The Thunder’s annual HOPE Week will take place this coming Tuesday, June 6 through Saturday, June 10 at ARM & HAMMER Park when the team hosts the Hartford Yard Goats (Colorado Rockies) and Bowie Baysox (Baltimore Orioles).
HOPE Week is a New York Yankees initiative which stands for Helping Others Perservere and Excel. Throughout the week, the Thunder will honor outstanding individuals and organizations who have positively impacted our community.
Tuesday, June 6 at 7pm vs Hartford – World War II Veteran Frank Fazzalore
The Thunder will take time to honor Silver Star and Purple Heart receipient, Frank Fazzalore, as part of the first day of HOPE Week. Fazzalore, 93, served in the US Army during World War II and will visit with Thunder players before the game on Tuesday June 6.
Wednesday, June 7 at 7pm vs Hartford – Eric LeGrand
A standout high school football player from Colonia High School in Colonia, NJ, LeGrand sustained a severe spinal cord injury during a game against Army at Met Life Stadium on October 16, 2010. In January of 2011, Rutgers University announced that LeGrand had regained movement in his shoulders and sensation throughout his body and entered the Reeve Foundation’s NeuroRecovery Network. LeGrand has become a source of inspiration, hope and perseverance for many in our region and around the world.
LeGrand will visit with Thunder players prior to the game and share his story of inspriation. Fans can have the opportunity to attend a meet and greet with LeGrand and can do so by reaching Jon Bodnar at JBodnar@TrentonThunder.com.
Thursday, June 8 at 7pm vs Harford – United Way of Mercer County
The Thunder will honor the United Way of Mercer County on the third day of their HOPE Week and support their Strike Out Hunger campaign with a food drive at ARM & HAMMER Park. Hundreds of thousands of children in the state of New Jersey are food insecure and The United Way of Mercer County aims to provide more than 200,000 meals to food banks throughout the state.
Fans attending the Thursday, June 8 game against Harford may bring non-perishable food items with them to donate to the United Way’s Strike Out Hunger campaign. Fans that donate one food item will receive a wrist band to watch Fireworks from the field after Thursday’s game. Fans that bring more than one item will receive the wrist band as well they will receive a ticket to the Thunder and Reading Fightin Phils game on Sunday, September 3.
Friday, June 9 at 7pm vs Bowie – Eden Organics Salon & Spa
Eden Organics Salon & Spa will be recognized for their Eden Cares program which provides Complimentary Salon & Spa services to clients currently receiving chemotherapy or radiation treatment for cancer. The program is available at all three Eden Organics locations, Newtown, PA, Doylestown, PA, and Allentown, NJ.
Thunder players will visit the Allentown location and learn more about the services that encourge relaxation, stress relief and incresed wellness and vitality to cancer patients. For more information visit www.EdenCares.org.
Saturday, June 10 at 7pm vs Bowie – Trenton Area Soup Kitchen
Thunder players will visit the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen and aid in their mission to feed those who are hungry in the Trenton area. TASK offers programs to encourage self-sufficiency and improve the quality of life of its patrons.
The Thunder will support TASK with a food drive on Saturday, June 10 as fans are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items with them to support TASK. Fans that bring one item to donate will receive a wrist band allowing them to watch fireworks from the field following Saturday’s game. Saturday’s fireworks show is presented by Toyota. Fans that bring more than one item will receive a wrist band and a ticket to the Thunder game on Sunday, September 3 against the Reading Fightin Phils.
For more information on HOPE Week and its honorees, contact Director of Community Affairs Vince Marcucci at VMarcucci@TrentonThunder.com.
The Thunder complete a three-game series with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (New York Mets) tonight at 7pm at ARM & HAMMER Park. Thursday’s game will air on 920 AM WNJE and online at www.TrentonThunder.com/Broadcast. For tickets and the latest information on Thunder baseball visit www.TrentonThunder.com.