Cardinals, CBCO’s Bleed Red Blood Drive starts July 6

 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — For the 16th consecutive year, the Cardinals and the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks (CBCO) are teaming up for the Bleed Red Blood Drive.

The Bleed Red Blood Drive is the single largest team-affiliated blood drive in all of Minor League Baseball and has contributed to saving thousands of lives throughout Southwest Missouri since its start in 2005.

Set to take place from Monday, July 6 through Friday, July 10, the Bleed Red Blood Drive was created with the health of donors and our entire community at the forefront.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE

Every single donor will receive two 2021 Springfield Cardinals ticket vouchers and a bag of goodies from the CBCO, including a 2020 Bleed Red Blood Drive t-shirt.

Although not required, the CBCO is encouraging donors to sign up for an appointment in advance to help ensure a smooth donation experience. Appointments can be made by calling 417-227-5006, or visiting www.cbco.org and clicking “Donate Blood.”

The Bleed Red Blood Drive will also take place at CBCO’s Joplin location from July 13-17. For more information, contact the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks at 417-227-5006.

Fredericksburg Nationals Sell Over 1,001 Community Initiative T-Shirts

 

FREDERICKSBURG, VA – The Fredericksburg Nationals are proud to announce that they reached their goal of more than 1,001 We Are FXBG t-shirts sold as of Monday, June 29. The team announced that they would be launching the We Are FXBG t-shirts back in May with the promise to donate two tickets to local frontline healthcare workers with the purchase of each t-shirt.

FredNats General Manager and Executive Vice President Nick Hall added an extra incentive to fans by promising to get a tattoo of the team’s official mascot, Gus, if more than 1,001 We Are FXBG t-shirts were sold.

The 1,001 t-shirt was sold to a fan attending the third day of the Open House at the ballpark in the afternoon of Sunday, June 28.

“We’re really excited to make that tattoo real and have Gus enshrined on my body for life! Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go apologize to my wife” said Hall, following the purchase of the 1,001 shirt.

To help the team push themselves further towards their goal, they tie-dyed hundreds of We Are FXBG t-shirts with fans at their Open House at the Ballpark on June 21, June 27 and June 28. Thanks to the support from their fans, the FredNats sold almost 500 We Are FXBG t-shirts in the three days of their Open House.

We Are FXBG t-shirts are still available for purchase in red, blue, grey, and white on the team’s online store at https://fredericksburgnationals.milbstore.com/products/we-are-fxbg-shirt.

The Fredericksburg Nationals are the high-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals in the Carolina League, originally set to begin play in 2020 at a brand new, state of the art stadium facility, located at Celebrate Virginia South on Carl D. Silver Parkway near the Fredericksburg Expo & Convention Center in Fredericksburg, VA. Stay up to date with the progress of the new ballpark facility and the team online at www.frednats.com and follow the Fredericksburg Nationals on Facebook (@FXBGNats), on Twitter (@FXBGNats), and on Instagram (@fxbgnats).

Greenville Top Fundraiser in MiLB’s CommUNITY First Campaign

 

GREENVILLE, S.C. — The Greenville Drive, along with long-time corporate partners Trehel Corporation, Duke Energy, and Spinx, recently participated in Minor League Baseball’s CommUNITY First campaign during the month of May, helping raise critical funds and resources for those most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of this effort, the Drive along with its partners aimed to maximize community impact and dollars raised; ultimately raising over $7,200 – the highest amount raised of all Minor League Baseball teams in the country!

“We’ve always worked tirelessly in both good and challenging times to position the Drive as the ‘Front Porch Of The Community’ so it’s a great privilege for us to take part in Minor League Baseball’s CommUNITY First Campaign and give back to those who need it most,” said Craig Brown, President and Owner of the Greenville Drive. “To raise the most funds across all of Minor League Baseball, and to do so with the great help of our long-time friends and partners at Trehel, Spinx, and Duke Energy, is humbling and speaks to the generosity and collaborative spirit of our partners and the Upstate community. COVID-19 has impacted nearly every aspect of daily life and we’re grateful for the help of our partners and the opportunity to use our platform to help those impacted the most.”

These critical funds will be distributed locally to Harvest Hope Food Bank and throughout the Upstate to help those most in need. In addition, as part of this effort, the Drive has also committed to donating 750 tickets to an Opening Week game during the 2021 season to be utilized by local heroes and frontline workers battling COVID-19. In total, because of the great work done by the Drive and its partners, as well as all Minor League Baseball teams across the country, over 550,000 meals will be donated to families through Feeding America’s nationwide network, and over 5,500 MiLB tickets will be provided to heroes and frontline workers across the nation.

“The Greenville Drive are a shining example of a team bringing together its local community and corporate partners to help individuals most impacted by COVID-19,” said Courtney Nehls, Director of Community Engagement of Minor League Baseball. “We are grateful to the Drive for putting forth such an extraordinary effort throughout the entire MiLB CommUNITY First initiative, and in turn, donating the most funds and tickets to the national campaign.”

For more information and details on the success and impact of the CommUNITY First Program, please visit GreenvilleDrive.com/commUNITYFirst.

Fans, Quakes raise $1,600 for MiLB Community First Campaign

 

The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, their fans and Minor League Baseball have all teamed up to make a donation to our local Feeding America food bank, as part of the MiLB CommUNITY First Campaign.

A total of $1,660 will be donated to Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino, which is part of a bigger donation of over $50,000, raised by 100 minor league teams throughout the country as part of this MiLB program. In addition, the Quakes will provide 166 tickets to future Quakes games to frontline workers.

The MiLB CommUNITY First Campaign combined to donate more than 548,000 meals across 32 states. Your Quakes, thanks to the best fans in the California League, were one of the top-five teams to contribute.

“The Quakes pride themselves on being part of this community,” said Vice President – General Manager Grant Riddle. “Our fans came to bat with us and helped raise this money for families that need it during this incredibly difficult time. We’re proud to help do our part and look forward to celebrating frontline workers who do so much for this community when it’s safe to return to LoanMart Field and enjoy baseball!”

“Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino is grateful for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes efforts to step up and take action during this unprecedented time,” said Philanthropy Director Carolyn Solar. “This tremendous $1,600 gift will help provide up to 12,800 meals to vulnerable families and children in the Inland Empire this summer. Thank you, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes for supporting your local food bank!”

On behalf of MiLB HQ and MiLB Charities, the Quakes would like to thank the fans and local organizations for your support of this national campaign and your continued charitable work that you do for our community. The success of this campaign once again reinforces the commitment and positive impact that the Quakes and all of minor league baseball has in our communities.

$2,790 Raised For Second Harvest Food Bank Through CommUNITY First Initiative

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Fayetteville Woodpeckers are pleased to announce the results of their month-long participation in the MiLB CommUNITY First campaign. The national initiative, developed by Minor League Baseball in conjunction with Feeding America, encouraged participating teams and their fans to raise funds for local food banks and to honor individuals risking their lives on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With a grand total of $2,790 raised, the Woodpeckers placed first in fundraising in the Carolina League and second nationally out of more than 100 participating teams throughout Minor League Baseball. Fans donated $1,145 from April 28th through May 31st. The Fayetteville Woodpeckers Fund, the team’s official charity, matched the total amount raised. As one of the top five teams in fundraising through this initiative, MiLB Charities added an additional $500 donation.

The proceeds from this fundraiser will benefit the Woodpeckers’ local food bank, Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeast North Carolina, located in Fayetteville. In southeast North Carolina, 1 in 6 people face hunger; 1 in 4 of these are children. Second Harvest Food Bank is the leading hunger relief oganization in the southeastern region of the Tar Heel state; serving Bladen, Cumberland, Duplin, Harnett, Hoke, Robeson, and Sampson counties.

CommUNITY First not only addressed food insecurity, the initiative also aimed to honor those on the front lines fighting COVID-19. For every $10 raised, the Woodpeckers pledged to donate one ticket to a future home game this season or in 2021 to a local hero of the pandemic. The Woodpeckers will work with local partners to distribute 279 tickets to front-line workers in our community.
Minor League Baseball’s CommUNITY First campaign collectively raised $54,070 for Feeding America food banks around the country. As a result, participating teams will donate over 5,400 tickets to heroes fighting COVID-19.

 

Dunedin Blue Jays Raise Over $1,800 for Dunedin Cares Inc.

 

DUNEDIN, FL – The Dunedin Blue Jays Band Together Against Hunger campaign concluded on May 31st benefiting Dunedin Cares Inc. The campaign was a massive success raising $1,865 for Dunedin Cares Inc. over the entire month of May with all donations received going directly to the food pantry. The Dunedin Blue Jays will in turn be donating over 180 tickets to a future Dunedin Blue Jays game for essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Dunedin community.

Coordinator of Community Relations, Matt Woak commented on the success of the campaign stating, “The Dunedin Blue Jays organization appreciates the outpouring of support from our fan base in helping the local Dunedin community. We are certain these donations raised will give a much-needed boost to Dunedin Cares Inc. during these difficult times of the pandemic. Our organization also looks forward to hosting essential workers at a future Dunedin Blue Jays game to thank them for their dedication to our community in this time of need.”

Dunedin Cares Inc. President, Joe Mackin echoed these sentiments saying, “Dunedin Cares Food Pantry is grateful for the partnership with our hometown baseball team, the Dunedin Blue Jays. The Jays chose us to as the local non-profit to benefit from the community donations and in turn, the Blue Jays are donating over 180 baseball tickets to those workers in the front lines of helping and serving others. This togetherness is all about neighbors helping neighbors.”

ABOUT DUNEDIN BLUE JAYS

The Dunedin Blue Jays have been the Class A-Advanced Minor League affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays since 1987. Dunedin, Florida is also the home of Toronto Blue Jays Spring Training. The Dunedin Blue Jays are committed to enriching the lives of those in our local community by giving back to organizations. Through various community initiatives, we are striving to enrich the lives of our neighbors and those in need through the power of Dunedin Blue Jays baseball by promotion of education, health, and baseball within our local communities.

ABOUT DUNEDIN CARES INC.

Our goal is to ensure that our neighbors in Dunedin & surrounding communities have a caring and respectful environment to shop our pantry shelves and provide food for their families. We believe in Neighbors Helping Neighbors. Dunedin Cares, Inc. Food Pantry opened our doors on November 12, 2015. Statistics indicated that even in our delightful city of Dunedin, Florida, there were pockets of people who are “food insecure”, where children go to bed hungry and elderly choose to purchase their medication over food.

Help our MiLB CommUNITY

 

The Eugene Emeralds are proud to be a part of the MiLB CommUNITY First Initiative for the month of May. This national initiative was developed in conjunction with Feeding America, to raise funds for local food banks and to honor individuals risking their lives on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Emeralds fans are encouraged to visit the CommUNITY First website through May 31st to help MiLB, and the participating teams, raise money for local food banks. Once on the site, fans can choose their donation amount and the Emeralds as the recipient of their donation to direct funds to the Oregon Food Bank and FOOD for Lane County. By selected the Emeralds for the donation, you will ensure that the money will go to support local food banks. If a team is not selected, funds will go to the Feeding America COVID-19 Response Fund which is providing food assistance and supplies to communities most affected by the pandemic.

Ten dollars provides access to 30 meals to families and individuals in need. With school closures and rising unemployment since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, FOOD for Lane County has seen a noticeable increase in the number of people seeking help with food for the first time. With the suspension of food rescue and food drives, the food supply for FOOD for Lane County has been drastically disrupted. The donations will go towards purchasing local food so they can offer a variety of food choices to the community.

Since April, the Emeralds front office has been volunteering with FOOD for Lane County once a week, stocking and creating produce bags for one of the four emergency mobile pantries the nonprofit has set up. By supporting the CommUNITY First Initiative, the Emeralds hope to help families and individuals across the country most impacted by the pandemic by making sure they are fed and cared for during these uncertain times.

In addition, for every $10 donation, the Emeralds will donate one ticket to a home game for either the 2020 or 2021 season to a local hero of the pandemic. Fans are invited to join the national campaign by donating and selecting the Eugene Emeralds at MiLB.com/CommUNITYFirst and use #MiLBCommUNITYFirst on social media to show your support.

OKC Dodgers Baseball Foundation Participating in MiLB CommUNITY First Campaign

 

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma City Dodgers Baseball Foundation, in conjunction with Minor League Baseball and Feeding America, is participating in the new CommUNITY First campaign, aimed at helping fight hunger while also recognizing frontline workers battling against the COVID-19 pandemic.

From now through May 31, fans can visit milb.com/CommUNITYFirst to donate and select the community they want to support. All proceeds pledged to Oklahoma City will be given to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.

For every $10 donated, the Oklahoma City Dodgers and OKC Dodgers Baseball Foundation will provide one ticket to a local first responder and/or frontline worker during the 2020 or 2021 baseball season through the team’s Community Night Out program. Between 2018-19, approximately $60,000 was raised through Community Night Out to provide 6,000 tickets to families and individuals in need.

Fans are encouraged to donate on Giving Tuesday, May 5, and use #MILBCommUNITYFirst and tag the OKC Dodgers Baseball Foundation (@OKCDBFoundation) on social media to show support.

“At this time it’s especially important to recognize community victories, and we see this as a true win-win situation,” said OKC Dodgers Baseball Foundation Executive Director Carol Herrick. “Not only does this program allow us to provide for those in need, but we can also say ‘thank you’ to those who are doing their best to fight this pandemic.”

Per Feeding America, an estimated additional 17.1 million people will experience food insecurity within the next six months. As a result, Feeding America is projecting a $1.4 billion shortfall during that time.

“In times of uncertainty, coming together to help others is crucial to the health, well-being and stability of our local communities,” said Minor League Baseball President & CEO Pat O’Conner. “With the support of our fans and through the Feeding America network of food banks, we want to do our part to continue to fight hunger across America during this pandemic. When it is possible to hold games once again, our teams will provide local heroes across the country with unforgettable experiences in our ballparks.”

For more information about the CommUNITY First campaign or the Oklahoma City Dodgers Baseball Foundation, visit okcdodgers.com or call (405) 218-2104.

Dunedin Blue Jays partner with Dunedin Cares Inc. to Band Together Against Hunger

 

The Dunedin Blue Jays announced on May 1st we are joining Dunedin Cares Inc. to raise funds for the local food bank and to honor individuals risking their lives on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dunedin Blue Jays fans are encouraged to visit (https://donorbox.org/blue-jays-for-dunedin-cares) through May 31 to donate. Once on the site, fans can choose their donation amount to directly benefit Dunedin Cares Inc. and the community. For every $10 donated, the Dunedin Blue Jays will donate one ticket to a future home game to local essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic (Up to 1,000 tickets donated).

Coordinator of Community Relations, Matt Woak stated, “The Dunedin community is extremely important to the Blue Jays along with our relationship with Dunedin Cares Inc. Dunedin Cares does so much good for the local community working around the clock to feed those most in need, and we are glad our organization is able to assist them during these trying times when the community needs it the most.”

In response to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, contributions from the Dunedin Blue Jays fans will help ensure families and individuals across Dunedin and our surrounding communities most impacted by the pandemic are fed and cared for during these uncertain times. Join our campaign by donating at (https://donorbox.org/blue-jays-for-dunedincares).

ABOUT DUNEDIN BLUE JAYS

The Dunedin Blue Jays have been the Class A-Advanced Minor League affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays since 1987. Dunedin, Florida is also the home of Toronto Blue Jays Spring Training. The Dunedin Blue Jays are committed to enriching the lives of those in our local community by giving back to organizations. Through various community initiatives, we are striving to enrich the lives of our neighbors and those in need through the power of Dunedin Blue Jays baseball by promotion of education, health, and baseball within our local communities.

ABOUT DUNEDIN CARES INC.

Our goal is to ensure that our neighbors in Dunedin & surrounding communities have a caring and respectful environment to shop our pantry shelves and provide food for their families. We believe in Neighbors Helping Neighbors. Dunedin Cares, Inc. Food Pantry opened our doors on November 12, 2015. Statistics indicated that even in our delightful city of Dunedin, Florida, there were pockets of people who are “food insecure”, where children go to bed hungry and elderly choose to purchase their medication over food.

Cardinals join Minor League Baseball’s CommUNITY First Campaign

 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The Springfield Cardinals today announced they are joining MiLB CommUNITY First, a new national initiative developed by Minor League Baseball in conjunction with Feeding America, to raise funds for local food banks and to honor individuals risking their lives on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cardinals fans are encouraged to #FlyTogether and visit www.MiLB.com/CommUNITYFirst through May 31 to donate. Once on the site, fans can choose their donation amount and the Springfield Cardinals as the recipient of their donation to direct funds to the Southwest Missouri community and the Ozarks Food Harvest. For every $10 donated, the Cardinals will donate one ticket (and up to 500 tickets) to a future home game to local heroes of the pandemic.

“Springfield and all of Southwest Missouri has done such a great job coming together as a community over the past six weeks, and the donations that will come from this program will help so many avoid hunger during this difficult time,” Cardinals Vice President & General Manager Dan Reiter said. “Community is at the center of what the Cardinals are all about and what Minor League Baseball is all about. This initiative is such a perfect partner to our #FlyTogether community campaign to benefit Springfield during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.”

According to Feeding America, school closures, rising unemployment and rising poverty due to quarantine and extended stay-at-home orders have disproportionately impacted people already at risk of hunger and could result in an estimated additional 17.1 million people experiencing food insecurity in the next six months. As the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization with a network of more than 200 affiliates, Feeding America has projected a $1.4 billion shortfall in the next six months alone.

In response, contributions from Cardinals fans and Minor League Baseball will help ensure families and individuals across the country most impacted by the pandemic are fed and cared for during these uncertain times. Join the national campaign by donating and selecting Springfield Cardinals at www.MiLB.com/CommUNITYFirst and use #MiLBCommUNITYFirst on social media to show your support.

About Feeding America
Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, we provide meals to more than 40 million people each year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Everett AquaSox Join Minor League Baseball’s CommUNITY First Campaign

 

EVERETT, WA, April 29, 2020 — The Everett AquaSox today announced they are joining MiLB CommUNITY First, a new national initiative developed by Minor League Baseball™ (MiLB™) in conjunction with Feeding America®, to raise funds for local food banks and to honor individuals risking their lives on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

AquaSox fans are encouraged to visit MiLB.com/CommUNITYFirst through May 31 to donate. Once on the site, fans can choose their donation amount and the Everett AquaSox as the recipient of their donation to direct funds to the Everett community. For every $10 donated, the AquaSox will donate one ticket to a future home game this season or in 2021 to a local hero of the pandemic.

“Supporting the local community is a top priority for the AquaSox, so we are happy to join Minor League Baseball in this nationwide effort,” said AquaSox General Manager Danny Tetzlaff. “This effort will allow us to not only support our local food banks at this very difficult time, but also recognize our essential workers for all they are doing for the community.”

School closures, rising unemployment and rising poverty due to quarantine and extended stay-at-home orders have disproportionately impacted people already at risk of hunger and could result in an estimated additional 17.1 million people experiencing food insecurity in the next six months, according to Feeding America. As the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization with a network of more than 200 affiliates, Feeding America has projected a $1.4 billion shortfall in the next six months alone.

In response, contributions from AquaSox fans and Minor League Baseball will help ensure families and individuals across the country most impacted by the pandemic are fed and cared for during these uncertain times. Join the national campaign by donating and selecting Everett AquaSox at MiLB.com/CommUNITYFirst and use #MiLBCommUNITYFirst on social media to show your support.

About the Everett AquaSox

The Everett AquaSox have been the Seattle Mariners’ short-season single-A affiliate since 1995, offering affordable entertainment for families in the Pacific Northwest. To keep up with the Frogs, follow us on Instagram and Twitter, like us on Facebook or visit AquaSox.com.

About Feeding America

Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, we provide meals to more than 40 million people each year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Tampa Tarpons Join MiLB’s CommUNITY First Campaign

National initiative will raise funds for Feeding America in response to global pandemic

Tampa, Fla. – The Tampa Tarpons today announced they are joining MiLB CommUNITY First, a new national initiative developed by Minor League Baseball™ (MiLB™) in conjunction with Feeding America®, to raise funds for local food banks and to honor individuals risking their lives on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tarpons fans are encouraged to visit MiLB.com/CommUNITYFirst through May 31 to donate. Once on the site, fans can choose their donation amount and the Tampa Tarpons as the recipient of their donation to direct funds to the Tampa Bay community. For every $10 donated, the Tarpons will donate one ticket to a future home game this season or in 2021 to a local hero of the pandemic.

School closures, rising unemployment and rising poverty due to quarantine and extended stay-at-home orders have disproportionately impacted people already at risk of hunger and could result in an estimated additional 17.1 million people experiencing food insecurity in the next six months, according to Feeding America. As the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization with a network of more than 200 affiliates, Feeding America has projected a $1.4 billion shortfall in the next six months alone.

In response, contributions from Tarpons fans and Minor League Baseball will help ensure families and individuals across the country most impacted by the pandemic are fed and cared for during these uncertain times. Join the national campaign by donating and selecting Tampa Tarpons at MiLB.com/CommUNITYFirst and use #MiLBCommUNITYFirst on social media to show your support.

The Tampa Tarpons are the Single-A Advanced Affiliate of the New York Yankees. For more information, contact the Tampa Tarpons office at (813) 673-3055 or visit www.tarponsbaseball.com.

Altoona Curve join Minor League Baseball’s CommUNITY first campaign

 

CURVE, Pa. – The Altoona Curve today announced they are joining MiLB CommUNITY First, a new national initiative developed by Minor League Baseball™ (MiLB™) in conjunction with Feeding America®, to raise funds for local food banks and to honor individuals risking their lives on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Curve fans are encouraged to visit MiLB.com/CommUNITYFirst through May 31 to donate. Once on the site, fans can choose their donation amount and the Altoona Curve as the recipient of their donation to direct funds to the Altoona community. For every $10 donated, the Curve will donate one ticket to a future home game this season or in 2021 to a local hero of the pandemic.

School closures, rising unemployment and rising poverty due to quarantine and extended stay-at-home orders have disproportionately impacted people already at risk of hunger and could result in an estimated additional 17.1 million people experiencing food insecurity in the next six months, according to Feeding America. As the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization with a network of more than 200 affiliates, Feeding America has projected a $1.4 billion shortfall in the next six months alone.

In response, contributions from Curve fans and Minor League Baseball will help ensure families and individuals across the country most impacted by the pandemic are fed and cared for during these uncertain times. Join the national campaign by donating and selecting Altoona Curve at MiLB.com/CommUNITYFirst and use #MiLBCommUNITYFirst on social media to show your support.

About Feeding America

Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, we provide meals to more than 40 million people each year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

The Altoona Curve, 2010 and 2017 Eastern League Champions, have been the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates since 1999. For tickets or more information, visit AltoonaCurve.com, call 877.99.CURVE or stop by the PNG Field box office. Additionally, the Stockyard Team Store is open online 24/7/365_. _

**-CURVE-**

Fan Donations to Benefit Local Food Bank, Provide Free Ticket to Local Heroes

 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Louisville Bats, in conjunction with Minor League Baseball™ (MiLB™) today announced the launch of MiLB CommUNITY First, a new national initiative developed with Feeding America® to raise funds for local food banks and honor individuals risking their lives on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the initiative, the Louisville Bats are accepting donations that will benefit Louisville’s local Feeding America Food Bank, the Dare to Care Food Bank, and provide a free ticket for an upcoming Bats home game to a local hero.

Fans can visit MiLB.com/CommUNITYFirst through May 31 to donate. Simply select the “Louisville Bats” from the “participating team name” drop down menu on the website to activate our team’s donation to the program.

Each $10 donation will provide one ticket to a future Bats home game to a local hero, such as hospital staff, first responders, nursing home staff, grocery store employees and many others. The monetary donations will go directly to the Dare to Care Food Bank as they continue to support our community during this time of need.

Fans are also encouraged to use #MiLBCommUNITYFirst on social media to show their support.

CommUNITY First: SWB partners with MiLB

MOOSIC, PA (April 28, 2020) – The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders have announced that they are joining MiLB CommUNITY First, a new national initiative developed by Minor League Baseball™ (MiLB™) in conjunction with Feeding America®, to raise funds for local food banks and to honor individuals risking their lives on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The local benefactor is the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank in Pittston.

RailRiders fans are encouraged to visit MiLB.com/CommUNITYFirst through May 31 to donate. Once on the site, fans can choose their donation amount and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders as the recipient of their donation to direct funds to the NEPA community. For every $10 donated, the RailRiders will donate one ticket to a future home game this season or in 2021 to a local hero of the pandemic.

“In these trying times, we should do what we can to help those in need around us,” said John Adams, the RailRiders Team President. “Minor League Baseball, as an industry, has always done a great job in community-driven events and focused efforts like this. Donations to this cause will help benefit our region immensely. While we are certainly aware that times are tough financially, this is a tremendous way for those who can donate to make an impact.”

School closures, rising unemployment and rising poverty due to quarantine and extended stay-at-home orders have disproportionately impacted people already at risk of hunger and could result in an estimated additional 17.1 million people experiencing food insecurity in the next six months, according to Feeding America. As the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization with a network of more than 200 affiliates, Feeding America has projected a $1.4 billion shortfall in the next six months alone.

In response, contributions from RailRiders fans and Minor League Baseball will help ensure families and individuals across the country most impacted by the pandemic are fed and cared for during these uncertain times.

Join the national campaign by donating and selecting Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders at MiLB.com/CommUNITYFirst and use #MiLBCommUNITYFirst on social media to show your support.