baseball Camp is a chance for children and adults to learn baseball and teaching skills from Mud Hens coaches and players. In turn, we hope the adults will continue to practice those same skills with the children when they go home. Adults should bring their baseball mitt so they can join in on the drills and lessons! The Adult & Child Baseball Camp is open to children ages 5 through 14 along with a parent, grandparent, brother, sister, or any other adult (18 or older) who would like to accompany them.

The Adult & Child Baseball Camp registration is $80 for one adult and one child and $40 for each additional camper.

What you get:

  • Future Mud Hen T-Shirt for adult and child
  • Souvenir baseball for child
  • July 15 Mud Hens game ticket for adult and child (Additional tickets are $12 each)

THREE-DAY CAMP: WEDNESDAY, JULY 26 – FRIDAY, JULY 28 10:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. EACH DAY

The Future Mud Hen Three Day Skills Camp is for kids ages 7 to 14 and will feature in-depth instruction on all aspects of the game of baseball. The first two days of the camp feature stations around the field where Mud Hens players teach the campers baseball fundamentals. Stations will include instruction on fielding (infield & outfield), hitting, base running, pitching, strength & conditioning and more. The final day of the camp will feature several competitions (Speed Pitch, Gold Glove and Speed Running) and an on field game!

Each Future Mud Hen Three-Day Skills Camp concludes with an awards ceremony at Fifth Third Field with a special appearance by MUDDY! The awards ceremony is open to anyone wishing to attend. Certificates will be awarded to the competition winners and prizes will be drawn randomly! Mud Hens players will be available for a post-camp autograph session at this time.

Three-Day Skills Camp registration is $140.

What you get:

  • Future Mud Hen Skills Camp T-Shirt
  • Souvenir baseball
  • Lunch on all three days (Hot Dogs, Hamburgers and Pizza with chips and pop)
  • Mud Hens game ticket for either July 26, July 27, or July 28. (Additional tickets are $12 each)

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

PawSox Create New Pawtucket Mentoring Program with Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership

The Pawtucket Red Sox and the Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership today announced a collaboration to provide mentors to Pawtucket children at nearby Agnes E. Little Elementary School. The program, announced during National Mentoring Month, features members of the PawSox front office providing their time and attention to third-graders.

In addition, the PawSox Foundation will serve as a Silver Sponsor of the Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership’s signature fundraiser, “Dancing with the Stars of Mentoring,” on Thursday evening, April 27, at the Rhodes of Pawtuxet.

“At the RI Mentoring Partnership, our work is all about relationships,” said Jo-Ann Schofield, President and CEO of the Partnership. “We are excited to support the mentoring relationships that will be formed between the PawSox staff and the students at Agnes E. Little Elementary School by coordinating this new mentoring program. The need for mentors is great, and we are hopeful this amazing example set by the PawSox will encourage other community-minded organizations to ‘step up to the plate’ for mentoring.”

“This latest initiative with RI Mentoring Partnership is another example of the true partnership that currently exists between the Pawtucket School District and the PawSox organization,” said Patti DiCenso, Pawtucket School District Superintendent. “It is a shining example of their dedication to providing our students with the positive influences and influential relationships needed to develop into focused students and model citizens.”

“Our interaction with children is rejuvenating,” said PawSox President Dr. Charles A. Steinberg. “Even though adults are considered the teachers, we realize that we are the ones learning from our students. The members of the PawSox front office eagerly embrace this opportunity to spend an hour or so each week to fortify a child’s belief in his or her dreams.

“In addition to our hands-on mentoring, we are pleased that the PawSox Foundation will be a Silver Sponsor of ‘Dancing with the Stars of Mentoring’ in the spring. This fundraiser is a key component that fuels the successful programs that the Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership operates elsewhere in our state.”

The Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership directly operates programs in five other cites: Warwick, Woonsocket, Newport, Middletown, and Cranston. This program is its first in Pawtucket.

In addition to its own programs, the Partnership supports the services of various mentoring programs statewide that provide more than 4,000 mentors to more than 5,000 students.

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

PawSox to Celebrate Life of Jackie Robinson with High School Student-Athletes from Pawtucket

A group of varsity high school baseball students from Pawtucket will gather in the PawSox home clubhouse this Saturday at noon to celebrate the life of Jackie Robinson. Members of the Shea, Tolman, and St. Raphael Academy baseball programs will all represent their schools and hear stories from Red Sox Hall of Famer Tommy Harper, who will discuss how Jackie Robinson paved the way for other African-American baseball players like himself after breaking Major League Baseball’s color barrier in 1947.

“Jackie Robinson’s life is as relevant today as it ever was,” said PawSox President Dr. Charles Steinberg, who was also instrumental in inaugurating such annual tributes with the Boston Red Sox. “What better way to celebrate Black History Month than to learn the stories, first-hand, of how Jackie Robinson’s courage paved the way for today’s children to be able to dream their dreams, and to pursue those dreams?

“It’s probably inconceivable to children today that there was a time when Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley, Jr., David Ortiz, or Pedro Martinez would not have been allowed to play Major League Baseball. We have a responsibility to teach our children of the heroic courage demonstrated by Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson. Our lives have been so enriched by their fight to right a wrong.”

Robinson would have turned 98 this Tuesday, January 31, the eve of Black History Month. Commissioner Emeritus Allan H. (Bud) Selig made Robinson’s 42 the first number ever retired by every club in Major League Baseball.

Later, at the suggestion of Ken Griffey, Jr., Selig instituted the tradition that all MLB players wear the number each April 15, the anniversary of Robinson’s big league debut.

Although remaining space is limited, community organizers who would like to bring students can contact Joe Bradlee of the PawSox at jbradlee@pawsox.com. Media interested in attending can contact pr@pawsox.com.

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

Discover great times with Mud Hens Scout Experience

Calling all scout troops: you’re invited to join us for the Mud Hens Scout Experience, a custom learning program created just for you, presented by Camping World. It’s a great way to meet other scouts while having fun at Fifth Third Field.

  • Hands-on pregame activities
  • Meet the mascots
  • Fireworks
  • Run the bases
  • Family-friendly movie
  • Sleepover at the ballpark

2017 MUD HENS SCOUT EXPERIENCE DATES

Boy Scout Sleepover Schedule

  • Friday, June 16
  • Saturday, June 17
  • Saturday, July 15
  • Friday, July 28
  • Friday. August 11

Girl Scout Sleepover Schedule

  • Friday, July 14
  • Saturday, August 12

For more information, click here, or call the Mud Hens Scout line at 419-725-9292 or email scouts@mudhens.com.

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

Have fun raising money for your group with the Mud Hens

The Toledo Mud Hens are once again offering a fun and exciting opportunity for organizations to raise money during games at Fifth Third Field. We are putting out a call for groups with friendly, hard-working volunteers to work the concessions stands and portable food and beverage carts during the 2017 season.

In 2016, local non-profit organizations raised more than $167,000, and since 2002, groups have earned more than $2.4 million!

The Mud Hens want to share in our success and help local groups earn additional funds for their cause. Groups will be given the tools needed to be successful, such as training, supervision and a percentage of the sales.

To get start started, click here, or call Liz Lauffer at 419-725-4396 or email fundraising@mudhens.com.

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

Coaches Clinic Coming to PNC Field Feb. 11

Moosic, Pa. – The SWB RailRiders’ (Triple-A/New York Yankees) popular RailRiders University baseball camp will flip the script on Saturday, Feb. 11. Instead of instructing the baseball stars of tomorrow, this time around the teaching will sport a free Coaches Clinic to help area baseball leaders enhance their own instruction. And the mentors of the mentors all have incredible resumes along with significant NEPA ties:

-Longtime NEPA resident Andy Ashby, a two-time MLB All-Star with 14 seasons of Major League playing experience with the Phillies, Rockies, Padres, Braves and Dodgers.

-Hazelton Area grad Russ Canzler, a former MLB player, four-time MiLB All-Star and the 2011 Triple-A International League MVP.

-NEPA’s own Gary Ruby, who spent three decades as a professional pitching coach or coordinator with the Angels, Phillies, Pirates and Astros.

The trio will talk pitching, hitting and organizing effective practices from 12 p.m.-2 p.m. at PNC Field in the upstairs Mohegan Sun Club. If a league registers beforehand, it will be invited to attend a special meet-and-greet with the three speakers from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

To RSVP, or for more information, please contact Robby Judge with the RailRiders at 570-558-4612 or e-mail rjudge@swbrailriders.com.

The 2016 Gildan Triple-A National Champion RailRiders open their 2017 home schedule on Monday, April 10 against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Philadelphia Phillies). For tickets or more information, please call 570-969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.

– SWB RailRiders Baseball – The Place to Be! –

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

What Does $100,000 Really Mean?

Some baseball numbers are filled with meaning.  For Red Sox fans, Number 8, Number 9, and Number 34 are like pictures–they’re worth a thousand words.

Other baseball numbers signify well-known stories, such as 714, 755, and 2131.

But the stories behind some numbers are not self-evident.  They need to be told.

When the PawSox revealed at year-end that their foundation had crossed the $100,000 mark in commitments and contributions, some eyes may have been dazzled, yet some eyes may have glazed over.

Exactly what does such a number mean?

It means that the dreams of a bright, elegant, 13-year old girl at Pawtucket’s Slater Junior High School received a big boost.  Charlisa Kollie aspires to be a pediatrician, and her academic aptitude and palpable compassion have her teachers believing in her.

And on November 4 of this past year, the daunting task of affording a college education became a tad easier–or $10,000 easier.  Charlisa is one of two inaugural students in the PawSox Scholars program.

So is Ethan Hoke, a 14-year-old at Calcutt Middle School in Central Falls.  With an essay demonstrating an exceptional love of his town, he offered an array of specific, common-sense suggestions to improve the quality of life where he lives. With uncanny wisdom, he noted that the smallest improvements can inspire community momentum.  

Exactly.

One good deed begets another.

Two children, two scholarships, two lives impacted.  Yet like the ripples of a pond when a stone is tossed, the number of people touched can be much more.

That understanding was evident in the eyes of Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien and Central Falls Mayor James Diossa, who saw in these two children one simple, powerful word:  hope.

Rhode Island is blessed with philanthropies and philanthropists whose donations may have more zeroes, and we are all grateful.  The PawSox Foundation may not yet be among the largest in the state, but we embrace our role in making relatively modest donations that help some families and inspire others.

When we made a Veterans Day donation to Operation Stand Down, I wished we had more to give than the $3,000 contribution.  When I said as much to Governor Gina Raimondo, who was standing by my side, she turned to me with a serious look in her eye and asserted that every dollar helps.

The Governor is right.

The veterans were so grateful, as they were the night before, when we hosted a dinner for them in the PawSox Clubhouse.  And as they were, when one by one, a veteran would take the field between innings, all summer long, to feel the emotional impact of a standing ovation of gratitude.  Indeed, we are all “In Debt to a Vet.”

While the PawSox’ partners have made many of the charitable donations to fund our foundation, our corporate partners and our fans have done so as well–sometimes in a particularly fun way.

When moms and dads purchase soft baseballs that their children eagerly toss towards (and occasionally into) the sunroof of a Honda SUV as it circles the field between innings, their good deeds lead to more good deeds. Those dollars are part of $10,000 for the Tomorrow Fund at Hasbro Children’s Hospital. 

The brutal battle waged by courageous innocent children facing cancer is accompanied by additional trauma and turmoil for their families.  Lives change with the diagnosis.  In many cases, work stops.  Cooking stops.  Carpools stop. There is nothing a parent won’t do to save a child’s life–and therefore, everything else may be put on hold.

To the rescue:  the Tomorrow Fund.

Perhaps those dollars are buying dinner.  Perhaps they are paying rent.  Perhaps they are saving more lives than we know.  

Perhaps, as our 14-year-old sage, Ethan Hoke, suggested, those dollars are creating community momentum.  

Perhaps they are providing hope.

As we build our foundation, and as our numbers grow, we hope to touch as many Rhode Island families as we can.

Maybe the zeroes in the numbers will dazzle.  More importantly, maybe the dreams that are funded will make our towns and our state an even better place to live.

We look forward to enhancing our impact–and to performing even more good deeds–in 2017 and beyond, thanks to the beautiful power of baseball.

Happy New Year to you all.

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

PawSox Again Cross the $100,000 Mark in Community Contributions in 2016

The Pawtucket Red Sox again reached a six-figure charitable milestone in 2016, exceeding $100,000 in cash commitments and contributions to the community. The club and its foundation, the Pawtucket Red Sox/James J. Skeffington Charitable Foundation, have typically combined to reach such a level of philanthropy over the past dozen years.

“We inherited a great tradition of giving, led by the late Ben Mondor and our current Vice-Chairman, Mike Tamburro,” said PawSox Chairman Larry Lucchino, who established charitable foundations with each of his previous clubs (the Baltimore Orioles, San Diego Padres, and Boston Red Sox). “We want to build on this tradition. We believe we are only beginning to scratch the surface of the potential of the PawSox Foundation.

“One of the greatest assets of a professional baseball team is its power to raise funds, do good deeds large and small, and make a real difference in the city, the state, and the region.”

The PawSox Foundation’s largest single commitment this year was the creation of the PawSox Scholars Program, in which two 8th graders, one from Pawtucket and one from Central Falls, were selected to each receive a $10,000 college scholarship upon matriculation, provided they maintain their good standards of scholarship and citizenship.

On November 4, the students, 13-year-old Charlisa Kollie, an 8th-grader at Pawtucket’s Samuel Slater Junior High School, and 14-year-old Ethan Hoke, an 8th-grader at Central Falls’ Dr. Earl Calcutt Middle School, were joined at a McCoy Stadium Press Announcement by their respective Mayors, the Honorable Donald R. Grebien of Pawtucket, and the Honorable James Diossa of Central Falls.

“The PawSox Scholars program has the capacity to impact lives dramatically,” said PawSox President Dr. Charles A. Steinberg, who was instrumental in establishing similar models in San Diego (Padres Scholars) and Boston (Red Sox Scholars). “Funding dreams is powerful, and we are eager to increase the degree to which the PawSox Foundation does so.”

In addition to efforts in education, the PawSox Foundation also focuses on care for veterans and for children battling cancer.

In the first week of new management in November of 2015, the PawSox hosted a steak dinner for veterans in the PawSox Clubhouse. They did so again in 2016, and in between, they honored a veteran on the field between innings nightly in the new “In Debt to a Vet” program. On Veterans Day, 2016, the PawSox Foundation made a donation of $3,000 to Operation Stand Down Rhode Island in an event attended by Governor Gina Raimondo.

The PawSox Foundation raised more than $10,000 for the Tomorrow Fund, the honored Rhode Island institution that helps families whose children are battling cancer at Hasbro Children’s Hospital. Beyond the financial help, the PawSox raised awareness for the organization and the cause by “Going Gold” on September 1, the beginning of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The club honored Rhode Island’s Melissa Murray, whose late son, Dorian, became an international social media sensation (#DSTRONG) when the little boy’s dream of becoming famous in China came true. Throughout the year and at the holidays, PawSox players, executives, and mascots visited the children, bringing cheer, smiles, and gifts.

Throughout the year, the club engaged in community activities, both at McCoy Stadium and throughout Rhode Island. Corporate partners such as the Rhode Island Honda Dealers, Citizens Bank, and Jordan’s Furniture were instrumental in the efforts.

In January, the PawSox welcomed Pacific Coast League President Branch Rickey III, who gave first-hand anecdotes to local youth about his legendary namesake grandfather and the revolutionary signing of Jackie Robinson.

In February, PawSox staff “saw their shadows” on Groundhog Day, as Pawtucket students learned first-hand about the work in a baseball front office. Later that month, Paws and Sox visited seniors and brought them flowers on Valentine’s Day.

In March, new club leaders toured the Pawtucket Boys and Girls Club, a longtime beneficiary of PawSox philanthropy.

Throughout the baseball season, the PawSox were host to thousands of children, some receiving free tickets, some receiving special care from the Make-A-Wish Program, and some participating in the emotion-filled Challengers Program (for those with disabilities). The club and its foundation presented baseball clinics, collected donations for the Rhode Island Food Bank, and helped hundreds of organizations raise funds for their charities. The club also aided various non-profits by providing hundreds of auction items, including a 20-person suite to benefit Special Olympics of Rhode Island.

In October, the PawSox opened the ballpark to the neighborhood for an Open House and then a Halloween Trick or Treat event.

In November, after welcoming the veterans, the club welcomed 3rd graders from the Potter-Burns School in Pawtucket for a Thanksgiving luncheon in the PawSox Clubhouse. Also at Thanksgiving, the PawSox donated funds and in-person support to Pawtucket First Lady Laureen Grebien’s charitable basket drive to help feed needy families.

In December, the PawSox Holiday Caravan featuring Southpaw Brian Johnson visited Hasbro Children’s Hospital and the Tomorrow Fund Clinic. The PawSox then opened their doors to all for a free holiday event, the 2nd Annual PawSox Enchanted Village, which drew more than 1,000 fans.

A week later, more students-this time members of Goff Middle School in Pawtucket–enjoyed a Holiday Luncheon in the PawSox Clubhouse. Steinberg and General Manager Dan Rea explained the importance of education while mascots Paws and Sox provided entertainment.

The PawSox Foundation engaged in many less visible deeds as well, including sponsoring a PawSox-themed house at the Pawtucket Winter Wonderland and making donations to the Pawtucket Soup Kitchen to provide Christmas meals to families.

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