Orioles and Oriole Advocates to hold annual Cardboard To Leather collection Sunday at Oriole Park
The Orioles will open a six-game homestand on Friday, September 11, at 7:05 p.m. against the Kansas City Royals. The homestand will include many special events including the annual Cardboard to Leather collection at Oriole Park, a "Baseball and Your Body" lesson plan with KEVIN GAUSMAN and BRAD BRACH, a pre-game ceremony honoring the Red Land Little League team, a NASA astronaut visit to the ballpark, and much more. The homestand will also feature exclusive giveaways including an Orioles hooded sweatshirt and a Birdland knit scarf.
On Sunday, September 13, the Orioles and the Oriole Advocates will conduct their 2015 Cardboard to Leather™ collection at Oriole Park, presented by Legg Mason. The Oriole Advocates created the program in 1992 to provide baseball and softball equipment to underprivileged youth in developing countries. Fans are encouraged to bring new and gently-used baseball equipment to the Orioles game on Sunday to be used in this year's distribution, which will be going to youth players in Aruba, Dominican Republic, and Mexico. Financial donations will also be accepted to help with shipping costs. Since the program's inception, the Oriole Advocates have distributed equipment to youth baseball players around the world in places such as Afghanistan, Belize, Cuba, Nicaragua, Serbia, and Venezuela.
Additionally, the Oriole Advocates Charitable Foundation will conduct a silent auction of sports memorabilia on the lower concourse near Gate E to benefit the Cardboard to Leather program. Fans will have the chance to bid on baseballs, photos, bats, and jerseys autographed by current Orioles. The auction will begin when gates open at 6:00 p.m. and last until 9:00 p.m.
In a special ceremony prior to the 8:05 p.m. game against the Kansas City Royals, JENNIFER BYERS, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility at Legg Mason, will present the Oriole Advocates Charitable Foundation with a $10,000 contribution for the Cardboard to Leather Equipment Collection. In addition, the Baseball Tomorrow Fund will award a grant of $5,000 to the Oriole Advocates Charitable Foundation for the purchase of new equipment.
IN THE COMMUNITY
KEVIN GAUSMAN AND BRAD BRACH TO TEACH AT LINDALE MIDDLE SCHOOL
On Tuesday, September 15, from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Orioles pitchers KEVIN GAUSMAN and BRAD BRACH will visit Lindale Middle School to help teach the "Baseball and Your Body" lesson plan from the Bird on a STEM program to 100 sixth graders participating in the STEM program. Bird on a STEM lesson plans were created by Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellows in partnership with Maryland Public Schools to develop science, technology, engineering, and math skills in the classroom. Teachers of grades six through eight who wish to have their classes participate in this initiative can visit www.orioles.com/lessonplans to access more information. Lindale Middle School is located at 415 Andover Rd., Linthicum Heights, MD 21090. Media interested in covering this event should contact Chris Martrich ([email protected]) to RSVP.
2130 & 2131 LICENSE PLATE AUCTION RAISES NEARLY $5,600 FOR CHARITY
The Orioles held an online charity auction for the 2130 and the 2131 numbered Orioles-themed Maryland license plates in honor of the 20th anniversary of CAL RIPKEN JR.'s record-breaking 2,131st consecutive game streak. The 2130 and 2131 license plates were auctioned on www.orioles.com/2131 from August 27 through September 6 for Maryland residents planning on using the winning license plate on a Maryland registered car. The auction raised $5,597.50 with all proceeds benefiting the Baltimore Orioles Charitable Foundation.
AT THE BALLPARK
CAREFIRST HEALTHY WALKS CHECK PRESENTATION
On Friday, September 11, prior to the 7:05 p.m. game against the Kansas City Royals, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield will present a check for $17,100 to the March of Dimes. For every walk by an Orioles batter this season, CareFirst donated $50 to March of Dimes. As of September 10, 2015, the Orioles have drawn a total of 342 walks with CHRIS DAVIS leading with 67 walks. CareFirst will continue to donate $50 per walk for the rest of the season to benefit March of Dimes. CareFirst Vice President and Deputy General Counsel RANDY SERGENT will present the check to JOE GORDON and REN TUNDERMANN-JACOBS from the March of Dimes. Also, five-year old ANDREW JACOBS who was born eight weeks early, will participate in the check presentation as an ambassador for March of Dimes. March of Dimes funds research that improves the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.
FORT MEADE ALLIANCE CHECK PRESENTATION
Earlier this season, on Memorial Day, all Orioles uniformed personnel wore a special home jersey featuring an authentic, military-digital camouflage design licensed from the United States Marine Corps embedded into the twill (Orioles script, name, and number) as well as a digicamo-patterned cap featuring the cartoon bird. These jerseys and caps were autographed, authenticated, and auctioned to benefit the Fort Meade Alliance Foundation.
On Friday, September 11, the Orioles will present a check for $13,702.93 to COLONEL BRIAN FOLEY, Garrison Commander of U.S. Army Fort Meade 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR RODWELL FORBES and representatives DEON VIERGUTZ, STEVE TILLER and JAY BALDWIN of the Fort Meade Alliance Foundation.
The Fort Meade Alliance Foundation is a nonprofit organization that manages charitable initiatives designed to support the Fort Meade installation, military personnel and their families, civilians, and the broader Fort Meade Community. The Foundation is now raising the necessary funding for Kuhn Hall on Fort Meade for the service members, their families, and DoD Civilians who support the critical missions on post. The Fort Meade Alliance Foundation relies heavily on the generosity of the Fort Meade community. More information on the Fort Meade Alliance Foundation is available at www.ftmeadealliancefoundation.org.
PRE-GAME CEREMONY HONORING THE RED LAND LITTLE LEAGUE TEAM
On Saturday, September 12, prior to the 1:05 p.m. game against the Kansas City Royals, the Orioles will host the Red Land Little League team from Lewisberry, PA at Oriole Park. During a special pre-game ceremony, the Red Land team will be introduced to the fans in attendance and a video will showcase highlights from their U.S. Championship victory. Red Land represented the Mid-Atlantic Region in the Little League World Series and defeated the Southwest Region to win the U.S. title game on August 29, in Williamsport, Pa. The team went 4-1 in the tournament, losing only to Japan in the World Series Championship game on August 30.
COOL KIDS CAMPAIGN CHECK PRESENTATION
On Saturday, September 12, infielder RYAN FLAHERTY, center fielder ADAM JONES, and Royals third basemen MIKE MOUSTAKAS will represent all Major League Baseball players when they present a check for $10,000 to the Cool Kids Campaign Foundation, located in Towson, MD. The Cool Kids Campaign was co-founded by ROB BELANGER, son of the late Orioles Hall of Fame shortstop and Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) Special Assistant, MARK BELANGER. Accepting the check on behalf of the Foundation are co-founders CHRIS FEDERICO, ROB BELANGER, SHARON PERFETTI and board members STEVE ROGERS and Orioles Hall of Famer KEN SINGLETON. The Cool Kids Campaign mission is to improve the quality of life for children living with cancer through academic, emotional, and social support. The funds from the MLBPA and proceeds from other events, including the Ken Singleton Celebrity Golf Classic, enable the Cool Kids Foundation to create programs for the children and their families, such as their new learning center.
NASA ASTRONAUT TERRY VIRTS TO VISIT ORIOLE PARK
On Monday, September 14, NASA astronaut TERRY VIRTS, a graduate of Columbia's Oakland Mills High School, will present manager BUCK SHOWALTER with an Orioles jersey he took to the International Space Station.
Virts served as commander of Expedition 43 during a 199-day mission to the International Space Station before returning to Earth in June. While on the ISS, he conducted three spacewalks totaling more than 19 hours and supported hundreds of science experiments during his mission aboard the ISS. In his free time, he took a record-breaking 319,275 photographs, including shots of every major league ballpark from his vantage point over 250 miles above the planet. Virts also spoke with several Orioles players live via video from the ISS during the team's trip to Houston in June.
Virts, a U.S. Air Force colonel who was selected as an astronaut in 2000, served as pilot of the space shuttle Endeavor during STS-130 mission in February 2010 and has logged 212 total days in space.
DARREN O'DAY PRESENTED WITH THE 2015 WHEATLEY AWARD
On Monday, September 14, prior to the 7:05 p.m. game against the Boston Red Sox, DARREN O'DAY will be presented with the 2015 Tim Wheatley Award for Community Service by the Baltimore Sun Media Group. The Baltimore Sun Media Group created the Tim Wheatley Award in 2010 to honor a local athlete whose contributions off the field were just as important as his or her contributions on the field. Tim Wheatley was a sports editor for the Baltimore Sun from 2006 to 2009, before he was killed in a car accident while driving his daughter to school. He was a strong believer in community service and an inspiration to the Baltimore community.
O'Day was chosen as the winner of the 2015 Wheatley Award after representing the Orioles at the 2015 All-Star Game and for his support of military personnel in the Baltimore area over the past few years. He has held fundraisers and offered financial support for the USO and the Orioles' Military Sunday Suite program. In addition, O'Day makes a donation each season based on his on-field performance to Luke's Wings, a non-profit military organization dedicated to the support of current and former service members who have been wounded in battle. O'Day donates $50 for every batter he strikes out, raising more than $6,000 in 2013 and 2014 combined. He also gives freely of his time to Orioles community outreach efforts, including attending a youth clinic at Fort Meade and appearing in the BARCS pet calendar.
ADAM JONES TO RECEIVE THE HEART AND HUSTLE AWARD
On Tuesday, September 15, Orioles Hall of Famer MIKE BORDICK will present center fielder ADAM JONES with the Orioles' 2015 Heart and Hustle Award from the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA) prior to the 7:05 p.m. game against the Boston Red Sox. This esteemed award is voted on by Alumni players and honors active players who demonstrate a passion for the game of baseball and best embody the values, spirit, and tradition of the game. Adam previously won this award during the 2012 and 2014 seasons.
MLBPAA SILENT AUCTION
The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association will be hosting a silent auction near Gate E from September 14-16, during the Orioles three-game series against the Boston Red Sox. The auction will start when the gates open and will end in the 5th inning. Proceeds from the silent auction benefit MLBPAA and The Orioles Charitable Foundation.
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 Monday, September 14, BRIAN BASS, GARRETT STEPHENSON, and SAMMY STEWART are scheduled to greet fans and sign autographs from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
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, September 13, military members from Red Circle Foundation will enjoy the game against the Kansas City Royals at 8:05 p.m. from a catered suite, have a meet-and-greet with shortstop J.J. HARDY and pitcher DARREN O'DAY, and receive a player t-shirt and cap.
STEAL SECOND BASE PRESENTED BY ESSKAY
The Orioles feature the Steal Second Base contest during every Sunday home game throughout the season. Presented by ESSKAY, the contest allows a young fan to participate in a timed race from the grounds crew area in center field to retrieve second base. 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, September 13, is eight-year old CALEB REED from Crofton, 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:
- Sept. 11:
Maryland Stem Festival (Kids Corner Location)
Catch a Lift Fund (Gate D Booth) - Sept. 12
Boy Scouts of America (Gate D Booth)
University of MD Children's Hospital (Kids Corner Location) - Sept. 13
Babe Ruth Birthplace Foundation, Inc.
BARCS (Kids Corner Location) - Sept. 14
Y of Central Maryland - Sept. 15
The Baltimore Running Festival - Sept. 16
BARCS
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, ADAM JONES, BRIAN MATUSZ, CHRIS TILLMAN, and MATT WIETERS. The following organizations will attend games at Oriole Park during this homestand, courtesy of these Orioles players:
- Sept. 11 at Meade Middle School
Player Sponsor: Adam Jones - Sept. 12 at Teen Haven
Player Sponsor: Chris Tillman - Sept. 13 at Coppin Heights Communities
Player Sponsor: Wei-Yin Chen - Sept. 14 at Faith Tabernacle Baptist Church
Player Sponsor: J.J. Hardy - Sept. 15 at Shining Star Baptist Church Player Sponsor: Matt Wieters
- Sept. 16 School's Out Program at Leith Walk Elementary School
Player Sponsor: Chris Davis
GIVEAWAYS AND TICKET OFFERS
- Sept. 11 AT&T Student Night: Orioles Hooded Sweatshirt for 1st 25,000 fans 15 & over
- Sept. 12: Birdland Knit Scarf for 1st 20,000 fans 15 & over
- Sept. 13: Junior Orioles Dugout Club Date for Pre-registered Dugout Club members
- Sept. 15 Ollie's Bargain Night: All Upper Reserve seats $10 presented by Ollie's Bargain Outlet