ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER
CELEBRATING $67 MILLION IN CHARITABLE GIVING VOL 8, ISSUE 1• FEBRUARY 2020
Letter from DERRICK HALL ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Dear fans: As we look ahead in 2020, our players are not the CHAIRMAN only individuals excited about their new uniforms for KEN KENDRICK While our the upcoming season. Valley youths will also debut organization is attire as part of our wildly successful D-backs Youth PRESIDENT dedicated to Jersey program in partnership with Steward Health, MICHAEL KENNEDY striving for success Tide and Fry’s Food Stores. The initiative, which VICE PRESIDENT on the field, our will once again help offset jersey and cap costs for DERRICK HALL more life-altering more than 65,000 Arizona Little Leaguers through TREASURER and enduring complimentary, high-quality D-backs tops and caps, impact comes off will blossom to an all-time-high 121 leagues this TOM HARRIS it through the work year. SECRETARY of the Arizona DEBBIE CASTALDO Diamondbacks The D-backs Girls Play Ball program, supported ADVISORS Foundation. Last season, the charitable arm of our by Insight Technology Solutions, returns for year organization exceeded the $65-million mark in total two after welcoming over 250 girls and young DEAN SHORT giving back to the Arizona community – a 20-plus- women to Chase Field last season for a series of big BOARD OF DIRECTORS year tradition that continues well after the final out of league baseball clinics which honed more than just MARC ASHTON our regular season. athletic skills. Through team-building exercises, the complimentary program empowers girls with the BRIAN R. BOOKER At our 22nd annual D-backs Winter Classic on confidence, self-esteem and leadership capacity to AMY COHN December 5, we welcomed over 700 Valley children help succeed in the classroom and in life. AMY GIBBONS to Chase Field for an afternoon of activities, including J. ERIC GUDIÑO a visit from Santa Claus, a petting zoo, and promoting Education-focused initiatives have long been a focal the appreciation, understanding and passion of the point for the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation. GARRY HAYS science and mathematics behind this game we love Through our Most Valuable Teachers program, 50 DR. MICHAEL HILGERS through STEM activation. In addition to interacting Arizona educators are honored annually, with each CULLEN MAXEY with team legend and Hall of Famer Randy Johnson, receiving $1,000 for their classroom. And then one of BRAD NELSEN fellow special assistant to the President & CEO J.J. them – like Wilson College Prep’s George Cardenas in Putz, D-backs pitchers Robbie Ray and Merrill Kelly, 2019 – is also selected as the D-backs’ Most Valuable ADRIA RENKE manager Torey Lovullo and his wife Kristen, and Teacher of the Year. D-backs infielder Eduardo ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS FOUNDATION coaches Robby Hammock, Dave McKay and Luis Escobar broke the good news to the physics teacher EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Urueta, each child in attendance also received gifts in person, also awarding him a $5,000 grant – our TAMMY BAKER JUDD NORRIS including a new D-backs sweatshirt, backpack, shoes 1,363rd grant given to non-profit organizations to the and books. tune of over $6 million since 1998. MARK CAVANAUGH PATRICK PAUL
HAMILTON ESPINOSA DOMINIC OROZCO Since 2014, our Homeward Bound Shopping Spree We welcome the start of a new year and new has helped make the holidays a bit more bright for opportunities to make a difference throughout our VICKI FIORELLI PAUL ORTIZ families battling homelessness. Two weeks before wonderful community. Christmas, D-backs players Archie Bradley, Carson BRETT HANSEN MIKE REINA Kelly and Josh Rojas accompanied 34 teenagers Go D-backs! TOM HATTEN MIKE ROSS from the Phoenix non-profit to pick out $250 in gifts for the youngsters’ parents and siblings. The very MARC ISAACS RACHEL SAHLMAN next night, the MLB All-Star Arizona Diamondbacks Boys & Girls Club in South Phoenix hosted our youth JULIE JONES DENNIS SCULLY holiday party for 250 kids and their families with DAN KETCHERSIDE MAX SIRSTINS games, gifts, crafts and food. Sincerely, Derrick M. Hall CHRISTINA MARTINEZ MO STEIN President & CEO CULLEN MAXEY ROB VANDERHEI
LESLIE MULLOY KERRI WHITE CELEBRATING $67 MILLION IN CHARITABLE GIVING TOM MEEKS
dbacks.com/community EVENT SPOTLIGHT
D-BACKS CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS WITH A SERIES OF COMMUNITY EVENTS
WINTER CLASSIC In it’s 22nd year, the D-backs Winter Classic hosted at Chase Field brought more than 700 children from around the Valley as they received a new backpack, sweatshirt, shoes and books for the holidays. D-backs executives, coaches, players, broadcasters and legends were on hand to make it a memorable day for the students.
HOMEWARD BOUND SHOPPING SPREE
D-backs players Archie Bradley, Carson Kelly and Josh Rojas and Special Assistant to the President & CEO, J.J. Putz joined D-backs employees to host 28 Homeward Bound children ages 13-18 to shop for gifts for their parents and siblings as well as supplies for school or a warm outfit. D-backs employees, players and alumni were paired one-on-one with teens in Homeward Bound’s transitional housing program and were given $250 to shop for needed items and to make the holiday season a little brighter.
HOLIDAY PARTY AT BOYS & GIRLS CLUB D-backs players Archie Bradley, Carson Kelly, Josh Rojas and Kevin Cron joined Baxter, Bobby Freeman and D-backs staff to make the holiday season extra special for nearly 250 kids and their families at the MLB All-Star Arizona Diamondbacks Boys & Girls Club. The evening consisted of games, gifts, crafts, food courtesy of Raising Cane’s and each member received a toy from Santa’s Workshop.
PAGE 2 VOL 8, ISSUE 1• FEBRUARY 2020 dbacks.com/community OFFICIAL COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER OF THE ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT
YOUTH JERSEY PROGRAM
The Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation, in partnership with Fry’s Food Stores, Tide, and Steward Health established the D-backs Give Back Youth Jersey Program, providing youth baseball and softball leagues across Arizona with high-quality jerseys and caps at no cost. The Youth Jersey Program has significantly offset diminishing resources and has allowed participating leagues to reallocate funds toward equipment, registration fees and facility improvements. The program in itself supports 65,000 players and coaches across Arizona and now supports 121 different leagues, an all-time high. New leagues for the 2020 season include the following:
Ahwatukee Foothills PONY Baseball Association Pinal Mountain Little League Silver Creek Little League Blue Ridge Little League Sierra Vista Ponytail Little League Softball Tanque Verde Little League Las Nina’s Baja Fastpitch Softball Ponytail Little League Softball Tucson Challenger Little League Mountain View Little League Prescott Girls Softball Association White Tanks Little League Page Little League San Carlos Little League
GIRLS PLAY BALL
The Arizona Diamondbacks and Insight have teamed up to host a girls program dedicated to providing girls and young women the opportunity to get involved in baseball. This philanthropic and panels led by female leaders and male program was developed based on growing allies. Each participant in the free program evidence that women and girls who play with a baseball glove, cap, t-shirt, drawstring sports are increasingly likely to excel on both bag and game tickets. the playing field and in life. The immersive program is a free baseball initiative for girls Geared towards girls in grades four through that promotes empowering girls and young nine, participants can register for the program women, which allows a new generation of at dbacks.com/gpb. Registrations are due by girls to experience the many benefits of sports March 31, 2020. participation including increased confidence, improved health and enhanced academic NOTE: Space in the program is limited; success. interest does not guarantee participation in each event. Players of all skills and abilities The free program includes big league baseball will be notified directly to confirm their clinics at Chase Field, hosted by D-backs participation and to facilitate next steps. Academy and volunteer coaches, a D-backs Additional events may be added, if player Science of Baseball STEM Camp and seminars registration exceeds program allotment.
dbacks.com/community VOL 8, ISSUE 1 • FEBRUARY 2020 PAGE 3 OFFICIAL COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER OF THE ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS IN THE COMMUNITY
MOST VALUABLE TEACHER The D-backs Most Valuable Teacher Program has recognized 200 teachers as D-backs MVTs since the program’s inception in 2016. The program has provided $220,000 worth of grants to help with classroom supplies. On Tuesday, September 24, 2019, Eduardo Escobar visited Wilson College Prep in Phoenix where he surprised physics teacher George Cardenas, with the Teacher of the Year Award and a check for $5,000 for classroom supplies.
The program will recognize ten teachers, as MVT’s each month from April to August. Each winner will receive $1,000 for classroom supplies. The Teacher of the Year will be named in September. Nominations will take place from March until July on dbacks.com/mvt.
HOW YOU CAN GIVE BACK PROGRAM GRANTS D-BACKS GIVE BACK 50/50 RAFFLE The Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation awarded 53 non-profit organizations Program The D-backs Give Back 50/50 Raffle, supported Grants totaling $259,560 in 2019. Since by Arizona Lottery, is 1998, the Foundation has awarded 1,363 available at every D-backs Program Grants totaling $6,023,119. home game during the 2020 season. 1N10 Inc. dba one-n-ten Tickets are available Agape Acres from roving sellers in the stands, at a Andre House of Arizona, Inc. raffle kiosk located along the concourse behind Arizona Burn Foundation section 134, online at dbacks.com/5050raffle Arizona Council on Economic Education and on the MLB Ballpark app. The charitable Arizona Friends of Foster Children half of the jackpot benefits the Arizona Foundation for Blind Children Diamondbacks Foundation to support youth Arizona Helping Hands GAP Ministries baseball field development and sports outreach Assistance League of East Valley Girl Scouts across the state of Arizona. Assistance League of Phoenix Paradise Valley Emergency Food Bank Visit dbacks.com/raffle to learn more. AZCEND Habitat for Humanity Tucson Be a Leader Foundation Human Services Campus FOLLOW D-BACKS GIVE BACK ON SOCIAL Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central IMPACT of Southern Arizona Arizona Support the Arizona M.E.S.A. Program (Making Every Student Diamondbacks Foundation Boys & Girls Clubs of the Casa Grande Accountable) by following the D-backs Valley Maggie’s Place Inc. Community and Arizona Boys Hope Girls Hope of Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation Maryvale Revitalization Corporation social accounts on Brighter Way Institute Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank Facebook and Twitter.
Cancer Support Community Arizona McDowell Sonoran Land Conservancy Catholic Charities Community Services Mission of Mercy Central Arizona Shelter Services North Phoenix Christian Soccer Club twitter.com/DbacksGiveBack facebook.com/DbacksGiveBack/ #DbacksGiveBack Child Crisis Arizona Open Hearts Family Wellness Children’s Museum Tucson RYAN HOUSE APPLY FOR A GRANT Crowns of Courage Sahuarita Food Bank Desert Mission Society of St. Vincent de Paul The Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation distributes Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health funds to our community non-profit organizations Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center through our Community Grants and Ken Arizona Southwest Kids Cancer Foundation Inc. Kendrick Grand Slam Awards programs. The Diaper Bank of Southern Arizona Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation conducts Transplant Community Alliance, fka New Life the Community Grants and Ken Kendrick Grand East Valley Adult Resources Society Slam Awards annually. Any 501(c)3 non-profit East Valley JCC organization in Arizona is welcome to apply. UMOM New Day Centers Each fall, the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation Echoing Hope Ranch United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona announces the final determinations. For more Elevate Phoenix Youth On Their Own information and to fill out your application, please Flagstaff Shelter Services visit dbacks.com/grants.
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