Chattanooga Lookouts to Auction Off Autographed Team Jersey to Benefit Hurricane Harvey Relief Efforts

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Today, the Chattanooga Lookouts have announced that they will auction off an Autographed Team Jersey to benefit Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. The online auction is set to begin at noon on Friday September 1st and end at noon on Tuesday September 5th.

All proceeds from the auction will be given to Minor League Baseball Charities. MiLB Charities is collecting funds on behalf of Minor League Baseball’s 160 teams to provide relief to the MiLB communities affected by Hurricane Harvey. MiLB Charities will match all donations provided by its teams, up to $10,000, and will send the collective funds to organizations selected by the MiLB office and those clubs whose communities are affected.

Fans who would like to bid on the jersey can click here once the auction begins. The bidding will start at $150.

The Lookouts last action packed homestand of the year begins tonight! The upcoming homestand features MEGA Fireworks and the ZOOperstars! on Friday (9/1), College Football Night on Saturday (9/2) and College Kids Eat Free on Sunday (9/3).

This homestand is also the last chance for fans to exchange their unused 2017 tickets. For all five games fans can trade in their unused 2017 tickets at the RE/MAX Ticket Office for a general admission seat. If you don’t have any unused tickets, you can purchase tickets over the phone at 423-267-4TIX or visit Lookouts.com. Tickets for the team’s upcoming playoff games on September 6 and 7 are also available now!

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About the Chattanooga Lookouts

The Chattanooga Lookouts, a founding member of the Southern League in 1885, are the 2015 Southern League Champions and the Class AA affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. The Lookouts play their home games at AT&T Field, located on Hawk Hill in downtown Chattanooga. For more information, keep up with the Lookouts year-round at www.lookouts.com, or by following us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/Chattanooga Lookouts), Twitter (@ChattLookouts) and Instagram (@ChattLookouts).

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

Florida State League/Miami Marlins Scholarship Winners Announced

FORT MYERS, Fla. (August 1, 2017) – The Fort Myers Miracle, Advanced-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, are proud to announce Mason Wilbanks as their 2017 Florida State League/Miami Marlins Scholarship Award winner. This is the eighteenth (18) straight year for the program, and it is funded by the Miami Marlins and the Florida State League. Each scholarship has a monetary value of $1,500 and is presented to a student employee, child or grandchild of an employee. A total of 216 scholarships have been awarded to qualified applicants since the inception of the program.

“This program is intended to encourage and reward our college summer interns by reinforcing to them that education is key to success in life with or without baseball,” stated Miracle Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer Ben Hemmen. “We thank the Miami Marlins for providing a generous contribution to the Florida State League scholarship program and hope to see this partnership continued for many years to come.”

A rising senior at Florida Gulf Coast University, Mason came to Hammond Stadium each day with a smile on his face and a willingness to help the team in every way possible throughout the summer. He has been a part of the intern team since 2015 when he worked during the Twins’ Spring Training season. The native of Fleming Beach, Florida and graduate of Fleming Beach High School is expected to graduate from FGCU in the spring of 2018 with a degree in Business Management with a Sports Concentration.

“I am blessed and grateful for the opportunities the Fort Myers Miracle have given me,” said Wilbanks. “I would like to thank the Florida State League and the Miracle for selecting me for such a prestigious award. It has truly been a beneficial experience that will be useful as I pursue future endeavors.”

All winners were guests at Marlins Park on July 30, 2017 and were recognized in an on-field pregame introduction before the Miami Marlins took on the Cincinnati Reds. Wilbanks was joined by the following 2017 winners from around the Florida State League:

Bradenton Marauders: Joseph Schneider

Charlotte Stone Crabs: Mackenna Stella Radunz

Clearwater Threshers: Cameron Soltau

Daytona Tortugas: Cameron Wood/Anderson Rathbun

Dunedin Blue Jays: Kelsey McIntosh

Fort Myers Miracle: Mason Wilbanks

Jupiter Hammerheads: Feliciano Grimaldo

Lakeland Flying Tigers: Lexi Hicks

Palm Beach Cardinals: Kyle Nagy

St. Lucie Mets: Mario Pietroluongo

Tampa Yankees: Lyndsay Kane

To stay up to date on upcoming promotional nights, follow the Miracle online at Miraclebaseball.com or through social media; Twitter: @MiracleBaseball, Instagram: fortmyersmiracle, Facebook: Fort Myers Miracle, Snapchat: ftmyersmiracle. To purchase tickets, visit MiracleBaseball.com/tickets. For information or questions regarding the 2017 25th Anniversary Season, call the Miracle offices at (239) 768-4210.

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

Kernels players and front office to take ALS Ice Bucket Challenge on Wednesday

Cedar Rapids, IA – Kernels players and members of the Kernels front office staff will take the Ice Bucket Challenge for ALS Awareness on Wednesday, August 2nd at 2:30 PM on the main concourse at Perfect Game Field right inside the main gates.

In 2014 the Facebook and other social media pages were filled with people accepting and fulfilling the Ice Bucket Challenge. The moto now of the ALS Association is “Every August until a Cure”. The Kernels staff and players are also making a cash donation to the ALS Association as a group.

The purpose of the challenge is to accept the challenge and pour a bucket of ice water over your head, make a donation to ALS or both. Donations can be made by visiting the ALS website at www.als.org.

The Kernels continue a seven-game home stand tonight at 6:35 PM vs. Clinton. Gates open at 5:30 PM and the current home stand continues through Friday, August 4th.

Chris Kleinhans-Schulz and Morgan Hawk bring you all of the play-by-play on the radio home of Kernels baseball, 1450 KMRY AM and 93.1 KMRY FM. Fans may listen on-line at www.kmryradio.com, or www.kernels.com. Fans may also stream all 70 Kernels home game and selected road games via a MiLB.TV subscription. Visit MiLB.TV for subscription information.

Tickets may be purchased on-line at www.kernels.com, or by calling the Kernels Ticket Office at 896-7560. Ticket office hours are 10 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday, and 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday.

2017 Nick Adenhart Memorial Scholarship winners

Cedar Rapids, IA – The Cedar Rapids Kernels and Kernels Foundation are pleased to announce Nicole Toppin and Matt Condon as the winners of the 2017 Nick Adenhart Memorial Scholarships. They were recognized in an on-field ceremony before the Kernels game with Peoria on Sunday, July 9th.

Nicole Toppin is a member of the Class of 2017 at Marion High School and plans on attending the University of Iowa and majoring in Business and Spanish. Matt Condon is a member of the Class of 2017 at Linn-Mar High School and plans on attending the University of Iowa and majoring in Business and Sports Management.

Nick Adenhart was a bright young pitcher who played for the Cedar Rapids Kernels in 2006, and was a rising star in the Los Angeles Angels organization. Only hours after Nick’s 2009 season debut on the mound for the Angels, a drunk driver tragically killed him on April 9, 2009 at age 22.

Nick’s family continues to honor him with the awarding of two $1,000 scholarships in his memory. The Kernels Foundation is privileged to administer the scholarships on behalf of Nick’s family.

The Kernels wrap up a seven-game home stand against the Peoria Chiefs on Monday, July 10th at 12:05 PM with the gates opening at 11 AM.

Chris Kleinhans-Schulz and Morgan Hawk bring you all of the play-by-play on the radio home of Kernels baseball, 1450 KMRY AM and 93.1 KMRY FM. Fans may listen on-line at www.kmryradio.com, or www.kernels.com. Fans may also stream all 70 Kernels home game and selected road games via a MiLB.TV subscription. Visit MiLB.TV for subscription information.

Tickets may be purchased on-line at www.kernels.com, or by calling the Kernels Ticket Office at 896-7560. Ticket office hours are 10 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday, and 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday.

First Federal Credit Union & Cedar Rapids Kernels present HomeRun for Hunger

Cedar Rapids, IA – First Federal Credit Union and the Cedar Rapids Kernels have created the HomeRun for Hunger program, a collaborative initiative to support the Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP) Food Reservoir. Working together, volunteer employees will gather fresh food donations at the conclusion of each Cedar Rapids Downtown Farmers’ Market where items will then be donated to the HACAP Food Reservoir (our community food bank distributing food to the 12.2% food insecure in our area through 114 non-profit organizations and a variety of programs).

HomeRun for Hunger volunteers from First Federal Credit Union and the Cedar Rapids Kernels will pick up acceptable food donations from vendors near the end of each Downtown Farmers’ Market. These volunteers will be wearing “Home Run for Hunger” t-shirts and will have wagons to transport donated items. All donated items will be taken to the on-site HACAP Mobile Food Pantry truck and delivered to the food reservoir that serves Linn and six surrounding counties.

“We are pleased to bring the HomeRun for Hunger program to the Cedar Rapids Downtown Farmers’ Market”, stated First Federal Credit Union CEO Tom Chalstrom. “Working with the Cedar Rapids Kernels, together we can provide the resources to commit to making Home Run for Hunger a program that will make a difference for families that use HACAP’s programs”.

Ryne George, Community Relations Manager for the Cedar Rapids Kernels added, “The HomeRun for Hunger program is another means by which our team, our employees and our fans can help make our community a better place. We are looking forward to making this program an important resource for HACAP’s food bank”.

Linda Gorkow from the HACAP Food Reservoir remarked, “We are so appreciative of the time, resources and effort that First Federal and the Kernels have given to create the Home Run for Hunger program. The employees of both organizations are volunteering their time to ensure the program is a success. The vendors of the Downtown Farmers’ Market can help us alleviate hunger in the area by donating unsold food items that will make its way to the homes that most need it.”

The HACAP Food Reservoir is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and donations are tax deductible. Receipts will be available upon request.

Acceptable food donations include: All fresh fruits and vegetables, honey (with producer label), eggs, cans of food (proper labeling with ingredient labels), non-food items (personal care and home care items especially).

The following items cannot be accepted: home-canned items or preservatives, home-made baked items (must be prepared in professional kitchen with ingredient label, and no alcoholic beverages.

For more information please visit CRDowntownMarket.com.

Wings of Hope event set for Aug. 13

Rochester Community Baseball, the Rochester Red Wings, Sharing Kindness, Inc., and Villa of Hope held a press conference to announce a new initiative, “Wings of Hope” to raise awareness of suicide risk factors, suicide prevention and community resources for treatment. A special day at the ballpark has been scheduled for Sunday, August 13.

Dan Mason, General Manager of the Rochester Red Wings and Villa of Hope President and CEO, Christina Gullo was joined on May 24 by Red Wings players Jason Wheeler, John Ryan Murphy, D.J. Baxendale, ByungHo Park, Trevor Hildenberger, and Alan Busenitz. Wheeler spoke on behalf of his teammates and shared his experience demonstrating the importance of this partnership.

Jason Wheeler and his family know the effect suicide has on a family, “Mental illness and suicide have personally affected me and my family. We lost my 16 year-old brother-in-law Jeremy, almost eight months ago. Since this tragedy, we have been astonished at not only how common mental illness and suicide are, but also how unable we are as a society to speak about them because of the strong stigma associated with these issues. As a family, we are working towards eliminating stigma surrounding suicide, and changing the perception in our communities that mental illness is different from any other illness. We feel very fortunate to be partnering with the Red Wings and Villa of Hope to help raise mental health awareness, improve education, and start an ongoing conversation about suicide, both in the Rochester community and nationwide.”

Dan Mason, General Manager of the Rochester Red Wings shares, “We are fortunate to have great players on our team but even more fortunate that these young men are outstanding citizens who want to make a difference in the lives of other people. It is atypical for a minor league baseball player to sponsor a promotion for his team and we are thrilled that Jason is partnering with us and our friends at the Villa of Hope to help raise awareness and funds for suicide prevention and mental health. This is a very personal matter for he and his family and everyone at Rochester Community Baseball applauds and supports him for using his status as a professional baseball player to raise awareness and funding for such an important topic in our society today. ”

Five months ago, Villa of Hope moved into its new, larger Behavioral Health (Mental Health and Chemical Dependency) Outpatient Clinic at Water Tower Park in response to the rapidly growing need in the Rochester area. Christina Gullo, President and CEO of Villa of Hope states, “Twelve percent of children under the age of 18 have considered suicide in the past year and seven percent attempted it. S uicide is the second leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24. As a community we need to have the resources for parents and kids to find help before these become life-altering or life-threatening events.”

Special Red Wings jerseys, hats, socks and Minnesota Twins collectibles will be available for auction at the Sunday, August 13th game at 1:35 p.m. All proceeds of the auction will benefit Villa of Hope and Sharing Kindness, Inc. That game is a designated “Kids Club Day” and will include sports entertainer “BirdZerk!” and a chance for kids to run the bases with Spikes and Mittsy after the game.

About Sharing Kindess

Sharing Kindness is a newly-formed non-profit, started by the Walters family after the death by suicide of their 16 year old son Jeremy, in October of 2016. It is dedicated to overcoming the stigma surrounding mental illness, depression and suicide. Sharing Kindness is about having the courage and compassion to start and sustain the conversation in our communities about these issues that have traditionally been so difficult to talk about. We are currently developing and helping fund various awareness and education programs in the lower and outer towns of Cape Cod, MA, an area plagued with higher than average rates of suicide, with special focus on our schools.

About Villa of Hope

Through a network of high quality programs and services, Villa of Hope specializes in helping at-risk youth overcome emotional and behavioral challenges and build lifelong strengths. The Villa’s community-based, residential and educational programs address mental health needs, trauma-informed care, life-skills development, and chemical dependency. Founded in 1942, today Villa of Hope serves more than 3,000 young people and their families annually.

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

McCoy Charity Softball Game Returns June 4

The LeSean McCoy Foundation and Rochester Red Wings have announced the fourth annual LeSean McCoy Charity Softball Game will be held at Frontier Field on Sunday, June 4 with festivities beginning at 2 p.m.

McCoy and his Buffalo Bills teammates will take on a team of local heroes comprised of police, firefighters and emergency medical technicians. Former NFL players who have participated in this event in the past include Cam Newton, Victor Cruz, DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Brian Westbrook, Thurman Thomas, Sammy Watkins, Chris Hogan and Tyrod Taylor.

Gates will open at 1 p.m. The Home Run Derby begins at 2 p.m. with the game starting at approximately 3 p.m.

Tickets will go on sale Friday, April 28 at 9:00 a.m. at Frontier Field Ticket Office, online at RedWingsBaseball.com or by calling (585) 423-WING. Tickets are $25 for platinum box, $20 for premium box, $15 for upper box and $10 for reserved. Red Wings Season Seat Holders will have until Thursday, April 27 at 5:00 p.m. to claim their seat location. On Friday, April 28, those seats will be released for sale to the general public.

A limited number of suites will be available for this event. A 16-person suite including food and non-alcoholic beverages will be $750. Fans purchasing these suites can buy additional tickets (up to four) at $25 each. A 10-person suite with the same amenities is $600 and additional tickets (up to two) can be purchased for $25 each.

This year’s softball game will feature live autograph signings, a silent auction and several raffles.

Proceeds from the event will be directed to the LeSean McCoy Foundation to provide educational and resource programs to disadvantaged youth and to raise awareness and funds directly benefitting individuals and families battling Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. LeSean’s grandmother, Maryann Branch, lost her battle with ALS.

Tickets to this charity event are considered a non-refundable donation the LeSean McCoy Foundation. No refunds will be issued due to inclement weather if the event cannot take place.

Media wishing to cover the event must contact Theresa Jones of the LeSean McCoy Foundation at theresa.t1@gmail.com.

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

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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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.

Kernels Military Heroes card set nominations closed

Cedar Rapids, IA – The Kernels are proud to announce that we have collected all the nominations for the 2017 Military Heroes Baseball card set and nominations for this year’s card set are now closed. Thank you to everyone who submitted a military hero for this year’s set!

We still encourage active duty personnel, veterans and their families to attend our Military Heroes Night on Tuesday, July 4th at 5:05 PM. The Kernels will wear special patriotic jerseys that will be sold via a silent auction with the proceeds to benefit local veterans groups and we will be honoring all veterans and active duty personnel during the game.

With the strong interest in each of our Military Heroes Baseball Cards sets, the Kernels plan to continue this annual tradition by releasing a fifth Military Heroes Set for the 2018 season. Nominations for this set will open in mid-November of 2017.

2017 Nick Adenhart Memorial Scholarship

Cedar Rapids, IA – Applications are being accepted through The Kernels Foundation for the sixth annual Nick Adenhart Memorial Scholarship.

Nick Adenhart was a bright young pitcher who played for the Cedar Rapids Kernels in 2006, and was a rising star in the Los Angeles Angels organization. Only hours after Nick’s 2009 season debut on the mound for the Angels, a drunk driver tragically killed him on April 9, 2009 at age 22.

Nick’s family would like to honor him by awarding a $1,000 scholarship in his memory. The Kernels Foundation is privileged to administer the scholarship on behalf of Nick’s family.

The deadline for submitting applications for this scholarship is Friday, April 14, 2017. Applicants must be a graduating high school senior from an area high school and attend a two or four-year accredited college or university and take 12 or more hours per semester. The applicant must have played an organized sport in the last two years, must be a great teammate, must demonstrate hard work and determination, and must have a clear vision of their career goal.

Scholarship applications are available through area schools guidance offices, or may be downloaded by clicking here.

For more information, please contact Doug Nelson at 319-363-3887 or email at doug@kernels.com.

2017 season ticket packages and 10-game coupon books are on sale now at the stadium, or by calling the Kernels at (319) 363-3887. Individual game tickets go on sale Monday, March 13th at 10 AM. The Kernels open the 2017 Midwest League season at Beloit on Thursday, April 6th. The home season begins on Saturday, April 8th vs. Beloit at 5:05 PM.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels are the Midwest League affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Kernels seeking nominations for Military Heroes Card Set

Cedar Rapids, IA – The Cedar Rapids Kernels are seeking nominations for their fourth annual Military Heroes Baseball card set. The card set will represent each branch of the military and honor those who are currently serving our country, veterans who have served in the past but are no longer active, and those who bravely fought for our country, but have since passed away.

The card set will be given away to the first 1,000 fans that enter Veterans Memorial Stadium on Tuesday, July 4th, 2017. Those military heroes selected to appear in the card set and their families will be honored on the field following the July 4th game, and will receive four tickets to that game.

In honor of Veterans Day, the Kernels will begin taking nominations for the Military Heroes Card Set on Friday, November 11th. The first 35 submissions will make it into the 2017 card set, so we urge people to turn in their nominations right away. Nominations will be taken until Tuesday, January 31st, OR, until 35 submissions are received.

To give all past and current military the opportunity to be honored in the Military Heroes Card Set, we ask that those veterans included in the 2014, 2015 and 2016 set not be nominated.

Nomination forms can be accessed by visiting the Kernels offices during normal business hours, or online at by clicking here. Nominations can be submitted online, or mailed directly to the Kernels offices. Please include a photo of the Military Hero along with your completed nomination form.

For more information on the Military Heroes Baseball card set, or to access a nomination form, please contact Ryne George at (319) 896-7617 or by e-mail at ryne@kernels.com.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels are the Midwest League affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Cedar Rapids Kernels 2016 Community Report

Cedar Rapids, IA – The Cedar Rapids Kernels are proud to release their first comprehensive community report. This report highlights the organization’s 2016 off the field efforts such as charitable donations, the Al Smith League of Dreams and the popular Kernels Summer Reading Program.

In conjunction with the “Take the Lead” community relations initiative, the Kernels want to show their commitment to being the community beacon for education, social and recreational programs in Cedar Rapids and surrounding communities.

Notable achievements this year include 150 community appearances by the team mascot Mr. Shucks, contributing donations totaling $314,744 and local children reading 2,618,750 total minutes in the Kernels Summer Reading Program.

Ryne George, the Kernels Community Relations Manager, says, “As a front office staff we all love Eastern Iowa and enjoy finding ways to give back. This report is a great example of what we do as an organization. We are looking to expand our efforts in 2017 and can’t wait to do even more for this great community.”

Click here to view the Kernels 2016 Community Report.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels are the Midwest League affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. For more information, visit www.kernels.com and follow the Kernels on social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Kernels Take the Lead charities raise over $36,000 in 2016

Cedar Rapids, IA – This season, three Kernels Take the Lead charities: Transamerica K’s for Kids, Millhiser Smith Home Runs for the Iowa Donor Network, and CarePro Health Services Plating for Plates, helped raise over $36,000.

Transamerica K’s for Kids: The Transamerica Foundation donates $25 for each strikeout recorded by a Kernels pitcher, at home and on the road, to Kids First – an organization that provides focused legal services for children. This season, Kernels pitchers recorded 1,231 strikeouts for a total of $30,775 to Kids First.

Millhiser Smith Home Runs: Millhiser Smith and West Bend Insurance donate to the Iowa Donor Network for every home run the Kernels hit at Perfect Game Field. This season the Kernels hit 36 home runs as Millhiser Smith and West Bend Insurance donated $2,500 to the Iowa Donor Network.

CarePro Health Services Plating for Plates: CarePro Health Services donates one plate of hot, nutritious food, the equivalent of $5, for every run the Kernels score at home and on the road to Horizons Meals on Wheels. This season, the Kernels scored 669 runs and CarePro Health Services donated $3,345 or 669 plates of food to the Horizons Meals on Wheels program.

The Kernels would like to thank the continued support of the Transamerica Foundation, Millhiser Smith, West Bend Insurance and CarePro Health Services for their continued support of these Take the Lead charities.

Take the Lead Mission Statement
From the Front Office to the dugout “Take the Lead” exemplifies how teamwork and collective efforts support and benefit the Cedar Rapids Corridor. The Kernels are committed to being the community beacon for education, social and recreation programs.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels are the Midwest League affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Miracle, Keep On Playing host last clinic of 2016

FORT MYERS, Fla. (September 1, 2016) – The Fort Myers Miracle and Keep on Playing are teaming up for the fourth and final baseball clinic with the Fort Myers Boy’s and Girl’s Club for 2016 on Saturday, September 3 at 10 a.m. at Shady Oaks.

The Miracle, Keep On Playing and the Boy’s and Girl’s Club have held three previous baseball clinics with excellent turnout. The Miracle and Keep On Playing have donated baseball equipment to the Boy’s and Girl’s Club and players have delivered one-on-one personal instruction to the local youth throughout the course of the summer. At each clinic, current members of the Miracle roster have worked with kids to help develop a passion for the game of baseball. 2016 Florida State League All-Star and team home run leader Trey Vavra has been at every session.

Fort Myers Mayor Randy Henderson has proclaimed September 3 as MiLB Keep On Playing Day.

“It’s extraordinary to watch the kids pick up a baseball and glove and they don’t stop smiling and laughing,” said Marnie Schneider, Founder of Keep On Playing. “The special gift of choosing what to plays is what Keep On Playing and our amazing teammates give the children. By bringing the wonderful game of baseball to the kids, we give them more options and teach them about our national pastime!”

Keep On Playing and the Miracle support the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities, or RBI program, at the Boy’s and Girl’s Clubs located in Fort Myers. In addition to baseball skills, clubs ensure participants receive educational components to help foster academic achievement while attending the clinics.

The Keep On Playing mission is to enrich the lives of youth through play. When kids keep on playing, their experiences are enhanced exponentially. Keep On Playing strives to build confidence, increase motivation and enhance self-esteem by jump-starting participation in sports. The Keep On Playing core values are: Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Perseverance, Excellence, Sportsmanship and Academic Achievement.

“I think the most important thing for people to know about Keep On Playing is its ability to change lives,” said Donja Massop, Director of Operations for the Boy’s and Girl’s Clubs of Lee County. “It’s not just about baseball. It’s more about opportunities and providing kids with new experiences.”

“We are thrilled to be able to work with Keep On Playing to bring a positive message about teamwork and being involved in sports to the kids at the Boy’s and Girl’s Club in Lee County,” said Miracle Chief Operating Officer Steve Gliner. “Being a part of these baseball clinics has been a great experience for our players and staff.”

The Miracle, Keep On Playing and the Boy’s and Girl’s Club have already scheduled clinics for the summer of 2017. For more information on the final Keep On Playing clinic in Fort Myers, contact the Miracle offices at (239) 768-4210.