Flying Squirrels win MiLB CommUNITY Champion Award

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Richmond Flying Squirrels have been named the recipient of the 2022 Minor League Baseball CommUNITY Champion Award, MiLB announced on Sunday night.

The CommUNITY Champion Award recognizes a Club that demonstrates an outstanding, ongoing commitment to charitable service, support and leadership within their local community and the baseball industry. The award was presented during the Opening Night Reception and Awards Program of the Baseball Winter Meetings at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront.

“Making an impact in the community is a pillar of our organization,” Flying Squirrels CEO Todd “Parney” Parnell said. “We strive to be a valuable community partner and aim to use our platform to make positive impacts in the Richmond region. We are grateful for this recognition from Minor League Baseball and for our community.”

In 2022, Flying Squirrels Charities expanded its areas of focus in an effort to fully encompass all the ways the Flying Squirrels impact the greater Richmond community. The newly rebranded Flying Squirrels Charities focuses on four pillars: Education, Athletics, Social Determinants and Inclusion. Flying Squirrels Charities raises funds through a number of avenues including in-stadium initiatives during the season and events around the region all year.

With Flying Squirrels Charities this year, the team has partnered to support local organizations including Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation, Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Richmond, Friendship Circle of Virginia (FCVA), Metropolitan Junior Baseball League (MJBL), Fox Elementary School and more.

The Flying Squirrels are visible in the greater Richmond community well beyond the baseball months. Mascots Nutzy and Nutasha have made more than 400 community appearances this year around the Commonwealth of Virginia. Additionally, Flying Squirrels front office staff, players and coaches have volunteered this year with organizations and events including children’s hospitals, Miracle Leagues, Feed More, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Salvation Army and others.

The Flying Squirrels continue to promote educational causes in schools around the Richmond region, including the “Go Nuts for Reading Program,” which challenges elementary and middle school students to read eight books over a two-month span to receive a free ticket to a Flying Squirrels game. This year, more than 10,000 students from 68 participating schools completed the challenge.

The Flying Squirrels launched their Executive Trainee Program, offering opportunities to students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities the opportunity to gain hands-on, professional experience working in various capacities with the team. The program is designed to create a more diverse and inclusive workforce with the goal of elevating more minorities into leadership positions throughout the professional baseball industry.

Through these and many other initiatives, the Flying Squirrels aim to make Richmond a better, more inclusive place, while simultaneously helping grow the game of baseball.

The Flying Squirrels open the 2023 season on Friday, April 7 at The Diamond against the Reading Fightin Phils. Ticket packages for the 2023 season are available now at SquirrelsBaseball.com.

Thunder and NJM Insurance Group Raise Money for Safe at Home Program

(Trenton, NJ) – The Trenton Thunder is thrilled to announce that in conjunction with NJM Insurance Group, $10,850 was donated to the Miracle League of Mercer County as part of the Safe at Home Program. The Safe at Home partnership between the Trenton Thunder and NJM Insurance Group started in 2012 and has now raised $140,600 for local nonprofit organizations.

“We are grateful that NJM Insurance Group and Trenton Thunder selected the Miracle League of Mercer County as the 2022 charitable partner for the Safe-at-Home Program,” noted Dan Schweck, Executive Director of the Miracle League of Mercer County.”

In 2005, the program was the first Miracle League to form in the entire northeast region of the United States, and 15th overall. Now 17 years later, they are one of over 325 Miracle Leagues across the US, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Mexico.

“Moreover, our league participation has tripled in size since 2017, and we now operate 12 months a year,” Schweck added. “We continue to provide great opportunities to our participants because of tremendous community support from organizations like NJM and the Thunder.”

Through the Safe at Home Program, NJM Insurance Group makes an annual donation to a local nonprofit based on the total number of runs the Thunder score at all home games throughout the season.

“Our partnership with the Trenton Thunder is built upon our shared value of supporting the communities we are privileged to serve,” added Jeff Richardson, NJM Community Outreach & Events Coordinator. “Special thanks to my friend Dan Schweck for his passion and commitment in running the Miracle League here and just making it all happen.”

“This partnership has been very meaningful to us for the past decade,” said Thunder President and General Manager Jeff Hurley. “Together, the Trenton Thunder and NJM Insurance Group continue to make a special impact throughout the region and we’re looking forward to another successful year together in 2023.”

Other nonprofits that have been a part of the Safe at Home Program include: Children’s Home Society of NJ, Rescue Mission of Trenton, Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK), Anchor House Foundation, PEI Kids, Womanspace, Boys & Girls Clubs (Mercer County), Family Service Association of Bucks County, and the Bucks County Opportunity Council.

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New Jersey’s Baseball Team | Big League Futures. Major League Fun.

The Trenton Thunder have drawn over 10 million fans over 28 years and have won the three major awards that Minor League Baseball teams can win; the Johnson Trophy for the “Nation’s Best Franchise”, the Larry MacPhail Trophy for Outstanding Club Promotion, and the Bob Frietas Award for Long-Term Success, given by Baseball America. The team has given back over $7.5 million worth of goods, services, and monetary donations through Trenton Thunder Charities, under the Grand Slam We Care Foundation umbrella. The Thunder can be found online at trentonthunder.com, facebook.com/trentonthunder, twitter.com/trentonthunder, and on youtube.com/AATrentonThunder.

Thunder and Miracle League of Mercer County Announce Uniform Design Contest

(Trenton, NJ) – The Trenton Thunder, presented by NJM Insurance Group, are proud to announce our continued partnership with the Miracle League of Mercer County. Since 2005, the Miracle League of Mercer County has been dedicated to promoting community support and opportunities for children with disabilities. Now, your Trenton Thunder will be taking the field during one game in the upcoming 2023 season in special Miracle League of Mercer County uniforms designed by one of the athletes of the Miracle League!

Submissions will be accepted starting on Thursday, September 29th and will be accepted until Friday, December 16th. In order to submit a uniform design, you must be registered for the Miracle League’s Fall or Spring season. Submissions must be emailed to Dan Sczweck at [email protected]. All designs will be reviewed and a winner will be announced in late January/early February 2023. The winning uniform design will be subject to small changes based on feedback from the uniform provider.

The winner will be recognized the night of the game and receive both a complimentary Thunder jersey and a luxury suite to a Thunder game during the 2023 season, based on availability. The Miracle League will have their annual Trenton Thunder Night in June 2023 with a date to be announced soon. Jerseys will be auctioned off with the proceeds benefiting the Miracle League of Mercer County.

Download the jersey template here: https://www.mlbdraftleague.com/trenton/community/miracleleague

For more information about the Miracle League of Mercer County, visit them online here. During the 2022 Thunder season, NJM Insurance Group donated $10,850 to the Miracle League of Mercer County as part of NJM’s Safe at Home Program. Fifty dollars was donated for each of the Thunder’s 217 runs scored at Trenton Thunder Ballpark.

Sponsorship opportunities are available! Contact Jon Bodnar at [email protected] for more information.

New Jersey’s Baseball Team | Big League Futures. Major League Fun.

The Trenton Thunder have drawn over 10 million fans over 28 years and have won the three major awards that Minor League Baseball teams can win; the Johnson Trophy for the “Nation’s Best Franchise”, the Larry MacPhail Trophy for Outstanding Club Promotion, and the Bob Frietas Award for Long-Term Success, given by Baseball America. The team has given back over $7.5 million worth of goods, services, and monetary donations through Trenton Thunder Charities, under the Grand Slam We Care Foundation umbrella. The Thunder can be found online at trentonthunder.com, facebook.com/trentonthunder, twitter.com/trentonthunder, and on youtube.com/AATrentonThunder.

Timber Rattlers Give Back Announces End-of-Year Funds Raised

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI – Timber Rattlers Give Back, the official 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, raised more than $185,000 through the Foundation’s events, programs, donations, and fundraising initiatives in 2021.

“The Timber Rattlers are fortunate to live in a supportive community and the team works hard to develop and implement programs and events to give back to the community,” said Dayna Baitinger, Director of Community Relations for the team.

Nine jersey auctions held during the season were the main fundraisers for the Timber Rattlers this year. The auctions included team-worn jerseys based on promotions for the Udder Tuggers, Los Cascabeles, Military Appreciation, Milwaukee Brewers, and Video Game.

The team is finalizing their jersey designs for the 2022 season and will unveil those designs early next year.

The annual Charity Golf Outing which was held on Tuesday, September 21 was another significant fundraiser. Nearly 100 area golfers and front office personnel collected $15,000 through the golf and raffles that were held after the outing.

An almost daily driver of donations to Give Back was the 50/50 Raffle that was held during every home game during the 2021 season. Fifty percent of all money raised during each night’s raffle went to the person with the winning ticket and the other fifty percent went to the foundation. There was over $65,000 raised for charity through the raffle during the year. The largest fund-raising night of the 50/50 raffle during the 2021 season was on Saturday, August 14 with the winner collecting $2,304 and the same amount going to Give Back.

Whiffer’s Fitness Program and Fang’s Reading Club were popular program run by the team for area youth through the mascots. The reading club is an incentive-based program that allows schools in Northeastern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula to get children from Kindergarten through fifth grade involved in reading. The fitness program helped to get kids in the Fox Cities to get and stay active.

Wisconsin front office members tended to their on-site vegetable garden to grow and harvest over 400 pounds of food in the Greenstone Farm Credit Services Ballpark Garden at Neuroscience Group Field. The harvest was taken to St. Joe’s Food Pantry. Fang celebrated his birthday in August with his annual Cans for Cake food drive and over 500 pounds of non-perishable food items were collected and donated to St. Joe’s.

Some of the charities helped by the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in 2021 included Make-A-Wish Wisconsin, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Fox Valley Veterans Council, Children’s Cancer Family Foundation of Northeast Wisconsin, St. Joe’s Food Pantry, Harvest of Hope Fund, Hunger Task Force, Community Christmas, Fond du Lac Salvation Army, The Salvation Army-Fox Cities, Treffert Center, and Miracle League of the Fox Valley.

Additionally, 2,000 hats were presented to area Little League programs. Numerous other charities received over 10,000 ticket vouchers to be used in their own fundraisers by the Rattlers.

Timber Rattlers Give Back was established in 2019 and is dedicated to making a positive difference in our community. We aim to provide financial support and help raise awareness of charitable causes in the Fox Valley community in the areas of education, youth sports, and basic needs by using the platform made possible by Minor League Baseball and stadium ownership.

Thank you to everyone who assisted in our charitable works in 2021. We could not have accomplished this without the support of the players, coaches, and community. We look forward to growing Give Back even more in 2022.

Wind Surge Give Back 2021

 

2021 was a year full of firsts for the Wichita Wind Surge. In addition to bringing affiliated baseball back to Wichita, the inaugural season was also an opportunity for the Wind Surge to give back to a community that has rallied so much support around the new stadium and new team. Various programs and partnerships were put in place to help support several non-profit and philanthropic organizations around the Wichita and Sedgwick County community.

Cancer Awareness Night

The first of many valuable partnerships involved the Wind Surge joining forces with Central Kansas Cancer Center and McPherson College. This alliance was aimed at raising funds and awareness for the battle against cancer. The Wind Surge designed a unique Cancer Awareness Jersey that was worn by each player during the 2021 Cancer Awareness Night at Riverfront Stadium. After the game, these game- worn jerseys were auctioned off to raise money for the American Cancer Society. We were happy to donate $4,375 to the American Cancer Society to aid in their fight to find a cure for cancer.

Schwechheimer Family Foundation

The Schwechheimer Family Foundation also made its debut during the 2021 season. A 501(c)(3) organization, the Schwechheimer Family Foundation aims to support and foster underserved community members and bring the history of Wichita baseball back to life. The corporation seeks to provide opportunities for the general public to increase their understanding of Wichita’s baseball history and community pursuits. Fundraising efforts for the foundation included a 50/50 raffle during all home games, auctioning off specialty military appreciation jerseys, and the sale of 2021 inaugural season patches which featured late managing general partner, Lou Schwechheimer.

Home Runs for Charity

During the 2021 season, Wind Surge fans also witnessed our collaboration with Fidelity Bank and League 42 in our Home Runs for Charity fundraising sponsorship. League 42 is a non-profit organization, founded in July 2013, that has a goal of ensuring that urban children can have an opportunity to play baseball without the exorbitant costs of playing in organized leagues. Through this sponsorship, each time a Wind Surge player hit a homerun during a Wind Surge home game, Fidelity Bank and the Wind Surge would donate $100 to League 42. During the 2021 season, Fidelity Bank and the Wichita Wind Surge proudly donated $6,900 to League 42 in order to assist the organization in fulfilling their mission.

Outside the Ballpark

Our passion for giving back to the community did not stop with the end of the baseball season in late September. During the off season, many members of the Wind Surge front office continue to volunteer their time and efforts in the community. Staff have participated in many ways, including volunteering with the Kansas Food Bank, Salvation Army, Toys for Tots and Operation Holiday Wearhouse.

Planning for the 2022 season is well underway, and that includes the integration of community partnerships and collaboration. The 2022 season will feature many new community partnerships, and we are looking forward to continuing our mission of giving back to Wichita and surrounding communities.

To learn more about our community initiatives email Our Community Engagement Coordinator at [email protected] Want to request a Wind Surge donation gift for your next charity event? Click here to fill out a request!

IronPigs Charities Presents $37,400 in Community Grants

 

IronPigs Charities Presents $37,400 in Community Grants

Grants were provided in support of educational and recreational programs

Allentown, Pennsylvania (9 February 2021) – IronPigs Charities presented by Air Products, the philanthropic branch of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, announced the 14 recipients of the 2021 Community Grants. Grants, which totaled $37,400, were provided to the following organizations in support of educational and recreational programs for youth in the Greater Lehigh Valley, especially those in underserved populations or those who are differently abled. IronPigs Charities has donated $1,118,729 since 2007.

“2020 was a hard year for the nonprofit community,” said IronPigs Charities Director Emily Bettys. “Despite not having a baseball season where our typical in-game fundraising efforts take place, the IronPigs had to create unique fundraising opportunities to directly benefit the community grant program for IronPigs Charities. We were able to continue our mission without interruption by funding 14 worthy projects across the Lehigh Valley, thanks to the loyal support of the IronPigs fanbase. We feel honored to have the ability to back these programs as they adapt with the times and strive to go above and beyond in making a difference for a community that had their resources cut tremendously due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Here is a full list of the 14 recipients of the 2021 Community Grants:

Boys and Girls Club of Allentown: Istation and virtual yoga at Sixth Street Clubhouse

Boys and Girls Club of Easton: Triple Play Sports, Fitness, & Recreation Program

Camelot for Children: Engagement for Children with Disabilities

Center for Vision Loss: Camp I CAN! Summer Program

Children’s Home of Easton: Health & Wellness Program

Community Bike Works: Online Earn a Bike

EHS Angel Network: EHS Angel Network Resource Closet – Athletic Apparel

Foundation for Easton School – Paxinosa Elementary School: Paxinosa National Pastime Grant

Miracle League of the Lehigh Valley: Off-Season Activities

Special Olympics PA’s Greater Lehigh Valley Pocono Region: Get Team Bethlehem to the Special Olympics North America 2021 Softball Tournament

The Arc of Lehigh and Northampton Counties: Infusion of Inclusion 2.0 Program

The Fund to Benefit Children and Youth: The Fund to Benefit Children and Youth

The Salvation Army Foster Care and Adoption: Team is Family Sports Scholarship Program

Young Life Lehigh Valley: Young Life Summer Camping Financial Assistance

The IronPigs hosted a number of special events in 2020 that directly benefited IronPigs Charities. The first of its kind – a Character Cruise-thru was held as fans were guided through Coca-Cola Park’s lots in parade-style passing by more than 60 costumed cars. Due to much success, a second cruise event was added so more fans could participate. Between the two cruises, 2,000 cars participated in total and nearly $14,000 was raised with 100% of the proceeds going to benefit IronPigs Charities.

Ballpark Bingo was held on Wednesday evenings from July through November. The event gave guests an opportunity to play 12 rounds of bingo, eat ballpark food, and soak up the ambiance of Coca-Cola Park. Bingo nights raised over $26,000 for IronPigs Charities.

Suites N Treats, which provides an all-inclusive trick or treat experience for youth who otherwise may not have had the opportunity to do so. Safety was the top priority as nearly 400 children were invited to walk the concourse along the ballpark for a socially distanced and safe trick or treat experience.

The IronPigs were not able to host games or any traditional events in 2020, but the front-office staff worked diligently to support their community partners by focusing all their efforts on funding IronPigs Charities.

IronPigs Charities is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, the cornerstone of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs’ commitment to the Lehigh Valley community and is presented by the Air Products Foundation.

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IronPigs Charities presents $53,400 in Community Grants

IronPigs Charities, the philanthropic branch of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, announced the 20 recipients of the 2020 Community Grants. Grants, which totaled $53,400, were provided to the following organizations in support of educational and recreational programs for youth in the Greater Lehigh Valley, especially those in underserved populations or those who are differently abled. IronPigs Charities has donated $1,081,329 since 2007.

“These grants are made possible through the proceeds of multiple fundraising events conducted during our season,” said IronPigs Charities Executive Director Diane Donaher. “We received 80 grant applications from many worthy community non-profits. While the decision was difficult, we are excited that the projects selected by our Board of Directors will use the funds to provide positive experiences for children that often go without these sometimes-transformational opportunities because of economic and other access barriers. We thank all Lehigh Valley IronPigs fans for their support of IronPigs Charities. It is through your generous donations that these grants are possible.”

Here’s a full list of the 20 recipients of the 2020 Community Grants:

Bethlehem Area Public Library
Boys & Girls Club of Allentown
Boys & Girls Club of Easton
Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center
Camelot for Children
Center for Vision Loss
Children’s Home of Easton
Community Bike Works
Diakon-Adoption Program
Easton Community Center
Greater Valley YMCA
Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living
Mikayla’s Voice
Miracle League of the Lehigh Valley
Northeast Community Center
Northern Lehigh Recreation Authority
Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley, Inc.
The Salvation Army
Wilson Area LINCS Family Center
YWCA Bethlehem

IronPigs Charities is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, the cornerstone of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs’ commitment to the Lehigh Valley community and is presented by the Air Products Foundation.

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

Timber Rattlers Release 2019 Charity Report

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI – It was a good year for the various charities supported by the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Charity Fund. The Rattlers have released a brief report on their charitable works during 2019 as they prepare for 2020.

The main fundraisers for the 2019 Timber Rattlers were the seven jersey auctions held during the 2019 season. The auctions included team-worn jerseys based on promotions for the Udder Tuggers, Los Cascabeles, Military Appreciation, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Brewers, Star WarsTM, and Wisconsin Brats. These auctions raised almost $18,000 for local charities.

The Timber Rattlers are finalizing their jersey designs for the 2020 season and will unveil those designs as Opening Night for next season gets closer.

The annual Charity Golf Outing which was held on June 3, 2019 was another significant fundraiser. Nearly 100 area golfers plus Timber Rattlers players, coaches, and front office personnel collected over $8,500 for the Timber Rattlers Charity Foundation through the golf and raffles that were held after the outing. The 2020 Charity Golf Outing is scheduled for Monday, June 1 at Shamrock Heights Golf Course in Shawano.

The team was also involved in programs like Whiffer’s Fitness Program and Fang’s Reading Club. The reading club is an incentive-based program that allows schools in Northeastern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula to get children from Kindergarten through fifth grade involved in reading. The fitness program helped to get kids in the Fox Cities to get and stay active.

Mascots Whiffer & Fang got into the charitable spirit on their birthdays, too. Whiffer’s Birthday in March coincided with the team’s individual tickets on sale date and a Help for the Homeless Drive that collected hygiene products for area homeless shelters. Fang’s Birthday in August collected 410 pounds in non-perishable food items as part of the Cans for Cake food drive.

The Timber Rattlers front offices also tended to their on-site garden to grow and harvest over 400 pounds of food in the Greenstone Farm Credit Services Ballpark Garden at Neuroscience Group Field. The fresh vegetables were taken to St. Joe’s Food Pantry.

Some of the charities helped by the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in 2019 included Make-A-Wish Wisconsin, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Fox Valley Veterans Council, Children’s Cancer Family Foundation of Northeast Wisconsin, St. Joe’s Food Pantry, Freedom Food Pantry, Lupus Foundation, Farm Aid, and Miracle League of the Fox Valley.

Additionally, over 2000 hats were presented to area Little League programs. Numerous other charities received over 10,000 ticket vouchers to be used in their own fundraisers by the Rattlers.

The team established the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Fund with the Community Foundation of the Fox Valley Region in 2016 to benefit the team’s charitable works.

Thank you to everyone who assisted in our charitable works in 2019. We could not have accomplished this without the support of the players, coaches, and community. We look forward to 2020.

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

Timber Rattlers Release 2018 Charity Report

GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers had a busy season off the field with their charitable works. The Midwest League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers is reporting on their year as 2018 is coming to a close and they are preparing for 2019.

The two main fundraisers for the Timber Rattlers were the Golf Outing and their specialty jersey auctions. The 2018 Golf Outing was held at Shamrock Heights Golf Course and raised over $6,700 with the participation of 82 area golfers plus 17 members of the Timber Rattlers team including players, coaches, and front office personnel. The team held seven auctions for their alternate jerseys that included the Brats, Salute to Cows, Star Wars™, Wisconsin Badgers, & Brewers Sunday uniforms and raised nearly $13,000 for local charities. The 2019 Timber Rattlers Golf Outing is scheduled for June 3. The Rattlers are in the process of creating their alternate jerseys for next season.

The team was also involved in programs like Whiffer’s Fitness Program and Fang’s Reading Club. The fitness program helped to get kids in the Fox Cities to get and stay active. The reading club is an incentive-based program that allows schools in Northeastern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula to get children from Kindergarten through fifth grade involved in reading.

Mascots Whiffer & Fang got into the charitable spirit on their birthdays, too. Whiffer’s Birthday in March coincided with the team’s individual tickets on sale date and a Help for the Homeless Drive that collected hygiene products for area homeless shelters. Fang’s Birthday in August collected 328 pounds in non-perishable food items as part of the Cans for Cake food drive.

The Rattlers didn’t just collect food. They also grew and harvested over 400 pounds of food in the Greenstone Farm Credit Services Ballpark Garden at Neuroscience Group Field. The fresh vegetables were taken to St. Joe’s Food Pantry.

Area Little Leagues were presented with over 2000 hats with the support of the Rattlers.

Some of the charities helped by the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in 2018 included Make-A-Wish Wisconsin, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Fox Valley Veterans Council, Children’s Cancer Family Foundation of Northeast Wisconsin, St. Joe’s Food Pantry, Freedom Food Pantry, and Miracle League of the Fox Valley.

Numerous other charities were also given Timber Rattlers ticket vouchers to be used in their own fundraisers. The Timber Rattlers could not have accomplished this without the support of the players, coaches, and community.

The team established the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Fund with the Community Foundation of the Fox Valley Region in 2016 to benefit the team’s charitable works.

The schedule for the 2019 Wisconsin Timber Rattlers season is available here. Fans may purchase full season, half season, seven-game, and ten-game packages for next season through the Timber Rattlers Ticket Office at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium by calling (800) WI-TIMBER or (920) 733-4152; stopping at the Ticket Office; or online through timberrattlers.com.

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

Black Bears Host 2018 Pirates Miracle League Camp

Granville, W. Va. -Smiles ran rampant around Monongalia County Ballpark on Saturday morning, as the West Virginia Black Bears hosted a Pittsburgh Pirates Miracle League Camp with SteppingStones.

Black Bears players got to spend the morning with the Miracle League athletes, making new friends and teaching new skills in a variety of stations around the ballpark.

The day started off in centerfield, as each player received a Pittsburgh Pirates jersey customized with their name and number on the back to wear during the clinic. The Pepperoni Rolls and Cooper the Bear also made an appearance at the event, spending time with the athletes and getting them excited for their big day.

After the Miracle League players split off with their new Black Bears teammates, all athletes stood silent side-by-side for the National Anthem before breaking off into their respective stations.

In right field, the Pirates’ prospects threw batting practice, as the campers crushed home runs over the fence and into the bullpen. At the station down the first base line, the pitching staff gave the players some pointers how to throw an electric fastball to strikeout their opponents.

The Miracle League athletes also got to run the base paths with the Black Bears, zooming through the infield and crossing home plate to put runs on the scoreboard. They then traveled down the third base line to field some grounders, following that up by shagging fly balls in left field.

The final station was a game of catch, as the campers got to throw around with the Black Bears’ players while exchanging laughs, hugs and plenty of pictures.

Once the clinic was over, all the athletes got together for a group photo to commemorate a fun morning of bonding and baseball. They finished the day with a lunch on the suite level, as everyone chowed down with a beautiful view of the rolling West Virginia hills.

Stepping Stones West Virginia is a non-profit organization that gives children and adults with disabilities the opportunity to achieve their goals and stay active though many recreational activities. More information on this organization is available at www.steppingstones.askwhymedia.com.

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

Fire Frogs a Hit with Miracle League

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (Aug. 13, 2018) – The Florida Fire Frogs competed against the Fort Myers Miracle in a contest between two Florida State League teams on at Osceola County Stadium, but it was a different kind of miracle that brought a joyous atmosphere to Kissimmee on Saturday.

The Atlanta Braves’ Advanced-A affiliate spent the afternoon with the Miracle League of Central Florida prior to taking on Fort Myers for a day of fun. According to the league’s mission statement posted on its website, the purpose of the Miracle League is to, “help individuals with disabilities build self-worth, overcome boundaries, and achieve their dreams by participating in America’s past-time: Baseball.”

Florida’s team president, Erik Anderson stated, “We want to let the community know that the results of this team aren’t always based on what happens on the diamond. It’s about winning in life and doing the right thing.”

Every player from the Fire Frogs roster participated with the children in attendance from the Miracle League. The club’s home run leader, Braxton Davidson, saw the occasion as a special opportunity.

“I like to give back to the community. That’s something that I’ve always been a part of ever since I was in high school,” the 2014 first-round draft pick said. “I wear a bracelet that says, ‘Autism Speaks,’ I have family members that are disabled.

“It’s a great opportunity for all the guys to put themselves out in the community in a good way.”

Fire Frogs manager Luis Salazar had a pleasure teaching the children of the Miracle League not just about the fundamentals of the game, but to always have fun while playing.

“It’s always a pleasure, and I enjoy the time with the Miracle League,” the skipper said. “To get those kids on the field, running, sliding…It’s a very special day for those kids.

The main thing is to have fun, and to give those kids the best that we can do for them. When they leave here, they know they can go home and say, ‘We played for the Fire Frogs.'”

To contact the Central Florida Miracle League, or volunteer, please visit cflmiracleleague.com.

About the Florida Fire Frogs

 

The Florida Fire Frogs are the Advanced-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and compete in the Florida State League. The Fire Frogs play their home games at Osceola County Stadium, located at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Fla. For more information, please visit www.FloridaFireFrogs.com, and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube.

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

Thunder HOPE Week Honors Outstanding Organizations and Individuals

The Thunder, Double-A Affiliate of the New York Yankees, completed their HOPE Week during the most recent homestand. HOPE Week, helping others persevere and excel, is a New York Yankees initiative aimed at honoring outstanding organizations and individuals who do good in the local community.

Tuesday, June 5 – Dan Sczweck, Miracle League of Mercer County

Dan Sczweck, the Executive Director of the Miracle League of Mercer County, earned his recognition for the work he’s done running the Miracle League of Mercer County. To watch the HOPE Week Ceremony honoring Dan and MLMC Athletes, click here.

 

Wednesday, June 6 – Just Fight Foundation

The Thunder honored the Just Fight Foundation on June 6 as part of HOPE Week. On December 8th, 2015 in Abington, PA, a seven year old girl, Allyson Turner, was found unconscious in her bathtub. Her parents rushed to the scene and immediately began to perform CPR on Allyson until the EMT’s arrived. This was crucial to her survival as Allyson was immediately rushed to Abington Hospital and then flown to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. While Allyson was being treated by multiple doctors, her parents would say to her: “Just Fight!”

Her older brother Liam decided to take initiative and print Just Fight on t-shirts and began to sell them to friends and community members to support Allyson. The Just Fight Foundation was born to promote emergency preparedness in the community and educate the public on life saving techniques and provide support for families facing life-altering events due to illness or injury and spread the message: ‘Just Fight.’

To view the ceremony honoring the Just Fight Foundation, click here.

Thursday June 7 – Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton provides a network of comprehensive healthcare services which includes hosptial care, prevention and wellness, primary and specialty medical services and diagnostic & treatment services in the community. Thunder players and coaches visited patients and RWJ, to view the ceremony, click here.

 

Friday June 8 – Radiology Affiliates Imagaing and Breast Cancer Awareness

RAI (Radiology Affiliates Imaging) is a team of medical diagnostic imaging professionals dedicated to providing superior, integreated management and radiology imaging support services to the medical practices that we serve for the purpose of providing optimal patient care.

The Thunder welcomed over 50 breast cancer survivors to the ballpark for a pre-game pink rose ceremony where Thunder players honored individual survivors on the field at ARM & HAMMER Park. To view the ceremony, click here.

Saturday, June 9 – Isles Youth Institute and F.I.E.L.D. Renovation

Isles Youth Institute is a community development and environmental organization based in Trenton, New Jersey. With a mission to foster self-reliant families and healthy, sustainable communities, designs and develops effective services that support this mission and share what they learn with others who can make a difference. Beyond its central New Jersey base, Isles works to influence policy and practices that support healthy, self-help agendas.

Isles and members of the Thunder came together to renovate the field at North Trenton Little League as part of the F.I.E.L.D. Program. To view the ceremony honoring Isles and the F.I.E.L.D. Program, click here.

Sunday, June 10 – Thea’s Star of Hope

Thea’s Star of Hope was founded in 2012 in honor of Thea Danze, a child who had undergone continuous treatment for her brain tumor since 2007. The organization is the embodiment of Thea’s positive outlook and a testament to the indelible spirit so many diagnosed with pediatric brain cancer. The Thunder welcomed Thea and other patients for a special on-field ceremony, to view the ceremony, click here.

In addition to the HOPE Week honors this past week at ARM & HAMMER Park, Thunder players and staff participated in the United Way of Greater Mercer County Strike Out Hunger event. For video on that event, click here.

Your Thunder, presented by NJM Insurance, are in the midst of their 25th season in franchise history. For the latest information on Thunder baseball or to purchase tickets, visit

Drive Celebrate Mauldin Miracle League on Saturday

The Drive will celebrate Mauldin Miracle League Night at Fluor Field on Saturday night. First pitch is at 7:05, and prior to the gates opening, the Mauldin Miracle League will hold two games on the field with players, coaches and staff members from the Drive and Augusta GreenJackets.

The Mauldin Miracle League gives every child the opportunity to play baseball, no matter their disability, and these games will create lifetime memories for everyone involved. The Drive’s relationship with the Mauldin Miracle League has been ongoing for 13 years, and all of the players in Saturday’s games on the field will be wearing Drive and Red Sox jerseys, provided by the Drive.

The Drive will also be recognizing players and staff members from Mauldin Miracle League and Greenville Little League throughout the night.

To purchase tickets for Saturday’s game at Fluor Field, stop by the Main Street Box Office, call (864) 240-4528 or CLICK HERE.

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

SeaWolves To Host Inaugural Diamond Dinner

The Erie SeaWolves, Double-A Affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, are partnering with MECA, Inc, to raise funds to build the first barrier-free baseball field in Erie County. The project, known as a Miracle League Field, will enable individuals with physical and mental disabilities to safely play baseball on a cushioned, wheelchair-accessible playing surface.

On Thursday, August 16, the SeaWolves Community Fund will host its first ever Diamond Dinner fundraiser on the infield at UPMC Park from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. with proceeds benefitting the Miracle League of Erie County. The Diamond Dinner will include live entertainment, raffle prizes, a live auction, catering from top local restaurants and cocktails from area breweries and wineries. Attendees will have the chance to meet SeaWolves players, Detroit Tigers guests and the stars of Erie’s own Miracle League.

“The nearest Miracle League Field is about 100 miles away,” SeaWolves Team President Greg Coleman said. “With the support of the community, we can enhance a neighborhood park and create a safe and welcoming environment where kids and adults can play ball, develop skills, and build friendships.”

Tickets for the Diamond Dinner are $85 each. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. In addition, the Diamond Dinner committee is seeking a wide array of raffle prizes and live auction items.

For more information about the Miracle League Project and to purchase Diamond Dinner tickets visit MiracleLeagueErie.com.

The SeaWolves return to UPMC Park on Friday, April 27 as they host Tim Tebow and the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (New York Mets) at 6:05 p.m. Friday, the first 1,000 fans will receive a SeaWolves fleece blanket courtesy of Pepsi. For tickets, visit the UPMC Park ticket office (M-F, 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.) or visit SeaWolves.com.

ABOUT THE SEAWOLVES COMMUNITY FUND

The SeaWolves Community Fund is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to improving the lives of children and adults in the greater Erie region. The SeaWolves Community Fund places a special emphasis on supporting youth programs focused on baseball, education, and wellness by developing partnerships with those who share in our mission.

ABOUT MECA, INC

MECA, Inc. is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) and has been in the community serving children and adults with any disability and their families. They run an adaptive baseball program and assist the senior citizen population through the J.O.Y. Senior Center. MECA’S Representative Payee Program provides financial management services for individuals identified by the Social Security Administration as needing help managing their Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. Fiduciary services are also provided to Veterans. Through these programs we service over 260 clients and their families in the community.

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

Miracle League game, Hoskins statue highlight Saturday

You’ll want to be early for this one.

An eventful Saturday lies ahead at Coca-Cola Park as the IronPigs will host their annual Miracle League game, jersey auction and give away a Rhys Hoskins Bronze statue to the first 3,000 adults (18+) through the gates.

Saturdays are for the bacon, but this one is for so much more. Gates will open at 5 p.m. so fans are able to watch the Miracle League game, which allows kids from the Miracle Leagues of Northampton and Lehigh Counties to swing for the fences on the Coca-Cola Park field before an IronPigs contest. IronPigs players will be on the field to act as “angels” for our Miracle League players before they match up with the Louisville Bats.

During the Pigs’ game (6:35 p.m. first pitch) the Pigs will be wearing special Miracle League jerseys that will be available via an auction presented by Majestic/Fanatics. Details on the auction will be available on gameday.

In addition to all this excitement, the Pigs will give a Rhys Hoskins bronze statue to the first 3,000 adults through the gates. The statue immortalizes Hoskins , who was named the International League MVP and Rookie of the Year in 2017. Hoskins, who joined the Philadelphia Phillies last summer, is one of baseball’s most exciting young players and is batting .364 in 2018.

Here are more details on the remaining games in our opening homestand:

4/15 (1:35 p.m.): Jackie Robinson Day | Jackie Robinson commemorative glass (3,000 adults 18 and over)
4/16 (7:05 p.m.): Youth knit cap (First 1,500 kids 17 and under)
4/17 (7:05 p.m.): Wrestling Night
4/18 (7:05 p.m.): Dance Night | Bacon Cap presented by Hatfield (First 3,000 adults 18 and older)

Check out all of our 2018 promotions, IronPigs promotions schedule.

Tickets for these contests, and any game on our 2018 schedule, are available online at IronPigsBaseball.com, by phone (610) 841-PIGS (7447) or at the Coca-Cola Park ticket windows during regular business hours.

The 2018 IronPigs baseball season is presented by Capital BlueCross.

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