Seattle Mariners' Robinson Cano hosts Canoche to benefit RC22 Foundation

SEATTLE, WA (May 11, 2015) - On Wednesday, June 3, 2015, at 7:30 PM PT, Seattle Mariners' second baseman Robinson Cano will host Canoche - a night with Robinson Cano and friends to benefit the RC22 Foundation, a 501c3 public charity founded by Cano. The Latin-themed Supper Club fundraiser, held at Paramount Theater located at 911 Pine Street in Seattle, will include a night of dinner, dancing, recognition ceremony honoring the Seattle Mariners, live and silent auction, and a special presentation and introduction to the RC22 Foundation. Several special guests will be in attendance to support Cano during his first inaugural Seattle fundraiser including Roc Nation Sports founder JAY Z, Rihanna, CC and Amber Sabathia along with several Mariners teammates such as Félix Hernández, Nelson Cruz, and Kyle Seager.

"I am excited to introduce the Seattle community - my "second home base" - to one of my dearest passions, the RC22 Foundation," said Cano. "I want to share the work of my Foundation, which develops and expands high quality opportunities for kids in need specifically in the areas of education, wellness and fitness. I also look forward to reaching more disadvantaged youth and communities not only in the Dominican Republic but also here in this beautiful city of Seattle."

Individual tickets are now on sale and can be purchased by visiting: http://robinsoncanoofficial.com/canoche/. There will be a limited quantity of individual tickets available for purchase. Event sponsorship, ticket packages and donation prompts can also be found on the aforementioned website page. 

The primary focus of this special fundraiser is to introduce the Seattle community to one of the Foundation's signature projects - the RC22 Dream School - a high quality, early childhood educational institution and community center in Cano's hometown of San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic. In addition, proceeds from Canoche will allow the RC22 Foundation to expand its philanthropic footprint in Seattle through a variety of programs and partnerships that amplify its focus and impact in the areas of education, health, fitness, and wellness. Youth and families in need throughout the Seattle region will benefit from the healthcare, youth, leadership development and goodwill programs the RC22 Foundation will offer and deliver through its inaugural not-for-profit partners: Seattle Children's and Odessa Brown Children's Clinic, City Year Seattle, and the Boys and Girls Club of King County.  

Howard Wright of Seattle Hospitality Group will serve as Co-Chair of the event host committee along with Jose Gaitan of The Gaitan Group and a solid group of leaders from the Seattle community including: Eric Schinfeld (Seattle Chamber of Commerce), Nina Morrison (Sparkling Ice), Joseph Sprague (Alaska Airlines), Mimi Gan (Mi2Media LLC), Jason Mackenzie (HTC), Jerry Lee (MulvannyG2 Architecture), and Shaunta Hyde (Alaska Airlines). "I'm proud to serve as a Co-Chair of this committee and to support Robinson Cano's RC22 Foundation on the journey to build a lasting legacy here in Seattle," said Wright. "I encourage the Seattle community to join us on June 3 at Canoche to officially welcome the RC22 Foundation to our great city and to contribute to an organization working diligently to address meaningful issues in education, youth development, and community healthcare."

In addition, special activations during Canoche will include a live orchestral performance by Garfield High School Symphony Orchestra led by Marcus Tsutakawa and a performance by Broadway actor, singer and dancer Gizel Jimenez. The Garfield High School Orchestra program is one of the preeminent training grounds for young musicians in the Pacific Northwest. The orchestra is made up of young people attending Garfield High School, freshman through seniors, with diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, excellent music ability, and good academic records. Graduates of the program have been admitted to study music at top schools throughout the country, including Oberlin, Curtis, Harvard, Eastman, Yale, University of Chicago, Northwestern University, Cleveland Institute, and the University of Washington. 

"Garfield's Symphony Orchestra is excited for the opportunity to play at the Robinson Cano event, and for the chance to play for a great and worthwhile cause," said Elias Breidford, trumpet player for Garfield. "Chances like this are inspirational because they remind us where music can take you. We are told music is not a viable career, but for the dedicated, it can be. This concern reaffirms our love for music and allows us to rededicate ourselves to what we want to do."

"Playing for Canoche is such an honor for the Garfield Symphony Orchestra," said Emma Chrisman, violin player for Garfield. "We are incredibly grateful and recognize the privilege it is to be a part of this organization, especially since not everyone has chances like this. WE do not want to take this opportunity for granted. I am participating because I want to give other kids access to a high-quality education that is truly invaluable, which will have as positive an impact on their lives as mine."

Tsutakawa's mission is to teach all students about classic music and has set a standard of excellence in music education that enables all students, whatever their background, to participate fully in the Garfield program. "Canoche will be a concert the students will long remember as an evening filled with wonderful entertainment and celebrities, but also because it's of purpose to help children in and outside of the U.S.," said Tsutakawa. "We are grateful to Robinson Cano and his organization for the chance to be a part of this exciting event."

Special recognition will be dedicated to the Seattle Mariners for their leadership, support, and partnership as well as their dedication to help communities and individuals in need. 

The RC22 Foundation's auction will be hosted on Paddle8, an online auction house. Many one-of-a-kind experience and unique collectibles will be available for bidding on Paddle8.com from May 26 to June 3. Featured auction items will include exclusive Roc Nation music and sports experiences, a VIP experience with Robinson Cano, VIP experience package with the Seattle Seahawks, among many others. 

The mission of the RC22 Foundation is to positively impact the lives of underserved children and communities both locally and globally. Since its inception in 2010, the Foundation has established and engaged in various initiatives that expand opportunities for improved outcomes in the areas of youth development and community healthcare.