PAPILLION, NEB. – The Omaha Storm Chasers are proud of the impact the team and front office have made off the field across the Omaha metro since June, volunteering more than 200 hours and supporting nearly 25 organizations between June and July. Chasers in the Community, presented by Chick-fil-A Bellevue, highlights that work throughout the season, anchored by signature events like Chasers Community Week.
"Community is at the core of most everything we do at the Omaha Storm Chasers,” said Storm Chasers President and General Manager Martie Cordaro. “To see our front office staff and the coaching staff and players come together and impact community members in need was very gratifying and fulfilling. Giving back and meeting people where they are matters."
Between June and July, there were four Pitch in for the Pantry games, presented by Conagra Brands, where fans can donate three cans of non-perishable food items in exchange for one Leonard Management McDonald’s berm ticket. The Storm Chasers received over 1,000 cans, with all proceeds benefiting NeighborGood Pantry. In conjunction with the Omaha Public Library, the Storm Chasers also hosted two games (July 28 and August 2) where kids who earned tickets from their Summer Reading Program could enjoy the game, and nearly 1,500 tickets were redeemed.
Storm Chasers players volunteered at 10 events throughout the Omaha metro in June and July, including at the Madonna Rehabilitation Center, Town and Country Animal Rescue, All Play, and the Nebraska Humane Society.
The 6th annual Chasers Community Week, presented by Chick-Fil-A Bellevue, ran from July 27 to August 2 and saw front office staff and players combine for 150 volunteer hours, serving 15 organizations. Over 20 front office members volunteered time along with 15 players and coaches during the week. During the games, Chasers Charities raised over $5,000 while over $1,500 was raised for the American Red Cross and the Venezuela relief efforts. Nearly 1,000 items were donated to Completely Kids as part of the school supply drive on August 2, and over 300 non-perishable food items were donated to NeighborGood Pantry as part of Pitch in for the Pantry on July 28.
Additionally, the Chasers held a pair of jersey auctions, with proceeds from the game-worn jerseys auctioned on June 26 (Cancer Awareness) going to the American Cancer Society and from July 31 (Harry Potter) going to Chasers’ Charities. Both auctions raised over $5,800 each for their charities.
During the next homestand, from August 18 to 23, the Storm Chasers will host Strike Out Hunger Night on Thursday, August 20, where local organizations will be on hand to inform fans of how they can help fight hunger in the area.
Community Events in June
- Foodbank for the Heartland – June 5
- Storm Chasers front office staff volunteered at the Food Bank for the Heartland to sort food donations. The Food Bank for the Heartland’s goal is to provide food for children, families, seniors and veterans facing hunger in Nebraska and western Iowa.
- All Abilities Night – June 14
- For All Abilities Night, presented by Renewal by Andersen, the Storm Chasers donated 300 tickets, with 13 nonprofits on site for a game celebrating members of our community who are differently abled. The night ended with an exclusive catch on the field opportunity for families in attendance.
- Third Jersey Auction (Cancer Awareness) – June 26
- Game-worn Cancer Awareness jerseys were worn on June 26 and auctioned off in-stadium, raising $5,855 for the American Cancer Society, whose mission is to improve the lives of people with cancer and their families through advocacy, research and patient support. Nine nonprofits were on site sharing information about cancer, and over 100 tickets were donated.
Community Events in July
- Ronald McDonald House Charities: Meals that Heal – July 27
- Storm Chasers front office staff volunteered with Ronald McDonald House Charities in Omaha as part of their Meals to Heal program to make a homemade meal for families staying at the RMHC. Ronald McDonald House Charities aim to improve the health and well-being of sick children by giving access to care, reducing financial burden and giving support to keep families together.
- College Possible: Letter Writing – July 28
- Members of the Storm Chasers front office wrote encouraging notes to first time college students to help them adjust to college. College Possible aims to make college admission and success possible for students of low-income backgrounds through coaching and support.
- Hope Lodge: Cooking Up Hope – July 29
- Storm Chasers players, and their significant others, helped to make a homemade meal for families and individuals staying at the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in Omaha, a place where cancer patients and their caregivers can stay while fighting the battle.
- Children’s Nebraska Hospital Visit – July 30
- Storm Chasers players and front office staff visited Children’s Nebraska for a meet and greet with the patients, making crafts and playing games.
- Salvation Army KROC Center Game – July 31
- Kids participating in summer camps played a game of wiffle ball at the Salvation Army’s KROC Center in Omaha with Storm Chasers players and front office members, along with team members from Chick-Fil-A Bellevue.
- UMPS Care Family Visit – July 31
- The UMPS Care program hosted two families for the game on Friday. The families met with the umpiring crew before the game and went on the field for a photo.
- Fourth Jersey Auction (Harry Potter themed jersey) – July 31
- Game-worn Harry Potter themed jerseys were worn on July 31 and auctioned off in-stadium, raising over $5,000 for Chasers Charities and their Chasin’ Dreams Grants.
Other Community Events
- Sarpy County Fair Parade – August 1
- Storm Chasers interns and mascots enjoyed walking the Sarpy County Parade during the county fair.
- RADs Skills Camp – August 1
- Players and front office staff from the Storm Chasers, along with staff from the Royals Amateur Development System, worked with the Black Police Officers Association of Omaha to lead a camp for under-served children in the Omaha community to learn basic baseball skills.
- Players’ Favorite Things Raffle – August 1
- During the Storm Chasers game against the St. Paul Saints, there was a raffle for “Players’ Favorite Things” packages, put together by Stormy along with Storm Chasers players and their significant others, with proceeds benefitting American Red Cross to help earthquake victims in Venezuela.
- Faith and Family Night – August 1
- The Storm Chasers hosted a night dedicated to faith and family for the game against the Saints, with six nonprofits coming to Werner Park.
- Project Surprise Party/College Possible – August 2
- Front office staff and players helped support both Project Surprise Party and College Possible, writing encouraging notes and creating birthday kits to be passed out.
- Completely Kids School Supplies Drive – August 2
- A school supply drive was held during the game on August 2 where fans could donate three or more items to receive a Storm Chasers backpack. With over 800 school supplies donated as part of the drive, the Storm Chasers also donated 500 backpacks to Completely Kids.
- Joe Torre Safe at Home – August 2
- During the game between the Storm Chasers and Saints, the Storm Chasers connected fans with resources to empower future generations to build lives free from harm as part of the Joe Torre Safe at Home MiLB Activation.
- Youth Outreach Night – August 2
- The Storm Chasers hosted Youth Outreach Night for the game against the Saints, with 11 nonprofits coming to Werner Park.
Notable Mascot Appearances made in June
Stormy and Sue Nami appeared at Game 8 of the College World Series on June 15, with Stormy finishing 3rd in the mascot race, while Stormy and Sizzle both walked in the Papillion Days Parade on June 20. 18 other mascot appearances took place in July as Stormy and friends appeared at the following events and locations: Childtime Daycare, PLCS Summer School Kickoff, CRCC-Southwest, Outlook Enrichment Golf Tournament, CRCC-Northwest, EPS Fun Day, Stuff the Truck, Nebraska Rural Letter Carriers Association Banquet, Live Forward 5k, North Sioux City Recreation Organization Carnival, Children’s Hospital, Madonna PEDs Party, CWS Fan Fest, Papillion Duck Paddle Fundraiser, Nebraska Humane Society, Can Play Iowa, Heartland Hope Mission Block Party and Bodies RC Treat Trot.
Notable Mascot Appearances made in July
Stormy walked in the Heartland Pride Parade on July 18 and was joined by Sizzle for the Gretna Days Parade on July 25. 10 other mascot appearances took place in July as Stormy and friends appeared at the following events and locations: Bristol & Hudson Birthday Party, Kids 4 Jesus, Kidvanced Schools, KROC Center Family Fun Night, National Hot Dog Day, Head for the Cure 5k, Bodies RC Heatwave, Madonna Birthday Visit, Children’s Hospital-CCW and KROC Center Wiffle Ball Game.
Other notable Mascot Appearances made
Stormy also walked in the Sarpy County Grand Parade on August 1, while Sue Nami helped out at the RAD Skills Camp on the same day.