community newsletter - major league baseball · page 2 vol 6, issue 1 • opening day 2018 dbacks...
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VOL 6, ISSUE 1 • OPENING DAY
COMMUNITYNEWSLETTER
CELEBRAT ING $55 M ILL ION IN CHAR ITABLE G IV ING
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
CHAIRMAN
KEN KENDRICK
PRESIDENT
MICHAEL KENNEDY
VICE PRESIDENT
DERRICK HALL
TREASURER
TOM HARRIS
SECRETARY
DEBBIE CASTALDO
ADVISORS
DEAN SHORT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MARC ASHTON
BRIAN R. BOOKER
AMY COHN
J. ERIC GUDIÑO
GARRY HAYS
DR. MICHAEL HILGERS
CULLEN MAXEY
BRAD NELSEN
JIM SCUSSEL
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS FOUNDATIONEXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
dbacks com/community
TAMMY BAKER
MARK CAVANAUGH
HAMILTON ESPINOSA
LISA FACCIO
VICKI FIORELLI
MONICA GASTON
BRETT HANSEN
GARY HANSON
TOM HATTEN
MARC ISAACS
JULIE JONES
CHRISTINA MARTINEZ
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS FOUNDATIONEXECUTIVE COUNCIL
CULLEN MAXEY
SHAWN MCCLAIN
TOM MEEKS
PAUL ORTIZ
MIKE REINA
MIKE ROSS
RACHEL SAHLMAN
DENNIS SCULLY
MAX SIRSTINS
MO STEIN
ROB VANDERHEI
KERRI WHITE
With more than $55 million in total charitable giving since our inception in 1998 – tops among all professional sports franchises in Arizona – I often talk about community impact being our business, but it goes well past that for both the D-backs and the Arizona Diamondbacks
Foundation as we celebrate our 20th anniversary.
More importantly, it is also our responsibility and proudly one that continues to grow annually.
The collaboration and donations of the D-backs, our Foundation Board, corporate partners, and our wonderful fans have empowered individuals, groups and organizations throughout the state with the all-around tools, resources and efforts to help them see their respective visions become reality, through everything from facility upgrades and scholarships to equipment donations and program grants.
It begins every spring with now-60,000 Arizona Little Leaguers and their coaches sporting complimentary, quality D-backs-branded jerseys and caps in time for their respective Opening Days. With an investment of nearly $1 million through the Foundation this year, the initiative allows the 100-plus participating leagues the ability to reallocate precious funds to offset the cost of facility upgrades and other expenses that formerly led to increases in registrations fees.
Kicking off the D-backs’ season with our signature fundraising event, Evening on the Diamond, we quickly transition into a plethora of season-long initiatives. One such program is Chase Your Dreams, where high school ballclubs including Chandler High, Coronado High, Gila Ridge High, Metro Tech High and Sierra Linda High will receive brand-new sports equipment this year through this worthwhile program with Chase that enters its fourth season of revitalizing struggling high school
baseball and softball programs.Watching the transformation of a simple patch of land into a ballfield worthy of our youngsters’ enthusiasm for the game through our “Diamonds Back” Field Building Program is truly something to behold. With the help of APS, we have been able to provide new lights, scoreboards, fencing and grass for 39 locations and counting from Prescott to Parker to Phoenix’s J.J. & Kelsey Putz Field – our first refurbished softball field.
We consider ourselves fortunate to host an annual Valley showcase for over 1,300 Native American ballplayers and 36 tribes from across the country to play in the first and only intertribal baseball and softball tournament hosted by a MLB club. And for some of those young participants, who last year came from Arizona, New Mexico, California, Mississippi and South Dakota, it was the first time leaving their tribal reservation.
Our D-backs Give Back 50/50 Raffle, presented by Arizona Lottery, raised more than $2.6 million in 2017 with approximately half going to the Foundation and half going to a fan at D-backs home games during the season. Coming up this August, FOX Sports Arizona will once again graciously open up a D-backs game telecast for their annual broadcast fundraiser, which has raised more than $2.1 million for Arizona non-profits since the program’s inception in 2001. Regardless of the individual initiatives, the overall cooperation of participating entities or the ultimate recipients themselves, the overall impact throughout our state is not about us, and it never has been. The bigger picture is – and always will be – about the betterment of our shared community and how we can all selflessly do our part.
Sincerely,
Derrick M. HallPresident & CEO
Letter from DERRICK HALL
CELEBRATING $55 MILLION IN CHARITABLE GIVING
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dbacks com/communityPAGE 2 VOL 6, ISSUE 1 • OPENING DAY 2018
EVENING ON THE DIAMOND
PAST EVENTS
The D-backs hosted their 12th annual Evening on the Diamond Event on Saturday, March 24 at Chase Field. The premier event is a perfect kick-off to the season and the fundraising supports the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation. The event chairs James “Bubba” and Blair Moffett raised a total of $3 million for programs in our community.
In a “Stars & Starlets” fashion, D-backs players, coaches, and legends were in attendance in their best western attire for a performance by country music star, Chris Lane.
The Lee T. Hanley Community Leadership Award Honoree, Stephen J. Zabilski of Society of St. Vincent De Paul was celebrated for his efforts in making a difference to improve the lives of others.
Evening on the Diamond has raised more than $20 million to support important projects and causes within the Arizona community.
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OFF IC IAL COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER OF THE AR IZONA D IAMONDBACKS
dbacks com/community PAGE 3VOL 6, ISSUE 1 • OPENING DAY 2018
D-BACKS GIVE BACK YOUTH JERSEY PROGRAM
PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT
The Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation has continued the tradition of the D-backs Give Back Youth Jersey Program, in partnership with Fry’s Food Stores, Tide and Fox Sports Arizona. In its fourth year since inception, the Little Leaguers across the valley were awarded high-quality D-backs branded uniforms and caps. This gave more than 60,000 youth baseball and softball players and their coaches the opportunity to allocate funds toward other expenses such as facility upgrades, equipment and lower registration fees. The evolution of the program has grown astronomically – one that began with simply a need to offset costs for 30 leagues has now surpassed 103 leagues across Arizona.
Each year, D-backs team players and personnel attend several Opening Day ceremonies to show support of the little leagues. Appearances were made by D-backs players, D-backs Baseball Academy, team mascot Baxter, organist Bobby Freeman and the Street Team.
We’d like to welcome the New Leagues in 2018:
American Little League
Kingman Little League
Bagdad Little League
Kingman North Little League
Chino Valley Little League
Manzanita Ball Club
Copper Hills Little League
Oro Valley Little League
Douglas Girls Amateur Softball League
Round Valley Little League
Florence Little League
Skyline Little League
Four Peaks Little League
Sunnyside Little League
Mountain View Softball Little League
Thornydale Little League
Hayden-Winkelman Little League
Tucson Mountain Little League
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dbacks com/communityPAGE 4 VOL 6, ISSUE 1 • OPENING DAY 2018
OFF IC IAL COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER OF THE AR IZONA D IAMONDBACKS
D-BACKS AUTHENTICSD-backs Authentics offers a wide array of game-used jerseys, caps, helmets, baseballs, bases, bats and more. A portion of funds from D-backs Authentics sales benefit the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation.
Shop online at dbacks.com/authentics or visit the D-backs Authentics Store, located at Section 134 at Chase Field during any 2018 D-backs home game.
HOW YOU CAN GIVE BACK
D-BACKS GIVE BACK 50/50 RAFFLE
The D-backs Give Back 50/50 Raffle, supported by Arizona Lottery, is available at every D-backs home game during the 2018 season. The charitable half of the jackpot benefits the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation to support youth baseball field development and sports outreach across the state of Arizona.
Tickets are available for 3 for $5, 10 for $10 or 80 for $20 from roving sellers in the stands and at raffle kiosks located throughout the Chase Field concourse levels.
Visit dbacks.com/raffle to learn more.
MYSTERY BALL
Support the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation by purchasing a baseball signed by one of your D-backs favorites. Fans can make a $40 donation in exchange for a Mystery Ball box containing an autographed baseball signed by D-backs players, coaches and alumni. Funds raised benefit the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation and are used to support youth sports and education initiatives.Mystery Ball sales begin when gates open at section 130. Quantities are limited.
2018 Mystery Ball Dates:Saturday, May 5th, D-backs vs. AstrosSaturday, June 30th, D-backs vs. GiantsSaturday, August 4th, D-backs vs. Giants
IN THE OFF-SEASON
D-backs pitchers Taijuan Walker and Archie Bradley present jerseys to Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix Youth of the Year winners. Back” Field—in Payson, Arizona.
D-backs Pitchers Robbie Ray and Braden Shipley give shoes to a Phoenix at D-backs Winter Classic, presented by University of Phoenix
Shelby Miller poses with membbers of Old Scottsdale Youth Baseball, a participating league in the D-backs Give Back Youth Jersey Program supported by Tide, Fry’s and Fox Sports Arizona.
Baxter plays with a Boys & Girls Club member at the D-backs/MLB All-Star Branch of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix