Storm Chasers to Accept Donations for Pilger Relief Tonight, Tomorrow

Fans can bring various suggested items or make cash/check donations

Omaha-Storm-Chasers-2014A week ago today the community and residents of Pilger, Nebraska were devastated by twin tornadoes, leaving many survivors without their homes and belongings. In a show of support for their fellow Nebraskan community, the Storm Chasers will ask fans attending tonight and tomorrow’s games to donate various items to be sent to the city that lies just over an hour and a half from Omaha.

Items that the Storm Chasers suggest to be donated by fans are totes, gloves, personal hygiene items, first aid supplies and non-perishable foods. No clothing is needed at this time.

Home-Run-Foundation-of-Omaha-logoThe Storm Chasers will also accept cash donations at Werner Park through 2 p.m. Tuesday, as well as check donations that will go directly to aid the Pilger community. Checks should be made out to the Home Run Foundation of Greater Omaha. All donations, both monetary and physical, can be made outside of Werner Park near the Ticket Office.

As the relief effort continues and grows, the Storm Chasers will be participating and will alert fans to other ways they can get involved as well. Fans can follow the team and their community relations information on Facebook and Twitter to get updates.

 

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

NEST, Storm Chasers Present 12th Annual Essay Contest

Students in 7th and 8th grade write about “Why I Want to Go to College”

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OMAHA, Neb. – The Nebraska Educational Savings Trust (NEST) and the Omaha Storm Chasers have officially kicked off the 12th-annual “Why I Want to Go to College” essay contest, Nebraska State Treasurer Don Stenberg and the Storm Chasers announced this week.

Full Contest Rules Here

Students in 7th and 8th grade both in and outside the state of Nebraska may send their entries until the March 28 deadline. Essays must be 750 words or less, describing the student’s educational goals and dreams for the future. Entries must be typed, double-spaced on 8 1/2 by 11″ paper and must be the student’s original work. Each entry must be accompanied with the required cover sheet found at http://www.treasurer.org/cs/writing-contest/2014/2014writingContestCoverSheet.pdf.

Judging will be conducted by faculty and students in the College of Education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. The essay contest awards 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners in each of Nebraska’s three congressional districts, with winners earning prizes of $2,000, $1,000 and $500 toward a NEST College Savings Plan.

All winners from Nebraska, which will be notified in early May, will receive four box seat tickets and earn recognition prior to the Storm Chasers game on May 11 against the New Orleans Zephyrs. Each winning student will get an opportunity to meet Nebraska State Treasurer Stenberg during their visit to Werner Park.

For complete rules and information on the Essay Contest, check http://www.treasurer.org/cs/writing-contest/2014/. Entries must be postmarked by March 28 and sent to:

Omaha Storm Chasers

Attn: Andrea Stava

12356 Ballpark Way

Papillion, NE 68046

2013 Winners

1st Congressional District – Nebraska

  1. Sophie Anne Glaubius, Wisner-Pilger Junior-Senior High, Wisner, Neb.
  2. Treslyn Hubbard, Norfolk Junior High, Norfolk, Neb.
  3. Adam Zastrow, St. Peter’s Catholic School, Lincoln, Neb.

2nd Congressional District – Nebraska

  1. Samantha Moulton, Elkhorn Ridge Middle School, Elkhorn, Neb.
  2. Mallory Bretsen, Alice Buffett Middle School, Omaha, Neb.
  3. Claire Scanlan, Platteview Central Junior High, Springfield, Neb.

3rd Congressional District – Nebraska

  1. Marisa Hutchinson, Valentine Middle School, Valentine, Neb.
  2. Britley Schlueter, Wood Lake School, Wood Lake, Neb.
  3. Mitchell Leininger, Moving Mountains Home School, Auburn, Neb.

Out-of-State

  1. Micki Miller, Family of Christ Christian School, Lutz, Fla.
  2. Zoe Jee, Harry C. Fulton Middle School, Fountain Valley, Calif.
  3. Mary Elizabeth Hartness, North Habersham Middle School, Clarkesville, Georgia

 

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

Chasers in the Community: November 14th – November 30th

Storm Chasers staff to participate in Salvation Army Bell Ringing and Open Door Mission’s Drumsticks on Wheels

Spotlight: Salvation Army Bell Ringing at Hy-Vee Shadow Lake – Nov. 14

­The Storm Chasers staff will serve as bell ringers for donations to the Salvation Army in front of Hy-Vee Shadow Lake on Thursday, November 14th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This is the third consecutive year the Storm Chasers staff has served as bell ringers. Mascot Stormy will be participating from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

 Thursday, November 14

  • SilverRidge Assisted Living Visit (2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.) – Before their “Birthday Party” on November 15th in the Storm Front Team Store, all three Chasers mascots will be visiting the residents of SilverRidge Assisted Living (sponsor of the Silver Chasers Club) to celebrate their “Birthday” in a private event.

Friday, November 15

  • Hands of the Heartland Ribbon Cutting (11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.) – Mascot Casey will attend this Bellevue Chamber Ribbon Cutting Celebration, to welcome this new business to the community.
  • Stormy & Vortex’s Birthday Party (4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.) – Stormy and Vortex celebrate the third anniversary of their introduction as mascots at the Storm Front Team Store. Guests are encouraged to bring new unwrapped toys to benefit Toys for Tots and in exchange will receive a 40% coupon to the store (up to three toys max per person). Free refreshments will be provided and party games will be played.

Saturday, November 16

  • Westroads Mall Santa’s Arrival Event (9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.) – Stormy will join friends of Westroads Mall to await Santa’s arrival. Once Santa arrives, Stormy will be part of Santa’s parade through the mall.

Monday, November 18

  • Majestix Salon Ribbon Cutting (11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.) – Mascot Casey will attend this Bellevue Chamber Ribbon Cutting Celebration, to welcome this new business to the community.

Saturday, November 23

  • Open Door Mission Drumsticks On Wheels – Members of the Storm Chasers Front Office Staff will volunteer their time to deliver the fixings of a proper Thanksgiving dinner to those in need in the Omaha Metro throughout the day. This is the third consecutive year the Chasers have participated in this cause.

 

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

First Military Appreciation Day at Werner Park Ends Regular Season

Ticket and Team Store Discounts offered with Military ID, Pre-Game Swearing In Ceremony

OMAHA, Neb. – The final weekend of the 2013 season will be an exciting one for the Omaha Storm Chasers as the race for the American Conference North Division may come down to the final game of the season. That 12:05 p.m. game on Monday September 2 is not only important for a third straight division title but will also serve as the first ever Military Appreciation Day at Werner Park, presented by U.S. Bank.

More than 900 tickets have already been donated to local Military personnel by U.S. Bank and also through the season-long “Hat For Heroes” promotion at the Storm Front Team Store. In addition to donated tickets, the Storm Chasers will honor all the individuals that keep our country safe by offering any Military personnel a free McDonald’s Berm ticket by showing a valid Military ID.

Pre-Game on the field will feature the United States Air Force Delayed Entry Program swearing in ceremony, led by Lieutenant Colonel Steven E. Phillips. The ceremony will feature 20-40 Military members being sworn in, while Lieutenant Colonel Phillips will also throw out a first pitch for the game.

The first 1,000 fans through the gates of Werner Park will receive a special Camouflaged Apron courtesy of U.S. Bank, with gates opening at 10:45 a.m. In honor of Military Appreciation Day, the Storm Front Team Store will offer a 20% discount to any Military member that shows their valid Military ID on full-priced merchandise, and the 87 Storm Chasers who purchased “Hats For Heroes” will receive in-game recognition.

Ovations will feature a discounted food and drink menu for all fans in attendance. Patriotic music will be played throughout Werner Park and local Military branches will be honored on the video board to say thank you to those who make the ultimate sacrifice.

The Storm Chasers currently lead the Memphis Redbirds by one game in the American Conference North Division with six games left in the season. The final weekend will feature four games against the Round Rock Express, Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, after the team returns home from the series with the Iowa Cubs.

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

2nd Annual “Peanut Free Night” Leads Off Four-Day Homestand

Two fireworks shows, Stormy Wobblehead giveaway and Thirsty Thursday packed into four

OMAHA, Neb. – YOUR Omaha Storm Chasers return to BEAUTIFUL Werner Park to face the Albuquerque Isotopes, Triple-A affiliate for the Los Angeles Dodgers, for a five-game series with the 2012 Pacific Coast League Playoffs Opening Round opponent. Two fireworks shows, including one on the annual “Peanut Free Night,” a Stormy Wobblehead giveaway and Thirsty Thursday all will happen during this short four-day homestand!

Tuesday, June 18 (7:05 pm)

It’s the second annual Peanut Free Night with postgame FIREWORKS presented by the Asthma & Allergy Center and Backlund Plumbing. The Storm Chasers 7:05 game against the Isotopes will be Free of anything peanut related, including sunflower seeds, peanuts and tree nuts. Peanut Free Night provides an opportunity to those with peanut and food allergies to attend a ballgame. It’s also 2 for Tuesday presented by Cox Communications. Show your Cox Communications bill (paper or online) at the Werner Park Ticket Office for a Buy One, Get One FREE ticket. The first 125 people will get tickets for Section 104. After that, McDonald’s Grass Berm tickets can be purchased as a BOGO based on availability. Buy one ticket, get one FREE with Cox Communications, do not worry about buying some “peanuts or Cracker Jacks” at the game, head to the best baseball in the Omaha Metro, and stay for the FIREWORKS. Brought to you by: Asthma and Allergy Center, Backlund Plumbing, and Cox Communications

Wednesday, June 19 (12:05 pm)

It’s a B-E-A-Utiful day for a ball game… Let’s play two! Head out to Werner Park for a great day game doubleheader featuring ½ price burgers presented by Omaha Steaks. Soak up some sun, grab a ½ price Omaha Steaks burger, and enjoy double the baseball excitement. Brought to you by: Omaha Steaks and KFAB 1110 AM

Thursday, June 20 (7:05 pm)

It’s a Thirsty Thursday “and Catholic Night at the Ballpark” presented by Saint Jude Hospice. Fans of age can enjoy $2 Bud Light and Budweiser cans along with 16 oz. Bud Light draws prior to the sixth inning and anyone can grab $1 Pepsi products all night. It’s also a Wobblehead Wednesday makeup date presented by Bucky’s and Pepsi. You have seen heads bobble. Now see them wobble as the first 1,500 fans will receive a Stormy Wobblehead as they pass through the Werner Park gates. Cannot make it to the game? Check your local listings as the Storm Chasers will be televised regionally on Time Warner Cable and locally on Cox 2 Channel 126. Quench your thirst with great beverages and take in an evening of America’s Favorite Pasttime! Brought to you by: Saint Jude Hospice, Bucky’s, Pepsi, KMTV Action 3, Z92.3, ESPN 590AM and The Reader

Friday, June 21 (7:05 pm)

Top Royals prospect Yordano Ventura is scheduled to start, so Friday night features fireworks on the field and FIREWORKS presented by American Family Insurance postgame. If you have not done it, visit www.omahastormchasers.com to sign up to be the American Family Insurance Family of the Game, and you might be called as the winner of FREE tickets to the game, a first pitch, jersey, and the starter of the postgame FIREWORKS. Chase the fun to Werner Park, grab your favorite Ovations concession item for dinner, and end your evening with a BOOM! Brought to you by: American Family Insurance, KETV, Power 106.9 and The Reader

 

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

Chasers to Hold Auctions for Oklahoma Tornado Relief for Remainder of Homestand

All proceeds from Storm Chasers/MLB merchandise will go to help devastated area of Moore, Oklahoma

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OMAHA, Neb. – The tragic events in Moore, Oklahoma over the past few days have hit close to home with the Omaha Storm Chasers, not only because of the storm and tornado history associated with the state of Nebraska and the Omaha Metro but also due to the Pacific Coast League membership of the Oklahoma City RedHawks, whose home park is located just fifteen minutes away from the city of Moore.

As a way to show their support, the Omaha Storm Chasers will use the remainder of this current homestand that runs through Thursday to attempt to raise money by holding silent auctions of Storm Chasers, Kansas City Royals and Major League Baseball merchandise. All proceeds will go to the relief efforts in Moore, Oklahoma, and fans will have the opportunity to place their bids on items varying from autographed jerseys, baseballs, bats and game-used cleats from MLB Players/Hall of Famers such as:

  • Joe Torre, Former Player and Manager, current Director of Baseball Operations for MLB
  • Alex Gordon, current Kansas City Royals star and former Omaha Royals outfielder
  • Wil Myers, 2012 Minor League Player of the Year and former Omaha Storm Chasers outfielder
  • Ryne Sandberg, Major League Baseball Hall of Famer

“Our thoughts are with all those affected by this unthinkable tragedy, and we hope the money raised during the rest of our homestand will help the area of our Pacific Coast League teammate,” said Martie Cordaro, President and General Manager of the Omaha Storm Chasers. “We believe our fans will join us in this effort to help this devastated part of our great country.”

Bids will be accepted during all three remaining games of the homestand, with the option for fans to purchase the item at an elevated donation price. The auction will close following the completion of Thursday’s series finale with the Padres, and the winners of each item will be contacted Friday morning

Also during the remainder of the homestand, the Omaha Storm Chasers will be informing fans in attendance of the ways they can get involved in the relief efforts without bidding on the merchandise. Fans can Text REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10 to American Red Cross Disaster Relief, which helps people affected by disasters such as the recent tornadoes in Oklahoma.

All money that is raised will be donated through the Home Run Foundation of Greater Omaha to the American Red Cross. The final amount will be presented in a ceremony when the Storm Chasers visit the Oklahoma City RedHawks for their series beginning a week from today on May 28. The Storm Chasers players and front office are exploring additional ways to help the affected area of Moore.

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

Hit the Books Contest Winner Announced Wednesday

The Omaha Storm Chasers awarded fourth-grader Gracie Davis this year’s Hit the Books contest winner, in a ceremony at Anderson Grove Elementary Wednesday. Davis was selected by the Storm Chasers community relations staff based on her original bookmark design.

“It was extremely difficult to choose a winner this year with so many great entries,” said Andrea Stava, the club’s Community Relations Manager. “The Omaha metro area has many talented students and we looked at thousands of great submissions. We’re excited to finally announce a winner.”

Hit the Books, the Storm Chasers’ literacy program presented by Nebraska Educational Savings Trust (NEST), has a membership of approximately 15,000 students and 1,000 teachers at 50 Omaha-area schools. Students were asked to submit original drawings for this year’s bookmark, which feature the artwork Gracie submitted this January. Bookmarks will be distributed throughout the city to each student who reaches their initial reading benchmark.

Students will have an opportunity to earn the bookmark, a pencil, a ticket to a Storm Chasers game and a prize pack for completing the program. Davis was presented with a Storm Chasers t-shirt, miniature baseball bat, Storm Chasers logo ball and various other items with the full prize pack at Wednesday’s event.

Royals, Team’s Advertisers and Fans Aid Several Worthy Causes

The Omaha Royals increased their giving to local charities, community organizations and schools during the team’s 2009 season. The Royals, with the help of several of the team’s advertisers and its fans, donated more than $861,000 this season, mostly in the form of tickets and cash. That figure was up almost $40,000 from 2008.

“We continually talk about being engaged in the metro community and 2009 was again proof of our mission,” said Martie Cordaro, Royals Vice President/General Manager. “We are excited about what we have planned for 2010 and hope that new sponsors will join us so we can even further impact the community.”

Two season-long promotions generated over $11,000 in cash for two charities. The “Hurl the Pearl” promotion, presented by Nissan of Omaha and McDonald’s, raised almost $8,200 for the Ronald McDonald House. Werner Enterprises donated $2,870 to PlaySmart through its RBI promotion, in which the Royals’ 2009 presenting sponsor pledged $10 for each Royals RBI at home.

Once again in 2009, the Royals held silent auctions of various specially-designed jerseys and caps – autographed by the players who wore them –  during several home games. On June 6, an auction of baby blue jerseys and caps raised $2,155 for the Nebraska Colon Cancer Screening Program. The Royals wore red caps on June 27, with that auction and a $1 donation for every red item sold at the Royal Treasures Gift Shop netting $1,114 for the ALS Association. The fourth annual Strike Out Breast Cancer Night on August 7 featured an auction of pink jerseys and the sale of pink hats, providing $3,479 for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. An auction of Royals black hats on August 28 raised almost $1,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, while a September 3 auction of baseball memorabilia generated over $1,400 toward the team’s $11,000 goal to support the AllPlay Foundation in 2010.

In 2009 the Royals donated thousands of tickets to their home games, with most of them being earned by school children through good work in the classroom. Almost 24,000 students from 74 area schools were encouraged to read books in exchange for tickets to Royals games in the Hit the Books program, which was presented by the Nebraska College Savings Program. Nearly 11,000 students from 70 area schools received tickets to the team’s April 20 game for the 10th annual Cox Communications Home Run for Youth Day. The Royals donated 25,000 Reserved Seat tickets for their August 8 game to the Omaha Public Library’s Summer Reading Program.  10,000 General Admission tickets went to the United Way for that organization to use as a “thank you” gift for their donors.  Also, businesses and season ticket holders donated over 2,800 Royals tickets to Baseball Buddies, with those tickets going to kids who normally wouldn’t be able to attend a game.

The team’s Community Organization of the Night program continued to grow in 2009. Partnering with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, the Royals provided over $53,000 worth of advertising, booth space and tickets to 72 non-profit groups and gave them a forum on-field and on the team’s game broadcasts to talk about those organizations’ work in the community.

Royals fans brought more than 2,200 cans and boxes of Our Family Brand food to Sunday home games, with all of it going to the Open Door Mission. In exchange, those fans received more than $15,000 worth of tickets.

The Royals staff, players and mascots were also busy away from the ballpark, with the staff giving more than 400 hours and the players and mascots chipping in over 200 hours to community service and appearances. On June 11 alone, Royals staff members committed more than 50 hours of community service, in honor of the team reaching the 11-million fan milestone earlier in the season. On August 22, a dozen staff members, family, partners from Lovgren Marketing Group and Casey took part in an ALS Walk at Elmwood Park, raising $4,500 in pledges. The team held its annual golf tournament on August 31 at Pacific Springs, raising more than $2,500 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association in honor of Royals manager Mike Jirschele’s family.