CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- The Appalachian League announced today the league’s charitable outreach totaled more than $1.28 million in gift in kind and monetary donations last year. During the pause of play caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the league and its teams continued to be actively engaged in safely helping and assisting their local communities.

The league’s reach stretches across four states and impacts the towns and cities each of its 10 teams call home. In addition to hosting socially-distanced community events, Appalachian League executives and team staff members volunteered through blood drives, school lunch distributions, mask donations, food pantries, family shelters, diaper giveaways and food delivery to families in need.

Before convening for the General Manager meeting on March 4, 2020, 18 Appy League representatives served at the Senior Center in Pulaski as a part of the league service project. Club members assisted with cooking, preparing and serving lunch to guests at the center. There were also league-wide initiatives on the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, with the league and each of its teams participating in different activities held within their local communities in honor of Dr. King’s legacy.

Seven of the 10 Appy League teams contributed more than $100,000 of gift in kind and monetary donations for their communities. More details and a full breakdown of the 2020 Appy League Community Impact can be found here.

The 2021 Appy League season, now as part of the Major League Baseball and USA Baseball Prospect Development Pipeline, is set to start on Thursday, June 3. A complete schedule for the upcoming season can be found here.