PAPILLION, NEB. – The Omaha Storm Chasers and Chasers Charities have announced highlights of the team’s community service efforts for the 2026 season, with $506,706 in monetary and in-kind donations raised by the club throughout the year. Storm Chasers front office staff and players volunteered 960 hours in 2026, supporting more than 100 organizations through their efforts. Chasers in the Community, presented by Chick-fil-A Bellevue, highlights this work throughout the season, anchored by signature events like Chasers Community Week.
“2026 was an impactful year for our organization in the community,” Storm Chasers President and General Manager Martie Cordaro said. “We had terrific participation from our Royals partners and our front office staff on many community visits and events. Community is at the forefront of all we do and we look forward to another meaningful year in 2027.”
The Storm Chasers raised $27,250 for charitable partners through five game-used jersey auctions during the 2026 season. The Star Wars jersey auction in May generated the highest proceeds, bringing in $6,425 for Make-A-Wish Nebraska. The Omaha Runzas jersey auction in May raised $5,070 for Food Bank for the Heartland, while the Pink Omaha jersey auction in June generated $5,855 for the American Cancer Society. Additionally, the Harry Potter jersey auction in July raised $5,805 for Chasers Charities, and the Omaha Patriotic jersey auction in September raised $4,095 for the First Responders Foundation. Omaha Runzas merchandise sales added $2,300 for Food Bank for the Heartland. The Storm Chasers also raised $8,796 for Chasers Charities through a garage sale and mystery item sale. In August, the wives and girlfriends of the Storm Chasers raised $1,635 through the club’s first Players’ Favorite Things Basket raffle, with proceeds supporting the American Red Cross and the relief efforts following June’s earthquakes in Venezuela.
“Being a part of the Omaha community is more than what happens on the field,” Storm Chasers Community Relations Manager Anne Culhane said. “We take great pride in making a positive impact throughout the Greater Omaha area, whether through supporting local nonprofits, creating meaningful memories for families, or providing resources to organizations making a difference every day.”
Partner promotions also turned action at Werner Park into support for local causes. $8,000 was raised for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Omaha through the H+H Automotive Group and Leonard Management McDonald’s Hurl the Pearl promotion, where fans purchased softie baseballs to throw into the sunroof of a truck displayed on the concourse. Additionally, $3,250 was donated to Partnership 4 Kids via the Werner Enterprises RBI promotion, as Werner Enterprises donated $10 per run batted in at Werner Park during the 2026 season. Oak View Group Hospitality, Jack Daniel’s and Johnson Brothers joined the Storm Chasers to support Operation Ride Home, donating 50 cents from every Jack Daniel’s sold for a total of $2,360.
Fans also pitched in through two collection drives. A total of 3,500 cans of nonperishable food items were donated to NeighborGood Pantry through Pitch in for the Pantry, presented by Conagra Brands, which allowed fans who brought in at least three nonperishable food items to Tuesday home games to receive a free Leonard Management McDonald’s berm ticket. In August, the Storm Chasers hosted a back-to-school supply drive as part of Chasers Community Week, where fans who brought three or more items received a free Storm Chasers backpack. Fans donated 866 school supplies to Completely Kids as part of the drive, while the Storm Chasers also donated 500 backpacks.
Chasers Charities, the charitable arm of the Omaha Storm Chasers, awarded $21,994 through its Chasin’ Dreams Grant, distributed across seven organizations. The grant helps local nonprofits that run youth baseball or softball programs fund major facility renovations. In April, two high school students, Alisha McMurtry and Jordan McDade, each received $1,250 through the Jackie Robinson Scholarship, presented by Chasers Charities and The Weitz Company.
In partnership with Oak View Group Hospitality, the Storm Chasers provided nonprofits – Cheer Athletics and For The Next Generation – with the opportunity to work concessions at Werner Park in 2026, generating a total of $265,790 for these groups.
Beyond funds raised through auctions, activations and promotions, the Storm Chasers gave the local community more than 11,400 free tickets to games in 2026. That total included over 3,800 tickets to 27 Omaha Metro schools for All About Kids Day in April, more than 1,200 tickets across eight Community Celebration Nights featuring 84 local nonprofits and 400 tickets through the C.A.R.E. program, presented by Big Red Keno.
Additional highlights at Werner Park included Cancer Awareness Night, presented by Metro Credit Union, in June and Strike Out Hunger Night in August. For Cancer Awareness Night, nine nonprofits were at Werner Park sharing information about cancer and the Storm Chasers wore pink jerseys in support. During Strike Out Hunger Night, Werner Park hosted 16 food assistance and food security nonprofits on the concourse to speak to fans. In partnership with Sarpy County Tourism, 59 community organizations were featured at Storm Chasers home games.
Storm Chasers pitchers Ben Sears and Ethan Bosacker were selected as the 2026 Johnny Rosenblatt Community Service Award co-recipients. Throughout the season, Sears volunteered more than 11 hours at eight community events and organizations, while Bosacker volunteered more than nine hours at six community events. Both helped with Moving Veterans Forward, the Nebraska Humane Society and Children’s Nebraska. Sears also volunteered at Bags of Fun and Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital, while Bosacker volunteered at the Salvation Army’s Kroc Center.
Storm Chasers mascots also made 195 appearances this season, including at Men’s College World Series Kids Night, Children’s Nebraska, dozens of schools for Read Across America Week and several mascot birthday parties around the Omaha Metro, among others.