Orioles To Host 29th Annual Food and Funds Drive

The Orioles and presenting sponsor OneMain Financial, along with the Orioles Wives, Oriole Advocates, MASN, WJZ-TV, Von Paris Moving and Storage, and the Maryland Food Bank, will hold the 29^th annual OriolesREACH Food and Funds Drive at Oriole Park at Camden Yards this weekend, June 12-14, during the Orioles' series with the New York Yankees. Members of these groups will collect non-perishable food items and monetary donations from fans at each entrance from the time gates open through the middle of the 2^nd inning during all games this weekend. Fans also are encouraged to visit local OneMain Financial branches through June 25 to donate non-perishable food items.

According to the Maryland Food Bank, items most needed at this time are peanut butter, canned chicken, canned tuna, oatmeal, breakfast cereals, and canned fruits and vegetables. The drive benefits soup kitchens, food pantries, and emergency shelters throughout Maryland. During last year's OriolesREACH Food and Funds Drive, almost 6,000 pounds of food and $30,000 in cash donations were collected.

Media are invited to cover this event each day and should contact Chris Martrich ([email protected]) to RSVP. Representatives from the Maryland Food Bank and OneMain Financial, and select Orioles Wives, will be available to speak to the media on Friday, June 12, at Home Plate Plaza at 5:45 p.m. For more information, please call 888-848-BIRD or visit www.oriolesreach.com.

Also during this homestand, the Orioles will again team up with the LUNGevity Foundation, an organization committed to the fight against lung cancer. In memory of late Orioles' Public Relations Director MONICA BARLOW, who bravely battled the disease before passing away in early 2014, the Oriole Bird and FOX Sports reporter KEN ROSENTHAL will wear special LUNGevity bow ties throughout Saturday's 7:15 p.m. game against the Yankees, televised by FOX. Barlow would have celebrated her 38^th birthday this week. Fans are encouraged to stop by LUNGevity's photo booth at the Kids Corner at Oriole Park to take photos with bow tie props, the Oriole Bird, and Rosenthal, and to learn more about LUNGevity's Breathe Deep Walk taking place at Oriole Park on October 3, 2015.

Additionally, shortstop J.J. HARDY and third base coach BOBBY DICKERSON will instruct fielding drills to a 12U travel baseball team from Savage, MD on Wednesday, June 10, to fulfill an experience auctioned during the 2014 Baseball Winter Meetings, benefitting the LUNGevity Foundation in memory of Barlow. The Savage Eagles won the experience and will participate in the private lesson on the field at Oriole Park from noon to 12:45 p.m. Media interested in covering this event should contact Chris Martrich ([email protected]) to RSVP. 

IN THE COMMUNITY

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES "TRADING PLACES" PROMOTION

On Tuesday, June 9, outfielder DAVID LOUGH and pitcher BUD NORRIS will participate in the Southwest Airlines "Trading Places" promotion at BWI Airport. The players will take part in a variety of jobs performed by Southwest Airlines employees including boarding passengers for a departing flight, supporting the arrival of Southwest Airlines aircraft, and more. This event is not open to the public. Media who wish to cover the event should contact Thais Hanson of Southwest Airlines at 214-792-2883 or [email protected]. Media are also asked to please bring a government issued identification card.

CALEB JOSEPH TO APPEAR AT ORIOLES TEAM STORE IN YORK

On Thursday, June 11, catcher CALEB JOSEPH will make an appearance at the Orioles Team Store in the York Galleria (2899 Whiteford Rd, York, PA 17402) from 11:00 a.m. to noon. Joseph will sign autographs and greet fans. The event is free of charge and open to the public.

AT THE BALLPARK

COCA-COLA "GET THE BALL ROLLING" CLINIC AT ORIOLE PARK

The Orioles have partnered with Coca-Cola to host the Coca-Cola "Get the Ball Rolling" Clinic at Oriole Park on Wednesday, June 10, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in an effort to educate area youth about health and nutrition. Approximately 100 middle-school students from Baltimore City Schools will participate in batting, pitching, fielding, and stretching drills with current and former Orioles, including pitcher TOMMY HUNTER and former Orioles catcher CHRIS HOILES. In addition, Orioles Strength and Conditioning Coach RYO NAITO will lead students in stretching and conditioning drills. Media interested in covering this event should contact Chris Martrich ([email protected]).

MLB PITCH HIT & RUN TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

On Saturday, June 13, the Orioles will host the Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit & Run Team Championship at Oriole Park from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The top 24 qualifiers from Delaware, Maryland, and West Virginia will compete in hopes of advancing to the National Finals, which will take place at the 2015 MLB All-Star Game in Cincinnati. The winning participants will be honored in an on-field, pre-game ceremony prior to Saturday night's 7:15 p.m. game against the Yankees. The Orioles will also provide tickets to those participating in the competition for that night's game. Media interested in covering this event should contact Chris Martrich ([email protected]).

4 ALS DAY AT ORIOLE PARK

Continuing baseball's long-standing commitment to raising awareness of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, Major League Baseball and all 30 Clubs are once again teaming up "4 ALS." The Packard Center for ALS Research at Johns Hopkins enables the world's best ALS scientists to collaborate and access funding so that they may continue work to rapidly develop new treatments and find a cure for ALS. On Sunday, June 14, ANDY NELSON will represent the Robert Packard Center by throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the Orioles game against the New York Yankees at 1:35 p.m. Andy was diagnosed with ALS in 2011, and since then, the Nelson family along with friends have formed "Team Nelly," raising more than $150,000 for ALS Research through their participation in the Fiesta 5K for ALS Research to benefit the Packard Center. For additional information on ALS awareness and ways to help those suffering from ALS, fans can visit www.alscenter.org.

MSNBC'S THOMAS ROBERTS TO THROW OUT CEREMONIAL FIRST PITCH

On Monday, June 15, MSNBC's THOMAS ROBERTS will throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to that evening's 7:05 p.m. game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Roberts is an award-winning journalist who anchors "MSNBC Live with Thomas Roberts" and also hosts a web-only show called "Out There" on Shift by MSNBC. A graduate of Calvert Hall College High School and McDaniel College, Roberts has received an Emmy nomination and has been a recipient of the Virginia Associated Press award and an Edward R. Murrow award for documentaries he worked on and produced. Additionally, Roberts has been recognized for his efforts as an advocate in the LGBT community, as he was recently awarded the GLAAD Vito Russo Award.

MARYLAND BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL STATE CHAMPIONS CEREMONY

On Monday and Tuesday, June 15 and 16, the Orioles will recognize the Maryland State champions in baseball and softball. Prior to Monday's 7:05 p.m. game against the Phillies, the Orioles will recognize the following state champion baseball and softball teams in a pre-game on-field ceremony: Southern High School (baseball, 2A), Chopticon High School (baseball, 3A), Middletown High School (softball, 2A), and Northern High School (softball, 3A). Prior to Tuesday's game, the Orioles will recognize the following state champion baseball and softball teams: Brunswick High School (baseball, 1A), Gaithersburg High School (baseball, 4A), Manchester Valley High School (softball, 1A), and Sherwood High School (softball, 4A).

ALUMNI AUTOGRAPH SERIES

Every Monday and Thursday home game, former Orioles players will sign autographs on Eutaw Street as part of the Orioles Alumni Autograph Series. On Thursday, June 11, MIKE BODDICKER, JIM GENTILE, TOM NIEDENFUER, and MIKE YOUNG are scheduled to greet fans and sign autographs from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. On Monday, June 15, AL BUMBRY, DICK HALL, and JOHN PARRISH will participate in the series.

ORIOLES MILITARY APPRECIATION PROGRAM

As part of the Orioles' Military Appreciation Program, the Orioles and OriolesREACH donate a catered private suite at each Sunday home game at Oriole Park to servicemen and women through the Sunday Suite Program, presented by GEICO. On Sunday, June 14, military members from Fort Meade will enjoy the game against the New York Yankees at 1:35 p.m. from a catered suite, have a meet-and-greet with first baseman CHRIS DAVIS and pitcher CHRIS TILLMAN, and receive a player t-shirt and cap.

STEAL SECOND BASE PRESENTED BY ESSKAY

The Orioles are again featuring the Steal Second Base contest for every Sunday home game this season. Presented by ESSKAY, the Steal Second Base contest allows a young fan to participate in a timed race from the grounds crew area in center field to retrieve second base. Fans can sign up for the opportunity at the ballpark at any Fan Assistance Center. The lucky winner will receive four tickets to that day's game, gift certificates to use inside the park, an Orioles jersey, and an Orioles prize pack. The contestants will also get to keep the authentic base. The winner for Sunday, June 14, is GABRIEL GODEY, a 14-year-old from Cockeysville, MD.

ORIOLES REACH COMMUNITY BOOTH

During each home game, the Orioles provide a community booth for charitable, non-profit organizations to distribute information, sell raffle tickets, register participants, or conduct health care screenings for Orioles fans. The following groups will be at the community booth, located near Gate D, during this homestand:

ORIOLES REACH GAMEDAY EXPERIENCE PROGRAM

This season, OriolesREACH is again hosting thousands of underprivileged youth as part of the Gameday Experience Program. Group members receive up to 150 game tickets, concessions, an Orioles t-shirt, a cap, and transportation to and from the game. Tickets are provided courtesy of Orioles players. Players participating in the program this year include WEI-YIN CHEN, CHRIS DAVIS, MIGUEL GONZALEZ, J.J. HARDY, TOMMY HUNTER, ADAM JONES, BRIAN MATUSZ, BUD NORRIS, TRAVIS SNIDER, CHRIS TILLMAN, and MATT WIETERS. The following organizations will attend games at Oriole Park during this homestand, courtesy of these Orioles players: