Tribe Front Office Volunteers with Sand Creek Fourth Graders

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INDIANAPOLIS – Today the Indianapolis Indians spent the day with the fourth graders of Sand Creek Elementary School. The Tribe front office volunteered their time teaching Junior Achievement’s JA In A Day curriculum on owning and operating a business.

Indianapolis Indians volunteers taught Junior Achievement’s hands-on, interactive curriculum to fourth grade students about personal finance, career paths, entrepreneurship and employability skills. A total of six classrooms participated from Sand Creek Elementary, impacting more than 120 students.

“The Indianapolis Indians fully support Junior Achievement’s mission of preparing Central Indiana youth for a future career, no matter the path,” said Indianapolis Indians President and General Manager Randy Lewandowski. “There’s nothing more important than an education. We’re committed to supporting the children in our community by volunteering and providing resources to help them grow into our leaders of tomorrow.”

“JA is thrilled to have established a strong partnership with the Indianapolis Indians to educate and inspire students to own their future success. This JA Day event is an exciting opportunity to make a big difference in the lives of these young students in a single day,” said Jennifer Burk, JA’s President and CEO.

Indianapolis Indians season tickets, multi-game plans and tickets for groups are now available. Single-game tickets go on sale Friday, February 28 at 10 AM.

To purchase, visit IndyIndians.com or call the Victory Field Box Office at (317) 269-3545.

About the Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are the professional Triple-A baseball club affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. In continuous operation since 1902, the organization believes in creating affordable and memorable experiences for fans so they can grow closer together with family, friends and the community through the game of baseball. The Indians play their home games at Victory Field, a 13,750-seat ballpark located in downtown Indianapolis and White River State Park. The venue opened in 1996 and has received numerous national accolades as one of the best minor league ballparks in the United States. The team has led Minor League Baseball in combined total attendance over the past 10 seasons. In 2018, the organization was recognized as Ballpark Digest Team of the Year. It was also named a 2019 Best Places to Work by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.

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

Modesto Nuts Release 2019 Community Impact Report

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The report covers the 2019 fiscal year and discloses the Nuts contributions of over $375,000 to community related programs.

“Our community is the backbone of everything we do, without it we cannot exist.” said Zach Brockman, General Manager of the Modesto Nuts. “In the coming years, we will be continuing to increase our community footprint and we invite all of our current and potential partners to join us in this initiative.”

With the help of The Parks Group and Mocse Credit Union, the Modesto Nuts Reading Program involved around over 80 schools and over 35,000 local students. The Reading Program motivated children to reach their reading goals by offering performance-based incentives from Save Mart, Chuck E. Cheese, Taco Bell, and The Modesto Nuts.

Non-profit organizations and little leagues used the Modesto Nuts ticket fundraising program to generate much needed funds. Additionally, the Nuts donated gift baskets which included game tickets, premium suites & autographed memorabilia to over 200 different local charities.

Modesto Nuts players, coaching staff, and front office donated their time generously to different organizations throughout the community. From school career fairs, to little league opening days, and much more; the Modesto Nuts were able to teach important values such as chasing dreams, having integrity and working hard for what they want.

In back to back years, the Modesto Nuts have doubled their community appearances. For more information on how you can have a Modesto Nuts representative at your event, please head to our Community Appearance Page.

CLICK HERE for the full 2019 Community Impact Report

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About the Nuts:

The Modesto Nuts Professional Baseball team is the California League Class A-Advanced Affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. The Modesto Nuts is the Central Valley’s place for family, fun, affordable entertainment. For more information on season tickets, group rates, sponsorships and more visit modestonuts.com or call 209-572-HITS (4487).

Appalachian League releases 2019 community report

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Appalachian League today announced it surpassed $2.3 million in charitable contributions for the 2019 calendar year. The multi-million dollar figure is a culmination of all community involvement from the ten teams in the Advanced-Rookie league, as well as efforts from the Appalachian League office.

“As a league, we appreciate the opportunity to give back and to enhance the communities that have supported our member clubs for more than 100 years,” said League President Dan Moushon.

Appalachian League executives, staff members, players, coaches, and umpires spent more than 7,600 hours volunteering in their communities across more than 220 events. Additionally, organizations partnered with five Minor League Baseball national charity partners and hosted local activations for five MiLB community initiatives.

More information about the Appalachian League’s 2019 community initiatives and charitable contributions can be viewed in the official 2019 report available here.

The 2020 Appalachian League season begins on June 22. Fans can view the complete schedule at appyleague.com.

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

Grizzlies Give Back More Than $1M in 2019

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Chukchansi Park thrived in 2019, playing home to more than 135 non-profit events, with a total of nearly 25,000 attendees. The Grizzlies also gave more than $1 million in monetary and in-kind donations, which was the most in Minor League Baseball’s Triple-A Pacific Coast League.

The Fresno Grizzlies take pride in assisting, rewarding and supporting worthwhile causes throughout the Central Valley. In 2019, the Grizzlies and Chukchansi Park were grateful to help out so many individuals and organizations.

“Giving back to the community is in our DNA at the Fresno Grizzlies, and these efforts extend far beyond the baseball diamond,” said Madeline Hamada, Community Engagement Manager. “Grizzlies’ programs and community initiatives are helping fulfill our vision of giving back and making the Central Valley a better place to live.”

Non-profit events held at the ballpark included the Cen Cal Fury softball clinic, the Downtown Academy graduation, the Valley Children’s water safety presentation and the Exceptional Needs Formal. Also, the Fresno American Indian Health Project company retreat, Valley PBS end-of-year awards and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk held their events in the friendly confines of Chukchansi Park.

“The Grizzlies are an integral part of Downtown Fresno and we are so thankful for the team’s exceptional community contributions,” stated Lee Brand, Fresno mayor. “The array of events that Chukchansi Park hosted last year clearly demonstrate the organization’s dedication to the City and its residents.”

Besides these non-profit events, the Grizzlies continued a trio of programs with amazing community benefits. Junior Grizzlies, a 10-week, non-competitive, adaptive baseball league for children and adults with mental and physical disabilities had more than 160 children and adults participate during the 2019 season. Wild About Reading, which incentivizes students to read frequently celebrated its 16th season in 2019. Since 2012, Wild About Reading has reached 95,000 students with more than 160 schools involved. Finally, Making the Grade allows area schools to reward hard-working students with an afternoon at Chukchansi Park. Nearly 20,000 students and 224 schools participated this year.

Overall, the Grizzlies gave $1,038,310 in monetary and in-kind donations during 2019. $65,500 was raised in ticket fundraisers for non-profits and little leagues, $11,500 was earned through theme jersey auctions, $10,530 was raised through food donations to the Poverello House through the Zero Waste Policy and $10,500 was awarded in Farm Grown Scholarships. On top of that, the Grizzlies front office spent 400 plus hours volunteering around the Central Valley. If you would like to help around your community, join one of these amazing events or be apart of helping the Grizzlies in 2020, click here to learn more.

#Growlifornia

ABOUT THE FRESNO GRIZZLIES

The Fresno Grizzlies, Triple-A affiliate of the 2019 World Series Champion Washington Nationals, are a member of the 16-team Pacific Coast League (PCL) and one of 30 clubs in the world playing the highest level of Minor League Baseball. The team plays at Chukchansi Park in Downtown Fresno, which is also a year-round community venue, hosting a myriad of other special events beyond Grizzlies’ games, such as concerts, festivals, high school baseball and over 100 non-profit community events every year. The Grizzlies enter the 2020 season – their 23rd in Fresno – on the momentum of the fifth championship in 10 years by their big league affiliate. The team celebrated their own PCL title in 2015.

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

Kane County Cougars Baseball Foundation, Inc. Releases 2019 Annual Report

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GENEVA, Ill. – The Kane County Cougars Baseball Foundation, Inc. proudly presents the 5th Annual Report to the Community detailing the organization’s charitable outreach in 2019. Each year, the report lists the extensive accomplishments of the Foundation as well as the notable programs coordinated by the Cougars.

It was another record-setting year for the Cougars Foundation as giving exceeded the $1 million mark, making 2019 the second consecutive year charitable giving was above the $1 million milestone. In addition, the Cougars moved into the top five among all Minor League Baseball (MiLB) teams in charitable giving following the release of the MiLB Charity Report for 2018. The Cougars are currently ranked fifth out of all 160 teams, marking the second consecutive year the team was ranked in the top ten for charitable giving.

The Foundation achieved additional milestones as the five-year record giving streak has soared over 1,500% since 2014. Individual programs supported by the Foundation have reached a total of 24, while cash contributions were provided to 32 community organizations, the largest number of programs and organizations that have benefited from the Foundation in its history. Program highlights include the Cougars Reading Club which now reaches over 450 schools and 138,000 students with the Summer Reading Program now including 89 libraries and over 5,400 student participants. The Foundation also operates two scholarship programs, issuing grade school level scholarships to six local students and five college-level scholarships. Military Outreach continued to see growth, reaching over 1,100 current and former military service members while the Senior Citizens Outreach touched over 2,500 local seniors age 65 and over.

In addition to the expansion of current programs, new programs were added such as Mental Health and Deaf Awareness Night. The Foundation teamed up with local charities that focus on improving the quality of lives for those who deal with mental illness and hearing impairments. For each strikeout recorded by a Cougars pitcher during select nights, the Foundation made a donation with a portion of the total proceeds benefiting the selected charities.

The highlight of the year for the Foundation came at Baseball Winter Meetings in San Diego, Calif. Ballpark Digest selected the Cougars Foundation out of all 160 MiLB teams to receive the prestigious Ballpark Digest Commitment to Charity Award for the 2019 season. Following the announcement that the Cougars had been selected, the Foundation received a congratulatory message from NASDAQ on the famous MarketSite Tower that illuminates Times Square. This marked the first time a MiLB Foundation was featured on the MarketSite Tower.

Across all 24 programs, the Kane County Cougars Baseball Foundation’s charitable giving reached a total of $1,054,980.

“None of these accomplishments would be possible without the commitment of our Foundation’s sponsors, donors and partners,” said Cougars owner Dr. Bob Froehlich. “Their willingness to step up for our community is seen each and every year that we’re able to expand our outreach. It’s amazing to watch the impact of the Foundation stretch far beyond the baseball field.”

About the Kane County Cougars

The Cougars, Class-A Minor League affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, have been at the forefront of family-friendly entertainment since 1991. In 2015, the franchise became the first Class-A team in Minor League Baseball history to welcome 11 million fans through the gates. A total of 180 former Cougars have reached the Major Leagues including Miguel Cabrera, Nelson Cruz, Josh Beckett, Adrian Gonzalez and Kyle Schwarber and Willson Contreras.

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

Shorebirds Participate in Wreaths Across America

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SALISBURY, MD – Last month the Delmarva Shorebirds had the chance to participate in one of the crown jewels of the Eastern Shore community service calendar. The Shorebirds participated in the annual Wreaths Across America drive, held locally at Parsons Cemetery in Salisbury on Saturday morning, December 14.

“Being involved in the community is a top priority for the Shorebirds,” said general manager Chris Bitters. “This is a wonderful project, both locally and nationally, and we’re glad to have been even more involved this year than we have in the past.”

The mission of Wreaths Across America is to “Remember, Honor, and Teach.” Through a coordinated national effort, hundreds of volunteers placed wreaths on the graves of fallen members of the U.S. military throughout all 50 states.

Following a brief ceremony to mark the occasion at Parsons Cemetery, over 200 local volunteers, including eight members of the Shorebirds front office, placed wreaths on 900 tombstones of veterans from each branch of the armed forces. In addition, the Shorebirds donated $3,000 to Wreaths Across America to help ensure the program continues in its mission for years to come.

“It’s always important for the Shorebirds to participate in their community,” said assistant general manager Jimmy Sweet, “but at this time of the year I think we should always pay tribute to those who laid down their lives to make sure we can be a free people and do what we want in our country.”

The Delmarva Shorebirds salute Wreaths Across America and are grateful to have this yearly chance to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice upon the alter of freedom.

 

Delmarva Shorebirds
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The Delmarva Shorebirds are the Class-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. The Shorebirds are owned by 7th Inning Stretch, LP, which also owns the Stockton Ports of the California League and the Everett AquaSox of the Northwest League.

The Shorebirds will celebrate their 25th season in 2020 and have entertained over five million fans since beginning play at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium in Salisbury, Maryland in 1996. The team captured South Atlantic League titles in 1997 and 2000 and successfully hosted the South Atlantic League All-Star Game in 1999 and 2011.

For more information on the Shorebirds, call 410-219-3112 or visit theshorebirds.com.

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

Pulaski Yankees release 2019 charitable contributions

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PULASKI, Va. – The Pulaski Yankees today announced the organization made over $282,000 in charitable contributions during the 2019 calendar year, an increase of over $250,000 from 2018. Through the new Calfee Cares community relations program, the Yankees made $253,587 in gift in kind donations and $28,833 in cash donations from in-stadium fundraising efforts.

“When we introduced Calfee Cares in May of 2019, our goal was to prioritize our community relations efforts and continually find and create opportunities to give back to the fans, businesses, and community organizations in Pulaski who support us all season long,” said Pulaski Yankees General Manager Betsy Haugh. “We could not be more thrilled with the results from 2019 and the contributions our organization and players made last season.”

Yankees players and staff members totaled 536 hours in volunteer efforts and community appearances during 2019 across more than 35 different events, including the Yankees’ annual HOPE Week (Helping Others Persevere & Excel) initiative presented by Gay & Neel, Inc.

22 of the team’s 34 regular-season home games had a community tie, most notably Agriculture Night 2.0 presented by Farm Credit of the Virginias which led to a $4,250 donation to the Virginia Tech Agriculture Extension and Pulaski County 4-H, and fan favorites such as Heroes Night (SERVPRO of Pulaski County) and Military Appreciation Night (Pulaski Health & Rehabilitation Center).

The Yankees participated in five MiLB Charities national initiatives, including Sun Safety Awareness (American Cancer Society), Domestic Violence Awareness (Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation), Stars & Stripes Caps (New Era Cap Co.), MiLB CommUNITY (Allegiant Airlines), and Hope at Bat (American Cancer Society).

Calfee Park also hosted three community-focused special events – the first-ever Pulaski Yankees 5K benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Virginia, Homers for Hearts benefitting the American Heart Association, and Guns and Hoses benefitting the New River Valley Agency on Aging.

Additionally, the Yankees began partnerships with the American Cancer Society (also an MiLB Charity Partner) and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Virginia, joining a lineup of local community partners that includes Shelor Motor Mile Growing the Future and the Pulaski County 4-H.

“Our community partnerships are so important to us and our efforts to give back to the community,” Haugh said. “We look forward to working with these four again in 2020 and introducing a few new community partnerships for the coming season.”

Including Pulaski’s $282,420, the Appalachian League’s reported contributions from 2019 total $2,347,712.

Season tickets and flex packs are now on sale for the 2020 Pulaski Yankees season, which gets underway at Motor Mile Field at Calfee Park on June 22. Tickets can be purchased online at pulaskiyankees.net, by phone at (540) 980-1070, or in person at the Calfee Park offices. Individual game tickets will go on sale on April 1.

The Pulaski Yankees are the Advanced Rookie level affiliate of the New York Yankees playing in the Appalachian League. Pulaski is celebrating its 54th season in the Appalachian League in 2019. Calfee Park has won league championships in 1948, 1969, 1986, 1991 and 2013. Motor Mile Field at Calfee Park opened in 1935 and was renovated for the team’s first season as a Yankees affiliate in 2015. The Pulaski Yankees were named the recipient of the John H. Johnson President’s Award, Minor League Baseball’s top honor, in 2019. For more information, please visit www.pulaskiyankees.net or follow the Pulaski Yankees on social media, @PulaskiYanks (Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram). This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Timber Rattlers Release 2019 Charity Report

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gwinnett Stripers Accepting Grant Applications for 2020

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LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Gwinnett Stripers, in conjunction with the Atlanta Braves Foundation, are now accepting applications for the 2020 Stripers Grant Program. The program will award a $2,500 grant to a different nonprofit organization each month from May through August.

Each month will focus on a different category of nonprofit organizations, all fitting within the Atlanta Braves Foundation’s pillars of “Live, Learn, Play, and Serve.” The four categories are:

  • May: Military programs
  • June: Health and wellness programs
  • July: Service-oriented programs
  • August: Youth programs

Interested nonprofit organizations may apply online at GoStripers.com/grants through March 1. Organizations deemed qualified will be contacted by the Stripers to provide supporting documents by March 23. One organization will be selected by the Stripers as the recipient of a $2,500 grant each month and will be recognized during a Stripers game at Coolray Field.

The Stripers have partnered with the Atlanta Braves Foundation to award grants to nonprofits since 2009, totaling $185,000 in donations over 11 seasons. After awarding $1,000 grants from 2009 to 2018, the Stripers increased the total to $2,500 in 2019, donating to four organizations: Operation Homefront, Good Samaritan Health Center of Gwinnett, Mending the Gap Inc., and Spectrum Autism Support Group.

“The Stripers Grant Program is central to our goal of making a lasting impact in Gwinnett County,” said Stripers Vice President and General Manager Adam English. “We look forward to continued success in improving our community through support of local nonprofit organizations and their essential missions.”

For more information on the Grant Program and all other Stripers community initiatives, visit GoStripers.com/community.

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

 

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 Set New Records for Charitable Giving

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INDIANAPOLIS – For the third consecutive year, the Indianapolis Indians set a franchise record for total charitable giving. Including monetary donations and in-kind contributions, the Tribe gave back $583,623 to community organizations in fiscal year 2019. The Indians operate with a fiscal year of October 1-September 30.

Earlier this offseason, the team announced a new 501(C)(3) organization, Indianapolis Indians Charities, focused on uplifting Central Indiana youth and families through partnerships with local nonprofits who work in youth development, family success, education and neighborhood development.

Of the $583,623 in charitable contributions in 2019, $307,823 came from monetary donations to community events and in-stadium fundraising during Tribe games. The other $275,800 came from gifts in-kind of donated tickets, merchandise and mascot appearances.

“The Indians have been a community asset for a long time, and we continue to value our role in giving back,” said Indians President and General Manager Randy Lewandowski. “One of the most impactful ways we work with our partners is providing them the platform of Victory Field and the nearly 600,000 fans that attend home games each season. Now we’re finding new ways to work outside our walls, like Indianapolis Indians Charities and the continued dedication of our staff volunteering their time around Central Indiana.”

The Indians front office volunteered for 40 organizations in 2019, totaling more than 1,486 hours, another team record. The club instituted a staff volunteer program last season that allows employees to volunteer for local organizations during office hours throughout the year. Tribe players also got involved, making 40 appearances for 175 service hours.

Fans were instrumental in two initiatives in 2019-specialty jersey auctions and Thirsty Thursdays at Victory Field. The Indians auctioned off eight specialty jerseys for themes ranging from the team’s new Circle City alternate logo to MARVEL Super Heroes to Indy 500 Night to Stars & Stripes on Independence Day. Fan participation from the auctions drove the total donation for the season to nearly $55,500, another franchise record.

Thirsty Thursdays also received strong fan support in 2019. The new promotion offered discounted soda and draft domestic, premium and craft beer, including $1 from every Sun King craft beer purchase going to a different local nonprofit every Thursday night. The Tribe donated nearly $10,000 to eight non-profits through the Thursday promotion.

Tickets for the 2020 season of Indianapolis Indians baseball are on sale now in full- and half-season plans, plus mini and flex plans. Groups can also purchase tickets for the new Elements Financial Club, a social VIP space scheduled to open in time for Opening Night on Thursday, April 9. Single-game tickets go on sale March 1.

For more on the Indianapolis Indians, visit IndyIndians.com.

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

BlueClaws Charities Releases 2019 Community Impact Report

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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.

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

Hartford Yard Goats Win Top Community Award from Minor League Baseball

Here is a link to the original story on the team’s website.

Yard Goats Win John Henry Moss Award for Top Community Service Team in Minor League Baseball

Hartford, Conn- The Hartford Yard Goats Baseball Club, the Double-A Eastern League Affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, has won the top community award from Minor League Baseball in 2019, the John Henry Moss Community Service Award. The award is given to the club which demonstrates an outstanding, ongoing commitment to charitable service, support and leadership. The Yard Goats were selected from a field of 160 minor league clubs across America and are the youngest franchise ever to win the award in just their third season at Dunkin’ Donuts Park. The John Henry Moss Award will be presented by Minor League Baseball in December at the 2019 Baseball Winter Meetings in San Diego, California.

“When we were creating the Hartford Yard Goats brand, we spent a great deal of time talking about the kind of organization we wanted to be,” Yard Goats team owner Josh Solomon said. “We wanted our actions and our commitment to community to be so demonstrative that people associated us as much with our philanthropy as our baseball. Our community programs are vital to the Yard Goats organization, and we feel that it is our job to welcome in our neighbors and connect them with professionals who offer training, career, and higher education opportunities so they can reach their goals.”

The Yard Goats established the “Aetna Community Center” at Dunkin’ Donuts Park as a base for several youth community programs sponsored by the Yard Goats. These programs include the Young Ambassadors Program, Youth Performing Arts Program, Youth Culinary Arts Program, Fitness Program, and Dance Team.

The Yard Goats open the 2020 season on April 9th (7:10 PM) against the Red Sox affiliate, the Portland Sea Dogs. Yard Goats season tickets are available by calling 860-246-GOAT (4628), or in person by visiting the Click It or Ticket Box Office at Dunkin’ Donuts Park.

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

San Jose Giants Release 2019 Community Report

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

The San Jose Giants released today their 2019 Community Report. The report serves as an overview of the organization’s community outreach, charitable fundraising efforts, youth development, in-stadium service and community events hosted at Municipal Stadium as well as a ‘thank you’ to all fans, partners, players and staff members.

“We are extremely blessed to open the Excite Ballpark gates to the best fans and partners in all of Minor League Baseball. The passion and loyalty displayed by our community is the inspiration behind every San Jose Giants home game and community event.,” said Daniel Orum, San Jose Giants President and CEO. “We are eager to continue the momentum next year and are working hard to bring an even better experience to Excite Ballpark in 2020.”

 

The 2019 Community Report demonstrates the club’s activity in the community and overall pledge to giving back both inside and outside the stadium’s gates. Highlights of the report include information about Giants player and mascot appearances, staff volunteer efforts, Excite Credit Union Hometown Heroes, special fundraising programs, Minor League Baseball community initiatives, in-stadium service, San Jose Giants baseball and more. For the complete 2019 San Jose Giants Community Report, click on the link below.

For more information on the San Jose Giants and how to get your organization involved next season, call 408.297.1435 or visit sjgiants.com.

View 2019 Community Report

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

Jumbo Shrimp help package 50,000 meals for Rise Against Hunger

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Members of the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp’s front office volunteered at Maxwell House Wednesday to help package 50,000 meals for Rise Against Hunger’s packaging event.

“We are thankful to have been included in such a great event,” said Jumbo Shrimp Director of Community Relations Andrea Williams. “We’re proud to partner with our neighbors at the Maxwell House to be able to do something so impactful! At our very core, we strive to be great community stewards and give back to a community that gives us so much.”

Over two hours, the Jumbo Shrimp packaged meals of 23 essential vitamins and nutrients, vegetables, soy protein and white rice. The event was the first in the offseason for the club’s annual #ShrimpService.

Rise Against Hunger supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to end hunger by 2030. The organization works in four focus areas as its Pathways to End Hunger: Nourishing Lives, Empowering Communities, Responding to Emergencies and Growing the Movement.

ABOUT THE JUMBO SHRIMP: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp offer affordable family fun at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. Their inaugural season garnered the Southern League’s Don Mincher Organization of the Year, Promotional Trophy and Jimmy Bragan Executive of the Year, won by General Manager Harold Craw. The club added its second Promotional Trophy in three years following the 2019 season. To experience the excitement with the terrific value of ticket and group options, call the Jumbo Shrimp at (904) 358-2846 or visit www.jaxshrimp.com.

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