
LAKEWOOD, NJ – The Lakewood BlueClaws and BlueClaws Charities have released their 2019 Community Impact Report including information on BlueClaws Charities, presented by DiFeo Kia, grant recipients and club community involvement throughout the year.
“BlueClaws Charities and the entire BlueClaws staff is proud to be a key part of the community throughout the year,” said BlueClaws Team President Joe Ricciutti. “From BlueClaws games themselves to events and fundraising around the area 12 months a year, to supporting a series of tremendous Community Partner organizations, being a leading member of the community is something that we take great pride in. We look forward to expanding our involvement further in 2020!
To read the 2019 Community Impact Report, click here.
BlueClaws Charities handed out cash grants to 39 Community Partners in 2019 and all organizations that applied received a grant. These organizations, ranging from local branches of national charities to smaller local organizations, each create a positive impact in the community in a different way.
“Our BlueClaws Charities Community Partner organizations are helping lead the way around the Jersey Shore in working with the underserved and underprivliged around the area,” said BlueClaws Vice President of Community Relations Jim DeAngelis, also the Executive Director of BlueClaws Charities. “We are proud to note that all grant money stays in Ocean & Monmouth Counties and is put to great use locally.
“We thank our great sponsor, DiFeo Kia, and everyone that supported BlueClaws Charities events and fundraising efforts to make these grants possible.”
Grant fundraising included special events, both in and outside the stadium, throughout the year.
In May, the BlueClaws hosted their 19th annual ALS Celebrity Waiter Event, benefiting the ALS Association of Greater Philadelphia, the principal charity of the Phillies. This year’s event was held at Quaker Steak & Lube in Brick. The Celebrity Waiter Event has raised over $120,000 for the ALS Association of Greater Philadelphia in its history.
In August, BlueClaws Charities hosted their annual golf outing at Lakewood Country Club. The 10th annual event, a “Nine and Dine” format, includes golf, dinner, and special auctions plus appearances by BlueClaws players and coaches.
Additional funding came from the nightly 50/50 raffle which took place at all BlueClaws home games. Each pool total averaged over $2,000 with an average of more than $1,000 being returned to winners.
BlueClaws Charities also raised money through BlueClaws jersey auctions during the year. In 2019, the BlueClaws did the following jersey auctions for BlueClaws Charities: Players Day, Grateful Dead, Margaritaville Night at the Park, BruceClaws, Military Appreciation Night, and Pork Roll, Egg & Cheese. A special pink jersey auction on Breast Cancer Awareness Night benefitted the American Cancer Society. Fans were able to bid either online or through a mobile device, enabling bidding from all over the world. This process raised additional funds for BlueClaws Charities and their Community Partners.
The BlueClaws and BlueClaws Charities partner with OceanFirst Bank and OceanFirst Foundation on several programs that benefit area military personnel. The Home Runs for Heroes program, which just completed its 11th year, generates a donation from OceanFirst Foundation to a local military-based non-profit for each BlueClaws home run hit at FirstEnergy Park. In 2019, the program raised $38,000 for local organizations. Further, through the Vets Night Out program, presented by OceanFirst Bank, tickets are donated to military members through accredited channels.
Additional events during the year included a Challenger Clinic at which the developmentally disabled were able to learn baseball from BlueClaws players and Major League alumni. Troop and School Supply Drives were held at the ballpark during games and the 19th annual Breakfast With Buster holiday food and toy drive was held in December, collecting non-perishable food and unwrapped toys to benefit the Salvation Army of Ocean County.
Through the Phillies Step-Up Program, BlueClaws players participated in over 261 hours of community service during the year. This included events at the ballpark and around the community such as a free clinic put on by the Ocean County Parks Department featuring BlueClaws players.
BlueClaws staff members served on event committees for nine different area non-profit organizations. Staff members served on the Board of Directors of seven different non-profit organizations and five Chambers of Commerce.
The BlueClaws fundraising program also proved profitable for area organizations and event committees. In 2019, over $143,000 was raised through the BlueClaws fundraising program, through which organizations purchase BlueClaws tickets and re-sell them to their constituents to raise money. For additional information on that program, contact a BlueClaws representative at 732-901-7000 option 3.
In-Kind donations included ticket vouchers or other contributions to 924 organizations plus 65 additional packages including merchandise or hospitality outings.
BlueClaws Charities is the official 501c3 of the Lakewood BlueClaws. The organization supports its Community Partners in Monmouth and Ocean Counties with cash grants and other organizations with in-kind donations throughout the year.
The Lakewood BlueClaws are the Jersey Shore’s top stop for affordable, family entertainment. BlueClaws ticket packages and group outings are currently on sale by calling 732-901-7000 option 3 or online at BlueClaws.com. Opening Night of the 2020 season is on Thursday, April 16th.
– BlueClaws –
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (October 23, 2019) – The West Virginia Power, in conjunction with 98.7 The Beat, will host the 14th annual Trick-Or-Beat celebration, presented by Todd Judy Ford, at Appalachian Power Park on Tuesday, October 29. This event provides an all-purpose environment for Charleston area children to enjoy the thrills of trick-or-treating with their families in a safe manner.
COLUMBIA, S.C.- The Columbia Fireflies and Mason today announced that Mason is in search of a friend to spend his Halloween with. Children can enter a contest to win the opportunity to Trick-or-Treat with Mason. To enter, kids only need to submit a drawing of themselves with their pal Mason. The contest winner and their family will be joined by Mason for an hour-long Trick-or-Treating adventure on October 31.
Hickory, NC- The Crawdads will once again host a Trunk-Or-Treat at the ballpark this year. This year’s event is scheduled for Monday, October 28th from 6pm to 8pm. The free event will feature a family-friendly place for kids to trick-or-treat, food, Halloween-themed games, a costume contest, and ‘Dads ticket specials.

The Drive are excited to team up with fellow Upstate Veterans Alliance partners GE, Michelin and Prisma Health for the fourth annual SC Veterans Upstate Salute! You’re invited to join us in this free celebration on Sunday, November 10th at Fluor Field, as we will honor our local veterans with a night full of entertainment.


NORTH AUGUSTA, SC: The Augusta GreenJackets, South Atlantic League affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, are excited to announce that on August 20th, while the GreenJackets take on the Asheville Tourists at 7:05 p.m., SRP Park will also play host to the 2019 CSRA Job Fair from 6-8 p.m. Fans who bring a resume to the SRP Park Box Office can get a $5 General Admission/Standing Room Only ticket which will gain them admission into the ballpark for both the ‘Jackets game, and the Job Fair.

WHITAKER BANK BALLPARK (Lexington, KY) – The Lexington Legends, in partnership with Minor League Baseball’s new initiative MiLB Pride, announce today Pride Day on June 23rd. MiLB Pride is the largest documented Pride celebration in professional sports and the Legends’ event will help kick off Pride Week in Lexington.



CHARLESTON, S.C. – Boeing has been named a 20/20 Partner of the Charleston RiverDogs, making the world’s largest aerospace company one of a group of partners committed to the vision of RiverDogs baseball and Joe Riley Park for the future.