Storm Chasers Highlight 2022 Community Service Efforts

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PAPILLION, Neb. – The Omaha Storm Chasers and Chasers Charities have announced highlights of the community service efforts achieved during the 2022 season. In a year which saw an increase in community service opportunities, the Storm Chasers were excited about continuing to build upon recent successes as well as increase their presence in the community. Through their efforts, the Omaha Storm Chasers front office and players committed 683.50 hours in volunteering at over 70 community organizations within the Omaha Metro.

The Chasers’ efforts allowed $23,695 in grants to be awarded to local non-profit youth baseball and softball organizations for field and facility improvements. The Chasers were also able to raise over $36,000 for five local non-profit partners through the jersey auctions during select games in the 2022 season.

“Being a part of and giving back to our local community that supports us is a fundamental pillar of the Omaha Storm Chasers organization,” said VP and General Manager Laurie Schlender. “It is vitally important that we use our platform to help create awareness for these organizations so that they can continue to do such valuable work in our community.”

The 2022 season once again saw fans get involved in important causes. 6,206 cans of non-perishable food was donated through the Hy-Vee Canned Food Sunday promotion and $10,000 was raised for the Ronald McDonald House Charities through the Leonard Management McDonald’s and Woodhouse Auto Family Hurl the Pearl promotion which saw fans purchase softie baseballs to be thrown into the back of a truck driven around the field.

Additional highlights include raising over $15,900 through the Chasers Charities garage sales, two $1,000 scholarships through the Jackie Robinson Athletic Scholarship presented by Weitz Company, $4,000 donated to Playsmart via the Werner Enterprises RBI promotion, and $3,381.50 donated to Operation Ride Home through a partnership with Jack Daniel’s, Republic National Distributing, and Spectra Food Services.

For more information or to see how you can get involved in the Omaha Storm Chasers community service efforts, visit omahastormchasers.com or follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Flying Squirrels win MiLB CommUNITY Champion Award

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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.

Cubs Host ‘Light Up the Night’ to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities on September 24

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SOUTH BEND, IN – The South Bend Cubs will host Light Up the Night at Four Winds Field on Friday, September 24. The night will feature a movie and will serve as a special fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Michiana. Gates open at 6:00 p.m. and the movie begins at 7:00 p.m. The featured film will be Little Giants, presented by Lippert and after the movie, enjoy a fantastic fireworks display, powered by McDonald’s.

Early bird general admission tickets are $10 if purchased before September 1. Tickets are $12 if purchased on or after September 1. Proceeds from the ticket sales will benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Michiana. Fans will be able to sit in the outfield grass, seating bowl or Budweiser picnic garden and are welcome to bring blankets with them, but lawn chairs and umbrellas are prohibited. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here, visiting the Four Winds Field Box Office, or calling (574) 235-9988.

A limited number of suites will be made available for purchase for groups of 12 or more, which includes the chance to buy special suite menu items. For more information or to purchase a suite for Light Up the Night, contact Ronald McDonald House Charities by clicking here.

On top of the movie, plenty of Four Winds Field attractions will be open such as the Toyota Fun Zone, Miller Lite Tiki Hut, 1st Source Bank Performance Center, and the splash pad. Many concessions stands and drink portables will be open, including fan favorite Steakadelphia. Round Barn Sangria, Jack Daniels cocktails and select craft beers will also be available. The Cubs Den Team Store will be open with a special Light Up the Night sale.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Michiana offers a home-away-from home for families with seriously ill or injured children 21 and younger. They create, find and support programs that directly improve the well-being of children and their families to live happier and healthier lives.

Per health and safety guidelines, fans who are fully vaccinated are not required to wear a mask, and attendees who are not vaccinated are encouraged to continue wearing a face covering.

About the South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs are the Class A-Advanced minor league affiliate of the 2016 World Series Champion Chicago Cubs. Over the past 33 years, the team has won four Midwest League titles, most recently in 2019, and has captured eight division titles. In 2019, the South Bend Cubs hosted the Midwest League All-Star Game. In June 2017, Four Winds Field, home of the South Bend Cubs, was voted Best Class A ballpark in the country by Ballpark Digest. In 2015 the team was named Ballpark Digest’s Team of the Year and received the John H. Johnson President’s Award, the highest award in minor league baseball. The team is owned and operated by Swing-Batter-Swing, LLC whose principal shareholder is Andrew T. Berlin of Chicago, Ill.

Chasers in the Community

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The Omaha Storm Chasers in conjunction with Chasers Charities and Spectra Food Services and Hospitality combined for over 600 hours of community service in the Omaha Metro this year, and welcomed nearly 90,000 fans to a safe and socially distant Werner Park in 2020.

“We are proud of our staff for continuing to work in the community during this especially difficult year and we will continue to pursue opportunities and plan events that provide community connections in 2021,” said Storm Chasers General Manager Laurie Schlender. “While we have had staff reductions and no baseball in 2020, our commitment to being involved in the community has not wavered and we are planning things for 2021 that will continue that commitment.”

The Storm Chasers organization was also visible throughout the Omaha Metro community, as the combined number of mascot and staff appearances totaled 75. Chasers Charities in partnership with The Weitz Company also awarded two $1,000 college scholarships through the Jackie Robinson Scholarship program to Livia McFadden and Nolan Christianson. The Chasers also partnered with numerous non-profit organizations throughout the year including Ronald McDonald House Charities, the Salvation Army, the Tangier Shrine, Project Wee Care and the Foodbank for the Heartland amongst many others. They also partnered with Jack Daniels to provide for Operation Ride Home for the second straight year.

A brand new classroom program, Chasers All-Stars, was also created in 2020 providing parents, teachers, and administrators the ability to nominate teachers from the metro to be honored. Over 20 classrooms were surprised in February and March with a visit from Stormy, a weather demonstration provided by KMTV and a variety of prizes.

Despite many challenges brought by Covid-19, the Storm Chasers remained committed to providing relief for the Omaha Metro Community. A partnership with Kidwell Inc. provided 25 gallons of hand sanitizer to the Ronald McDonald House in April and nearly $1000 was donated to the Foodbank of the Heartland through Feeding America, while donating tickets for the 2021 season to frontline workers. The Storm Chasers were also able to provide a sense of normalcy providing two free drive-in firework shows and six Curbside To Go pick up meals.

A full overview of the Storm Chasers’ 2020 Community Relations efforts can be found online here.

Nominations Open for 2020 Kid Heroes Ceremony

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Cedar Rapids, IA – The Cedar Rapids Kernels are seeking nominations for their third annual Kid Heroes Recognition Ceremony sponsored by O’Brien Family McDonald’s. This special group will represent kids who have used the services of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois.

The ceremony for the 2020 Kid Heroes will be at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Sunday, July 26, 2020. Those children selected as Kid Heroes and their families will be honored on the field prior to the game and will receive four complimentary tickets to that game.

The Kernels will begin taking nominations for the third annual Kid Heroes Recognition Ceremony on Monday, March 30th. The first 20 submissions will make it into the group, so we urge people to turn in their nominations right away. Nominations will be taken until Friday, May 8th, OR, until 20 submissions are received.

To give all these outstanding kids the opportunity to be honored in the Kid Heroes Recognition Ceremony, we ask that those kids included in previous ceremonies from 2018 and 2019 not be nominated.

Nominations can be made online with our online form. A special thank you is extended to our loyal sponsor, O’Brien Family McDonald’s restaurants and the partnership with the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois.

For more information on the Kid Heroes Recognition Ceremony, or if you have questions, please contact Jessica Fergesen at (319) 896-7608 or by e-mail at [email protected].

Click here to access the online form | Kid Heroes Nomination Form
Single-game tickets for the Kernels 2020 season are available online now from May 11-August.  https://www.milb.com/cedar-rapids/tickets/single-game-tickets

 

Chasers in the Community 2019 Review

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The Omaha Storm Chasers in conjunction with Chasers Charities and Spectra Food Services and Hospitality donated $571,229.19 to numerous Omaha Metro charities in 2019, with the Storm Chasers aligning with more than 300 different organizations. Storm Chasers front office members also combined for nearly 600 hours of community service in the Omaha Metro this year.

“Relationships and community are imperative to what this organization is about,” said Storm Chasers President Martie Cordaro. “Werner Park is a community center so we have a responsibility to Sarpy County and the Omaha Metro to continue to be engaged by being present and giving back.”

During the 2019 season, the Storm Chasers organization provided a platform for 70 non-profit organizations at Werner Park as its Community Organization of the Night. The McDonald’s and Huber Chevrolet Hurl the Pearl promotion also raised $13,378 for the Ronald McDonald House. In addition, $21,395 was donated to various Omaha Metro charities, including Make-a-Wish Nebraska, Gold Glove Charities and Food Bank for the Heartland, through six different Jersey Auctions throughout the season. More than 4,000 canned goods were also donated to Heartland Hope Mission through the Storm Chasers’ Hy-Vee Canned Food Sunday promotion.

A total of $10,865.20 was also raised through the Storm Chasers’ Omaha Potholes promotion to help repair local little league fields with City of Bellevue Recreation and DC West Youth Sports damaged by historic floods this spring, along with matching donations from the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers organizations. The Storm Chasers organization’s relationship with Minor League Baseball and the efforts of President and General Manager Martie Cordaro also helped secure a joint $50,000 donation from Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association to Team Rubicon to support Winter Storm Ulmer disaster relief efforts.

The Storm Chasers organization was also visible throughout the Omaha Metro community, as the combined number of mascot and player appearances totaled nearly 300. Chasers Charities in partnership with The Weitz Company also awarded two $1,000 college scholarships through the Jackie Robinson Scholarship program to Jaden Ferguson and Damicah Dutton-Burton.

Furthermore, the Storm Chasers and Spectra Food Services and Hospitality once again provided local non-profit organizations and community groups to raise funds by volunteering at concessions stands during the season. A total of $51,531 was raised by those volunteers through this program.

In addition, over 9,000 cocktails were sold in the Jack Daniel’s Club over the course of the 2019 season, raising over $4,500 in partnership with Jack Daniel’s for Operation Ride Home.

A full overview of the Storm Chasers’ 2019 Community Relations efforts can be found online at this link: https://www.milb.com/omaha/community/home

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

Indians Specialty Jersey Auctions Break Records

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INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Indians announced today the team and its fans raised $55,461 through specialty jersey auctions in 2019, a record-breaking total for one of the club’s most popular promotions every season. The funds were raised through in-park auctions benefiting seven different nonprofit organizations.

“Specialty jersey auctions have held a prominent place on the Indianapolis Indians promotions calendar for the past ten years, which speaks to their popularity among our fans and partners,” said Indianapolis Indians President and General Manager Randy Lewandowski. “It’s important we use our platform as a long-standing community partner to lift up those around us. We’re focused on helping Central Indiana youth and families, and the Victory Field experience is one way we can do it.”

The 2019 beneficiaries were Folds of Honor Indiana (May 3 – Indy 500), Indiana National Guard Relief Fund (July 4 – Stars & Stripes), Children’s TherAplay Foundation (July 6 – Spider-Man), Teachers’ Treasures (July 20 – Prospects Night), Riley Children’s Foundation (August 3 – The Incredible Hulk), Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Indiana (August 17-18 – PAW Patrol, August 23-24 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), and Special Olympics (Postseason – Circle City).

Earlier this offseason, the Tribe announced the creation of Indianapolis Indians Charities, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to helping youth and families grow stronger together, learn more and live healthier lives. It will support organizations across Central Indiana who serve in youth development, family success, education and neighborhood development. Established in 1902, the Indians are formalizing their community outreach for the first time in franchise history.

For more information or to purchase a 2020 ticket package, visit IndyIndians.com or call (317) 269-3545.

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

Chasers Set All-Time Charitable Giving Record

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The Omaha Storm Chasers set an all-time record in charitable giving for the sixth consecutive year in 2018, assisting with over 300 different organizations. In total, the Storm Chasers franchise donated $851,237.75 to local charities over the course of their 50th season in franchise history, an increase of $51,055.30 compared to last year.

CLICK HERE TO READ FULL COMMUNITY RELATIONS REPORT (PDF)

“Relationships and community are imperative to what this organization is about,” said Martie Cordaro, President and General Manager of the Omaha Storm Chasers. “Werner Park is a community center so we have a responsibility to Sarpy County and the Omaha Metro to continue to be engaged by being present and giving back.”

The Storm Chasers organization provided a platform for 70 non-profit organizations at Werner Park as its Community Organization of the Night. The McDonalds and Huber Chevrolet Hurl the Pearl promotion also raised $17,683.25 for the Ronald McDonald House. In addition, $23,840 was donated to local charities including Methodist Hospital Foundation, Food Bank for the Heartland, NWTF, United Way of the Midlands, and Javelan through five Game-Worn Jersey Auctions, with players and coaches wearing specialty jerseys.

The organization remained visible throughout the Omaha Metro, with mascots and players combining for over 530 appearances in the community. The Storm Chasers front office also combined for 1,055 hours of community service during the 2018 campaign.

A full overview of the Storm Chasers’ 2018 Community Relations efforts can be found online at this link: https://www.milb.com/omaha/community/community-relations-report

Werner Park is slated to host the Kansas City Royals on March 25, 2019 in an exhibition game presented by Cobalt Credit Union. Tickets are still available for that contest and can be purchased at this link: http://bit.ly/2BUsp72.

Following the Royals Exhibition Game, the Storm Chasers franchise is set to start their regular season slate on Tuesday, April 9. The Omaha Storm Chasers are the Triple-A Affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The Storm Chasers play at Werner Park in Papillion, Sarpy County, Nebraska. For more information please visit omahastormchasers.com and follow us on Twitter @omastormchasers and at facebook.com/omahastormchasers.

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

Connor Eller Receives Blue Jays Community Service Award

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Right-handed pitcher Connor Eller has been selected as the 2018 Dunedin Blue Jays Community Service Award winner for his continued commitment to helping those in need in the Dunedin community and supporting Blue Jays community initiatives.

The Blue Jays Community Service Award has been given annually since 2012 to the Blue Jays player who best exemplifies the team’s commitment to enriching the Dunedin community through a variety of outreach programs that promote education, healthy lifestyles, and charity. Throughout the 2018 season, Eller represented the Blue Jays in the community through numerous appearances away from the ballpark as he worked to encourage local children and support local families.

“Connor has been a leader in the clubhouse and the community for the past two seasons. He’s exemplified everything this award stands for through his continued dedication to our community service projects,” Blue Jays Manager of Community Relations Kathi Beckman said. “We couldn’t be more proud to present him with the 2018 Community Service Award.”

Eller helped lead the 2018 Blue Jays Bookin’ It To The Ballpark Reading Program, the largest community outreach program in the franchise’s history, reaching fifteen-hundred elementary school students in 19 Pinellas County schools. He visited local elementary schools to support the program and promote literacy by reading to local students, answering their questions, and encouraging them in their studies.

“My favorite event was definitely the reading visits,” Eller said. “The kids get so excited when you walk in the door. Seeing their smiles when they come up and read with you is a joy.”

Eller was also active at the 2018 Blue Jays Bowling Tournament, an event that raised over $10,000 to benefit local families through Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay. He also volunteered to help local families at the Dunedin Cares, Inc. Food Pantry, helping to fight hunger in the Dunedin Community. At their annual Hometown USA celebration, the Blue Jays collected 1,126 pounds of food for Dunedin Cares, Inc. as part of Minor League Baseball’s annual BUSH’s Beans Food Drive. Alongside teammate Riley Adams and mascot DJay, Eller helped sort and distribute the food the team had collected to local families.

“It was really neat when Riley and I went to the Food Pantry. I think we gave back to the community in a different way. It was heartwarming to put yourself in other people’s situation and be able to help them and show love to them.”

Eller joins a distinguished list of former Community Service Award winners that includes Danny Barnes, Matt Newman, Taylor Cole, L.B. Dantzler, Jorge Saez, Tim Mayza, and Josh DeGraaf.

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

Blue Jays Bowling Tournament Raises Over $10,000

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DUNEDIN-FL, The Dunedin Blue Jays 2018 Charity Bowling Tournament on Saturday, July 21st raised $10,370 for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay. Over 200 local baseball fans participated in the event, joining the entire Dunedin Blue Jays team at Maple Lanes Countryside Bowling Alley in Clearwater for a day of bowling, raffles, silent auctions, and prizes during the team’s fifth annual tournament. Since 2014, the event has raised over $45,000 to support the well-being of local families through Ronald McDonald House Charities.

“The Blue Jays are incredibly grateful for the continued support of local businesses and their sponsorships that make this event possible each year, for our players for dedicating their time to helping the local community, and most of all for fans who helped make this year’s event a success,” Kathi Beckman, the Blue Jays Manager of Community Relations, said following the event.

For the third consecutive year, the event raised over $10,000 to help Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay care for families with children receiving treatment in local hospitals. Adding to the excitement at the tournament, local fan Teddy K. threw the first perfect 300 game in bowling tournament history. For his feat, Teddy was awarded a team-signed bowling ball and pin and the opportunity to throw out the first pitch at a 2019 Toronto Blue Jays Spring Training game.

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

Registration Open For Annual Charity Bowling Tournament

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Registration is officially open for the fifth annual Dunedin Blue Jays Charity Bowling Tournament to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay held on Saturday, July 21st at Maple Lanes Countryside. Last year’s tournament raised over $12,800 to help local families in need through Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay, a total the Blue Jays hope to eclipse in 2018.

The tournament will offer fans and participants the opportunity to bowl with and meet and greet their favorite Dunedin Blue Jays players and coaches, the chance to take home great Blue Jays memorabilia in a raffle and silent auction, and chances to win autographed merchandise, gift certificates, art, and other prizes throughout the event all while supporting a great cause.

Participation in the tournament costs $25 per bowler and includes two games of bowling, shoe rental, food and drink, a ticket to attend that evening’s Dunedin Blue Jays game, and a special participation gift. Individual bowlers and full teams of six are welcome to register. All proceeds from the tournament will be donated to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay.

Interested bowlers can find out more information and register for the tournament by visiting www.DunedinBlueJays.com/Bowling. Local businesses interested in being a lane sponsor at the event and having their logo and advertising displayed at the event can visit the same link or contact the Blue Jays at (727)-733-9302 for more information.

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

Fifth Third Bank Donates Dragons Tickets to over 100 Local Organizations

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Dayton, Ohio-The Dayton Dragons announced today that Dragons stadium naming rights partner Fifth Third Bank has donated more than 100 Dragons season ticket packages to local charitable organizations for the 2018 season. Additionally, Fifth Third Bank has donated the use of a luxury suite at Fifth Third Field for numerous Dragons games this season to host charitable organizations serving the Dayton region.

Fifth Third Bank will donate tickets to more than 100 non-profit organizations in the Dayton area this season. Each organization will receive four tickets to 17 different Dragons games. The list of recipients includes March of Dimes, the Ronald McDonald House, Special Olympics of Greater Dayton, American Heart Association, Boys & Girls Club, Pink Ribbon Girls, the Humane Society of Greater Dayton, the Alzheimer’s Association, Habitat for Humanity, Daybreak, Fisher House, and many others.

Dragons Team President, Bob Murphy, commented “Fifth Third Bank recognizes that these organizations are the heart of our region. These groups usually have small professional staffs and limited resources. These ticket packages are a great tool that they can use to recognize the amazing volunteers, thank donors, and use in other ways to support their cause.”

Fifth Third Bank’s Senior Vice President, Doug Compton, also commented, “We are proud to partner with the Dayton Dragons to provide season tickets to organizations that are serving members of our local community and are meeting some of their most important needs. We understand the value that these companies provide to our region and how impactful they are to our area.”

Fifth Third Bank has been a longtime corporate partner of the Dayton Dragons and the entire Dayton community. The Dragons are proud to work with Fifth Third Bank on this initiative.

More information: Fifth Third Bank can help provide professional banking solutions for your organization, staff, and clients. Should you need to reach out to Fifth Third Bank to inquire how they can assist your organization, please contact Mr. Scott Mumpower. Scott can be reached at Scott.Mumpower@53.com, or via phone at 937-227-6032.

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

Kernels Kids Heroes card set nominations closed

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Cedar Rapids, IA – The Kernels are proud to announce that we have collected all the nominations for the 2018 Kids Heroes Baseball card set and nominations for this year’s card set are now closed. Thank you to everyone who submitted a hero for this year’s set!

We still encourage all fans to attend our Kids Heroes Night on Friday, June 15th at 6:35 PM as the first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a free set of Ronald McDonald House Kids Heroes Baseball Cards, sponsored by McDonalds. Gates open at 5:30 PM.

With the strong interest in our first Kids Heroes Baseball Cards sets, the Kernels plan to continue this annual tradition by releasing a second Kids Heroes Set for the 2019 season. Nominations for this set will open in mid-January of 2019.

Kernels seeking nominations for Kids Heroes Baseball Card Set

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Cedar Rapids, IA – The Cedar Rapids Kernels have partnered with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois (RMHC-EIWI) to release a Kids Heroes Baseball Card Set, sponsored by McDonald’s. The card set will spotlight kids who have used RMHC-EIWI services and showcase some of the incredible kids they meet and serve every day.

The card set will be given away to the first 1,000 fans that enter Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Friday, June 15th. Those kids selected to appear in the card set and their families will be honored on the field prior to the June 15th game, and will receive four tickets to the game.

The Kernels will begin taking nominations for the Kids Heroes Card Set on Thursday, February 1st. The first 20 submissions will make it into the card set, so we urge people to turn in nominations right away. Nominations will be taken until Friday, March 30th OR until 20 submissions are received.

Nomination forms can be accessed by visiting the Kernels offices during normal business hours (9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday-Friday) or online by clicking here. A PDF version of the nomination form can be accessed by clicking here. Nominations can be submitted online, or mailed directly to the Kernels offices. Please include a photo of the Kid Hero that will be used on the baseball card, along with the completed nomination form.

For more information on the Kids Heroes Baseball Card set, or to access a nomination form, please contact Jessica Fergesen at (319) 896-7608 or by email at jessica@kernels.com.

Chasers Nominated for John Henry Moss Community Service Award

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The Pacific Coast League has announced that the Omaha Storm Chasers’ franchise is the circuit’s nominee for Minor League Baseball’s John Henry Moss Community Service Award. Each league in Minor League Baseball nominated an organization, with the overall winner announced at the annual Baseball Winter Meetings in Orlando, Florida in December.

“A truly great organization is one that shows a high level of commitment to its own community,” stated Omaha Storm Chasers President and General Manager Martie Cordaro. “We are proud to be representing the Pacific Coast League with this nomination, which is a testament to the time and commitment of our front office staff, as well as the Kansas City Royals organization, to the Omaha Metro community.”

Over the course of the 2017 campaign, Chasers Charities, the charitable arm of the Omaha Storm Chasers, donated $808,182 to local charities, setting an all-time record in charitable giving for the fourth consecutive year. The Storm Chasers assisted over 1,500 different organizations, and were also visible in the community with over 420 mascot and player appearances. Front office employees also donated 740 hours of community service throughout the year.

73 different organizations were provided a platform at Werner Park at the Sprint Community Organization of the Night. Over $18,000 was raised through the McDonald’s and Huber Chevrolet Hurl the Pearl promotion for the Ronald McDonald House, while more than $21,000 was raised for various local charities including Methodist Hospital Founation and Moving Veterans Forward via four Jersey Auctions. Initiatives also included Hy-Vee Canned Food Sundays, with nearly 5,000 items donated to Heartland Hope Mission, in addition to Chasers FUNdamentals, with Chasers Charities teaming with DREAM to put on baseball clinics introducing youth to baseball.

Chasers Charities also offered the Chasin’ Dreams Grant, donating a total in excess of $9,000 to help non-profit organizations that operate youth softball/baseball programs make major renovations. Two Jackie Robinson Athletic Scholarships worth $1,000 each were also awarded through Chasers Charities and The Weitz Company, while partnering with the Nebraska State Treasurer’s Office for the 15th annual Why I Want To Go To College Essay Contest.

The Storm Chasers also held their third annual Chasers Community Week presented by Summit Dental, which included the Jirschele Family Memorial Golf Outing to help benfit the Muscular Dystrophy Association, as well as player appearances at Children’s Hospital and the Southwest YMCA and hosting Bellevue Buddy Baseball at Werner Park. The nine-day event culminated in hosting The Wall That Heals, an exhibit that featured a half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. The exhibit was open 24 hours a day from August 3-6 at Werner Park, with the Storm Chasers’ Military Appreciation game preceded the exhibit’s closing ceremonies.

Werner Park also served as a site for local organizations to use the stadium as a venue to host large-scale fundraisers. Those special events included the “Boxer 500” to benefit the Great Plains Colon Cancer Task Force, the “Walk to Defeat ALS”, SHARP Race towards Brain Aneurysm, Heart Heroes Run, and Nebraska 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb.

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