NEST, Chasers Present Annual Essay Contest

The Nebraska Educational Savings Trust (NEST) and the Omaha Storm Chasers have officially begun the 15th annual “Why I Want to Go to College” essay contest, as announced by Nebraska State Treasurer Don Stenberg.

Seventh and eighth grade students from around the country may submit their entries leading up to the March 17 deadline. Essays must be 750 words or less, describing the student’s educational goals and dreams for the future. Entries are required to be typed and double-spaced on 8 1/2 by 11″ paper and must be the student’s original work. Each essay must also be accompanied with the required cover sheet, which can be found by clicking here.

Faculty and students in the College of Education at the University of Nebraska Omaha will serve as preliminary judges for the contest, with Treasurer Stenberg making the final selections. Winners will receive prizes ranging from $500 to $2,000 toward a NEST College Savings Plan. First, second and third place winners will be honored from each of Nebraska’s three congressional districts, in addition to out-of-state entries.

All winners hailing from the state of Nebraska will be notified in May and will also receive four box seat tickets to the Storm Chasers’ game on May 21 versus the Reno Aces, in addition to being recognized prior to that day’s contest for their achievements. Each winning student will also get an opportunity to meet Nebraska State Treasurer Stenberg during the visit.

Complete rules and information on the essay contest may be viewed by clicking here.

Entries must be postmarked by March 17 and sent to:

Omaha Storm Chasers

Attn: Becki Frishman

12356 Ballpark Way

Papillion, NE 68046

The Omaha Storm Chasers are the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and play at Werner Park in Papillion, Sarpy County, Nebraska. For more information please visit www.omahastormchasers.com and follow us on Twitter @OmaStormChasers and “like” us at www.facebook.com/omahastormchasers.

The Storm Chasers return to Werner Park for Opening Night 2017 on Tuesday, April 11.

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

Legends’ donations for 2016 top $1,000,000

Big L and the Legends welcomed Girl Scouts to Whitaker Bank Ballpark for a campout May 6. More than 330 girls spent the night at the ballpark. The Girl Scouts were one of many organizations who received support from Legends’ community programs in 2016.

             (WHITAKER BANK BALLPARK, Lexington, Ky.) The Lexington Legends made donations totaling $1,000,763 in 2016 to a variety of non-profit organizations serving central Kentucky.

In its 16-year history, the Legends organization has donated close to $15 million to the region.

“The Legends are proud to be part of this community and region,” said Legends President/CEO Andy Shea. “We will continue to provide support to these great organizations that do so much good work.”

Among the organizations and causes who benefited from events and programs in 2016 were:

Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts:  Overnight campouts for Boy Scouts (August 18) and Girl Scouts (May 6) were held following Legends games at Whitaker Bank Ballpark. The scouts sold nearly 1,000 donated game tickets to raise funds for their organizations. About 700 scouts participated in the campouts.

                Breast Cancer Research and Awareness: The Legends held Breast Cancer Awareness Night at Whitaker Bank Ballpark on July 9. Funds raised through an auction of pink jerseys and pink bases used during the Legends game that night, along with t-shirt sales, benefited Kentucky Cancer Link, which serves breast cancer patients on a personal basis by reducing or eliminating barriers to screening, diagnosis and treatment; The Markey Cancer Center, established in 1983 as a Comprehensive Cancer Center; and Susan G. Komen, the world’s largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer. The Legends and LBX held a celebration lunch, with proceeds going to those same three organizations.

                Military Appreciation Night: The Legends’ Military Appreciation night was held on June 25. It included an auction of jerseys to benefit Military Missions, a local non-profit organization that supports troops in a variety of ways, including the sending of care packages with personal items and snacks to military personnel.

                Bark in the Park: The Legends held 12 “Bark in the Park” nights during the 2016 season. Dog owners were invited to bring their dogs to the game, and a two-dollar “admission” charge for each dog was donated to the Scott County Humane Society.

Guns and Hoses Softball Game:  The Legends provide the setting for the Guns and Hoses game, which matches the Lexington Police Department against the Lexington Fire Department in a softball game and home run derby. The winning team takes home a trophy, and the loser receives a toilet seat as the runner-up prize. More than 2,000 people attended the 2016 game.

Community Organization of the Night:  The Legends provide an opportunity for a local non-profit organization to step into the spotlight at a Legends home game. Organizations may set up an information table on the concourse, and a representative is interviewed on the field before the game and on radio during the game.    Organizations who purchased discounted tickets for re-sale as a fundraiser also received 25% of the proceeds from that night’s 50-50 raffle. (The Legends Charitable Fund also received 25%, and the fan holding the winning ticket received 50%.)

                Hit the Books Reading Program: Geared toward elementary schools, the Legends’ Hit the Books Reading Program is designed to encourage students to read, both in school and away from school.    The Legends gave away 33,000 Hit the Books bookmarks to students in central Kentucky in 2016. (A winning bookmark design is selected from students’ entries.) Those who complete the Hit the Books reading program are awarded two tickets to a Legends home game.

Field of Dreams: The Paul Miller Ford Field of Dreams program allows youth baseball and softball players to be part of pre-game festivities. Members of the youth teams are introduced to the fans and take the field along with the Legends starters. Teams are selected at random from registrations received at Field of Dreams sponsor locations.   Team members receive complimentary admission to the game. The Legends hosted 80 Field of Dreams teams in 2016.

           Legends Character Award at William Wells Brown Elementary:   Every nine weeks during the school year, 19 students from William Wells Brown Elementary School in Lexington are selected to receive the Legends Character Award. The award is designed to motivate students to demonstrate good behavior and a great attitude. The students are nominated by their classroom teachers. Winners are publicly recognized and personally congratulated by the Legends’ Big L.

Kids Area:   At every Legends home game in 2016, Lafayette High School cheerleaders volunteered to work in the Aetna Kids Play Area to raise money for their cheer program. The Legends made a $7,500 donation to the program.

Go Red Night: The American Heart Association and St. Joseph Health Care System sponsored a “Go Red” Night June 3 at Whitaker Bank Ballpark, where fans received information on the dangers and risks of heart disease. Free blood pressure checks and presentations of information were provided throughout the game.

Donation requests:  The Legends donate tickets, memorabilia or merchandise to as many organizations as possible. Tickets are used by members of the non-profit organizations or for auctions to raise funds for those organizations. The Legends fulfilled more than 300 donation requests in 2016.

  United Way of the Bluegrass:  Donors to the annual United Way of the Bluegrass campaign receive two free box seat tickets to a Legends home game. In 2016, the Legends donated 23,333 tickets for use by the United Way.

St. Joseph Hospital Nursing Scholarship Program: At the end of every baseball season, the Legends hold a silent auction for the jerseys worn by the players during home games. Proceeds go to the St. Joseph Hospital Nursing Scholarship Program.

                Fundraising tickets:   The Legends offer schools, teams and other organizations an opportunity to buy tickets at a discounted price and raise funds by selling the tickets at the regular price. More than 5,000 tickets were purchased at the discount rate for fundraising in 2016.

For more information on the Legends’ community programs, contact Sarah Bosso at 859-422-7847 or sbosso@lexingtonlegends.com

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

Legends sponsor KSU students at winter meetings

                For the second consecutive year, the Lexington Legends are sponsoring a group of Kentucky State University students who will attend a job fair and seminars at professional baseball’s winter meetings.

Interested students had submitted applications for consideration.

The meetings began Sunday, and will continue through December 8 in National Harbor, Maryland. The winter meetings are an annual gathering of major league and minor league baseball personnel.   Some of major league baseball’s biggest player trades and free agent signings occur at winter meetings, but much of the agenda at the minor league level concerns the off-the-field business of professional baseball. The job fair, which the KSU students will attend, provides connections and opportunities for those who would like to work in baseball in a variety of areas, including promotions, ticket sales, community relations, media relations, broadcasting and others.

The students will also have an opportunity to attend any of the Bob Freitas seminars and workshops, which have been part of the winter meetings for more than 20 years and cover a wide range of baseball business topics.

“The Legends are pleased to partner with KSU again this year,” said Legends President/CEO Andy Shea. “We appreciate the students’ interest, and we think they will really enjoy the opportunity to learn first-hand from experts about a variety of careers in baseball.”

In addition to entry fees, the Legends are supporting the students through payment of hotel expenses and a one-year subscription to PBEO.com (Professional Baseball Employment Opportunities), the official employment service of minor league baseball.

The KSU students who are attending the meetings are Alea Cardenas, Jade Luckey, Makalah Kirkland, Joshua Dunn, Stephen Ferrell, Chae Butler, Cheryll Eskridge and James Stinson. Luckey, Dunn, Kirkland and Ferrell also attended the meetings in 2015.

The students are being accompanied by KSU officials, including head baseball coach Rob Henry.

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

Blue Rocks Announce 2016 Holiday Card Contest Winner

Wilmington, DE – The Wilmington Blue Rocks are excited to announce the winner of the 15th Annual Holiday Card Contest. Thousands of entries were received, but unfortunately, there could be just one winner. After a tough decision process, Rocky Bluewinkle, Mr. Celery and the rest of the Holiday Card Contest Committee decided that the overall winner was Vasiliki Gouvias, a 4th Grader from Loomis Elementary School in Broomall, PA. Her artwork will be featured on the cover of the Wilmington Blue Rocks Holiday Card. Vasiliki will be rewarded with a team-autographed baseball, a ceremonial first pitch and 10 tickets to a 2017 Blue Rocks game.

The Blue Rocks also selected honorable mention recipients, whose artwork will be displayed on the back of the Holiday Card. The art teachers of the winner and honorable mention designers will be contacted by a Blue Rocks representative in the next week. Those garnering honorable mentions honors are:

Dante Fortebuono
Kindergarten
St. Pius X School
Broomall, PA

Kaitlyn Aleardi
1st Grade
Villa Maria Academy
Immaculata, PA

Olivia Hardy
2nd Grade
Assumption B.V.M. School
West Grove, PA

Italia Fortebuono
3rd Grade
Loomis Elementary School
Broomall, PA

Samantha Dale
4th Grade
Mannington Township School
Mannington, NJ

Ariyah Davis
5th Grade
Major George S. Welch Elementary
Dover, DE.

Entries were received from students in Kindergarten thru 5th grade from Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey. The Wilmington Blue Rocks would like to thank all those who entered and wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season.

Each entrant will be rewarded with 2 tickets to a Blue Rocks game in 2017 as a thank you for participating. The tickets will be mailed to the participating teachers by February.

The Blue Rocks will celebrate their 25th season in 2017 and have plenty of fun in store for their fan base. Season seats, mini plans and group packages for the upcoming campaign are on sale now. The team’s annual holiday packages are on sale now through December 22. For more information, please see the team’s website at BlueRocks.com.

 www.bluerocks.com

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

Vets Day package, discounts at Stache Shoppe

      In recognition of Veterans Day, the Lexington Legends are introducing a six-game ticket package for 2017 that will include Military Appreciation Night, Independence Day and a Sunday game on Memorial Day Weekend.   The package, which is available through November 14, also includes the home opener and the final home date of the season when the Legends, class A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, will play a doubleheader.

In addition, with the holiday season approaching, the Legends invite fans to go to www.lexingtonlegends.com to take advantage of a 30% discount and free shipping on merchandise ordered online from the Legends’ team store, the Stache Shoppe. Click on the “Team Store” tab and enter the promo code USA2016    (no space).

The Legends Veterans Day Package schedule:

*Opening Night – Thursday, April 13, 7:05 p.m. Legends vs. West Virginia Power (Pittsburgh Pirates)
Memorial Day Weekend – Sunday, May 28, 2:05 p.m. Legends vs. Columbia Fireflies (New York Mets)
*Independence Day – Tuesday, July 4, 7:05 p.m. Legends vs. West Virginia Power (Pittsburgh Pirates)
*Military Appreciation Night – Saturday, July 8, 6:35 p.m. vs. Greenville Drive (Boston Red Sox)
*Fan Appreciation Doubleheader – Wednesday, August 30, 5:35 p.m. vs. Augusta GreenJackets (San Francisco Giants)

*A fireworks show will follow the game.

(Games and start times are subject to change.)

With box seats, the package is priced at $50. Field box seats are $60. Each order will include a Legends lapel pin.

For more information on the ticket package, fans may go online to www.lexingtonlegends.com or call the Legends box office at 859 422-7867.

“There is always a lot of excitement at the ballpark on these special dates,” said Legends President/CEO Andy Shea. “This is a great opportunity for our fans to get these games on their calendars early.   We’ll look forward to seeing them here.”

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

ARVEST BALLPARK GOES GREEN FOR VETERANS

SPRINGDALE, Ark. – Arvest Ballpark, home of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, will go green on Friday, November 11 in celebration of Veteran’s Day and to support the ‘Greenlight A Vet’ program as a tribute to those that have served our country.

‘Greenlight A Vet’ is a program that is done throughout the country to shine a light on America’s veterans and to thank them for being such valuable members of our community. In honor of this great program, the videoboard at Arvest Ballpark will glow green on Friday from 3pm until approximately 9pm at night to honor the brave men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Naturals’ fans are encouraged to take photos of Arvest Ballpark on Friday night and tag #GreenlightAVet on social media as a thank you to our veterans. For those that want more information on ‘Greenlight A Vet’, visit www.greenlightavet.com.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals also honor members of the military and our veterans during the season at Arvest Ballpark. The Naturals are proud to partner with Walmart on a ‘Military Thank You’ program where a member of the military is recognized prior to every Sunday home game. For more information on the program or to nominate a military member in your community for the 2017 season, please email Roxanne Grundmeier of the Naturals at Roxanne@nwanaturals.com.

Follow the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Twitter @NWANaturals all throughout the year by using the hashtag #NaturalPastime and #CrowntoCrown for all of our latest information on Season 10 of Naturals baseball set to begin on Thursday, April 6. 2017.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League Affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The Naturals play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, Ark. For more information, including statistics, ticket options, and more, please visit NWANaturals.com, and follow us on Twitter @NWANaturals and Facebook.com/Naturals.

-Naturals-

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

50-50 raffle adds to Community Org program

               The Lexington Legends 50/50 raffle at home games in 2016, a new feature of the long-standing Community Organization of the Night program, not only made winners of some lucky fans, it also raised $3,642.62 for 40 charitable organizations.

In the raffle, which will be offered again in 2017, fans can buy chances to win for five dollars each through the first seven innings of each Legends home game. In the eighth inning, a winning ticket is drawn, and the fan holding that ticket receives 50 percent of the proceeds.   One fan at the 2016 South Atlantic League All-Star game took home $265.

The remainder goes to the Legends Charitable Fund, through which the Legends give to a wide variety of charitable organizations around the region, and to the Legends’ Community Organization of the Night, if that organization has chosen to participate by re-selling discounted fundraiser tickets.

The Community Organization program, sponsored by Dean Dorton Allen Ford Inc. in 2016, has been a part of Legends baseball throughout the team’s 16-year history. It offers non-profit organizations a chance to raise awareness of their work through information distribution at Whitaker Bank Ballpark during a home game as well as on-field and radio interviews at that game.   More than 100 different organizations have participated in the program over the last two seasons, and many organizations return year after year.

“The Community Organization of the Night is one of our favorite programs, as it educates fans about all the wonderful non-profit organizations that work diligently to give back to our community,” said Legends Vice President of Business Development Sarah Bosso. “The 50/50 raffle is a great added component for fans to show their support for these non-profits and also have the chance to leave the ballpark with some unexpected spending money. It’s a win-win, and we’re excited to be able to offer this fundraising opportunity again for the 2017 season.”

Interested organizations should contact Jillian Waitkus at jwaitkus@lexingtonlegends.com or (859) 422-7847 or visit the Legends website, www.lexingtonlegends.com (under the “Community” tab), to sign up for the Community Organization of the Night program for 2017.

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

Chasers Earn Ballpark Digest’s Charity Award

The Omaha Storm Chasers have been announced as the recipient of Ballpark Digest‘s “2016 Charity Award” for the organization’s work in the community throughout the 2016 season. The Storm Chasers were also a finalist for the award in 2015.

“Our organization is truly humbled to receive this award,” said Storm Chasers President and General Manger Martie Cordaro. “While we give back to our community because we believe we have a responsibility to do so, it is still rewarding to be honored. I personally thank Ballpark Digest for recognizing our staff as industry leaders in giving back.”

The Storm Chasers organization, through its charitable arm Chasers Charities, set an all-time record in charitable giving in 2016, the fourth consecutive year the club has achieved that feat. In total, the organization donated $768,695 to local charities, an increase of $82,558 compared in 2015.

Among the highlights of the organization’s 2016 charitable work included providing a platform for 74 non-profit organizations at Werner Park as the “Community Organization of the Night”. Over $20,000 was raised through the McDonald’s and Huber Chevrolet Hurl the Pearl promotion for the Ronald McDonald House, in addition to over $23,000 donated to local charities, including Let’s Go Miles, Nebraska Organ Recovery and Methodist Hospital Foundation through four Game-Worn Jersey Auctions.

In total, the organization also combined for over 420 mascot and player appearances in the Omaha Metro community. The Storm Chasers front office also joined forces to record 932 hours of community service in 2016.

A full overview of the Storm Chasers’ 2016 Community Relations efforts can be found online at www.omahastormchasers.com/community.

The Omaha Storm Chasers are the Triple-A Affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The Storm Chasers play at Werner Park in Papillion, Sarpy County, Nebraska. For more information please visit omahastormchasers.com and follow us on Twitter @omastormchasers and at facebook.com/omahastormchasers.

The Storm Chasers return to Werner Park for Opening Night 2017 on Tuesday April 11, 2017.

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

Shea wins in ADA ‘Kiss a Pig’ campaign

  Lexington Legends’ President/CEO Andy Shea planted a kiss on a pig Saturday night.

Shea was the winner in the American Diabetes Association “Kiss a Pig” fundraising campaign. He was one of 10 local celebrities in whose names donations could be made.   His total of more than $45,000 raised led the way, and as the winner, he kissed the pig – now named “Pig L” in reference to the Legends famous mascot, Big L.

“My Aunt Debbie was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was in eighth grade,” Shea recalled. “She passed away shortly after my 16th birthday, and I still think about her and love her every day. It was a true honor to be a part of such a great event, raise funds for research, and bring awareness to this awful disease. It was even more special being able to share the night with my mom and friends. And we’re all very excited about the addition of Pig L to our family and the ballpark!”

Pig L will be a part of the Shea household, and is expected to occasionally visit Whitaker Bank Ballpark for some Legends’ games next season.

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

Chasers Set All-Time Charitable Giving Mark

The Omaha Storm Chasers set an all-time record in charitable giving for the fourth consecutive year in 2016. In total, the organization donated $768,695 to local charities this year, an increase of $82,558 compared to last year’s top mark.

“Remaining a cornerstone of charitable giving is imperative to what this organization stands for,” said Martie Cordaro, President and General Manager of the Omaha Storm Chasers. “With the visible presence and community center that Werner Park has become, we have a responsibility to Sarpy County and the Omaha Metro to give back and address needs in our community.”

The Storm Chasers organization provided a platform for 74 non-profit organizations at Werner Park as its Community Organization of the Night. The McDonalds and Huber Chevrolet Hurl the Pearl promotion also raised a record number of $20,663 for the Ronald McDonald House. In addition, over $23,000 was donated to local charities including Let’s Go Miles, Nebraska Organ Recovery and Methodist Hospital Foundation through four Game-Worn Jersey Auctions, with players and coaches wearing specialty jerseys.

The organization remained visible throughout the Omaha Metro, with mascots and players combining for over 420 appearances in the community. The Storm Chasers front office also combined for 932 hours of community service in 2016.

A full overview of the Storm Chasers’ 2016 Community Relations efforts can be found online at www.omahastormchasers.com/community.

The Omaha Storm Chasers are the Triple-A Affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, and play at Werner Park in Papillion, Sarpy County, Nebraska. For more information please visit omahastormchasers.com and follow us on Twitter @omastormchasers and at facebook.com/omahastormchasers.

The Storm Chasers return to Werner Park for Opening Night 2017 on Tuesday, April 11, 2017.

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

Storm Chasers Participating in Omaha Gives! on May 20

Charitable challenge benefits the Home Run Foundation of Greater Omaha

OMAHA, Neb. – Last season the Omaha Storm Chasers and the Home Run Foundation of Greater Omaha, the charitable arm of the organization, participated in Omaha Gives! for the first time. On May 20, the Storm Front Team Store will be the home for the charitable challenge from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Omaha Gives! is a 24-hour, online giving event organized by the Omaha Community Foundation to grow philanthropy in Douglas, Sarpy, and Pottawattamie counties, with the goal to inspire the community to come together for 24 hours to contribute as many charitable dollars as possible to support the work of local non-profit organizations participating. Those interested in donating to the Home Run Foundation can do so online at www.omahagives24.org from midnight to midnight on May 20 with a minimum donation of $10.

As a part of the Omaha non-profit community, the Home Run Foundation of Greater Omaha seeks to raise funds for their charitable contributions that benefit sports and recreational activities with a focus on youth. In addition to donating online, the event at the Storm Front Team Store will reward fans for donating to the Home Run Foundation of Greater Omaha. Full details for the event:

  • 50 Mystery Autographed Baseballs to be given out to those who donate $20 or more. Autographs include Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas and more.
  • 30% off at the Storm Front Team Store (in store only on full-priced items, some exclusions apply)

All attendees at the Storm Front Team Store will have the chance to speak with representatives of the Home Run Foundation of Greater Omaha and learn about the various programs involved in the organization before donating.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Omaha Storm Chasers. Click here to view the original story.

“CHASERS COMMUNITY WEEK” May 4-9

Planned Events for “Chasers Community Week”

  • Monday, May 4 – Storm Chasers staff members and Storm Chasers players volunteered from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. as part of “Rebuilding Together.” The participants helped Helen, an 87-year-old resident, with painting in various rooms and yard clean-up. Storm Chasers players Matt Fields and Buddy Baumann took part in the volunteering from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  • Tuesday, May 5 – Storm Chasers players, as well as select Storm Chasers staff, will visit kids at the Children’s Hospital from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  • Wednesday, May 6 – The Storm Chasers had “Phil the Pig” at the Children’s Museum in April for the Autism Action Partnership, and a check of donations will be presented at the game. Tickets will be donated to families involved with the Omaha Children’s Museum Autism Night.
  • Thursday, May 7 – Players and Storm Chasers staff will serve lunch at the Open Door Mission from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
  • Friday, May 8 – The Storm Chasers will donate 50 tickets to have four Boys Town Houses come to the Friday night game, with a first pitch for each house. Storm Chasers players will greet and take photos before the game.
  • Saturday, May 9 – Partnering with Western Bowl and Muscular Dystrophy Association, a majority of the Storm Chasers roster is scheduled to bowl and interact with MDA families in an exclusive event from 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Omaha Storm Chasers. Click here to view the original story.

Legends celebrate 15th year with ’15 Days of Service’

Lexington Legends players, front office staff and Big L made a visit to Greenhouse 17, the first stop on the Legends "15 Days of Service" program. (Lexington Legends)
Lexington Legends players, front office staff and Big L made a visit to Greenhouse 17, the first stop on the Legends “15 Days of Service” program. (Lexington Legends)

(WHITAKER BANK BALLPARK, Lexington, Ky.) The Lexington Legends are celebrating their 15th year of operation of 2015, and part of that celebration includes a special campaign to continue giving back to the community.

The Legends’ “15 Days of Service” campaign will include volunteer work with 15 different organizations in the Lexington area. Legends players as well as front office staff will be involved.

The first of the 15 stops was made April 20 at Greenhouse 17, an advocacy agency in Lexington committed to ending intimate partner abuse in families and the community.   Legends players Alfredo Escalera, Kyle Pollock, and Michael Hill, along with Big L and front office staffers Rebecca Barnes, Anne Brenner, Ty Cobb, April Dietrich, Tim Vieira and Corie Roberts spent time with children at Greenhouse 17 and also helped out with some gardening chores.

Other agencies that will be part of “15 Days of Service” include the Ronald McDonald House, Sweet Blessings, Hope Center, Toyota Bluegrass Miracle League, Salvation Army, Central Kentucky Riding for Hope, United Way, God’s Pantry, the Nest, GLEAN and Habitat for Humanity. More will be added as the 2015 season continues.

“Community service has always played a very important part of who we are as an organization here at the Lexington Legends,” said Barnes, the Legends’ director of community relations. “Being able to give back to the community that has supported us for the last 15 years is a great way to celebrate our 15th anniversary season.”

“Fifteen days of service really brings our community service efforts into focus,” added Legends President/CEO Andy Shea. “We’ll never lose sight of the importance of giving back, but the celebration of the 15th season of Legends baseball provides a special incentive for all of us.”

For more information, contact Barnes at 859-422-7855.

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

Blood Donors Score Naturals Tickets: May 1 – May 15

April 27, 2015-Each Arkansas Blood Institute (ABI) donor May 1 through 15, will score two premium tickets to a Northwest Arkansas Naturals baseball game. Anyone 16 years and older* is urged to come to the ABI donor center at 5300 S. U St., Fort Smith, or find an area blood drive listed on arkbi.org. Vouchers for Monday through Thursday evening games in May will be awarded to donors. Each can be redeemed at the Arvest Ballpark box office for two seats behind the dugout.

“Being an active community partner is extremely important to our organization, and this furthers that initiative for us,” said Naturals General Manager Justin Cole.

A ‘hero’ T-shirt also awaits each donor. If preferred, a donor can forgo the T-shirt to support Global Blood Fund (GBF). For each donor who chooses this option, a contribution to GBF will be made by Arkansas Blood Institute. GBF is a nonprofit that provides blood center technology and supplies to struggling blood centers around the world, so they can meet local needs through voluntary blood donation.

Donors with Arkansas Blood Institute exclusively provide blood needed by all patients in River Valley hospitals and some 15 other medical facilities in the region.

Appointments to donate are not required but can be made at 877-340-8777 or arkbi.org.

* 16 year olds must weigh at least 125 and provide signed parental permission; 17 year olds must weigh at least 125 pounds; 18+ year olds must weigh at least 110 pounds

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. Click here to view the original story.

Martie Cordaro Receives Jack Lewis Community Service Award at Omaha Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

OMAHA, Neb. – As part of the Omaha Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Omaha Storm Chasers President and General Manager Martie Cordaro was honored with the Jack Lewis Community Service Award. The event was held at the University of Nebraska-Omaha’s Scott Conference Center.

“The Storm Chasers are not validated by Championship rings and trophies, but are with the results that show the staff is truly dedicated to the area we live and work in,” said Martie Cordaro, President and General Manager of the Omaha Storm Chasers. “Our work is not important unless we have an impact on the lives of the people who support us, and that is what we continue to try to live up to every day.”

The Jack Lewis Service Community Service Award is the third community-based honor the Storm Chasers have received since the end of the 2014 season, and second for Cordaro as he was named “Community Partner of the Year” by Community 360 last September. The team was honored at the PRSA Nebraska Paper Anvil Awards Gala last December with the 2014 Community Service Award.

The Storm Chasers had a record-setting 2014 in terms of community involvement as the charitable arm of the team, the Home Run Foundation of Greater Omaha, donated $558,733 to local charities. The total was the largest since the team became the Storm Chasers in 2010.

The 2015 Hall of Fame inductees were Bruce Benedict, Ken Geddes, Peaches James, Christy Johnson-Lynch, Charles “Deacon” Jones, the 1985 Omaha Creighton Prep Football team and horse “Omaha.”

In addition to the honor for Cordaro the Westside High School baseball team was named Sportsmen of the Year, Creighton Volleyball’s Kelli Browning was named Sportswoman of the Year and Boxing’s “Fighter of the Year” Terence “Bud” Crawford was named the Founders Award winner.

The Omaha Sports Hall Of Fame was founded in 2006, with a goal to provide a permanent place to honor individuals with strong ties to Omaha who have achieved tremendous success through athletics.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Omaha Storm Chasers. Click here to view the original story.