Current & Former Royals Involved in Several Events throughout Homestand; Royals Charities 5K Run/Walk Set for August 2

The Kansas City Royals return home Thursday for a seven-game homestand against American League Central foes, as the club welcomes the Cleveland Indians (July 24-27) and Minnesota Twins (July 29-31) to Kauffman Stadium. Throughout the homestand, several Royals will be making community appearances, including a youth league visit by Billy Butler (July 26), a book signing event featuring Art Stewart and Salvador Perez at Rally House (July 26), and a free opportunity for fans to meet Alex Gordon and Eric Hosmer at a Sprint store (July 28). Former Royal Mike Sweeney will also host a three-day baseball camp (July 28-30) during the homestand. Royals Charities will then finish the week by hosting the annual 5K Run/Walk presented by Hy-Vee to benefit Variety Children's Charity of Greater Kansas City on Saturday, August 2. Fans can register at www.royals.com/run. Please see below for more information. 

Thursday, July 24 - Cleveland Indians vs. Royals, 7:10 p.m.

• Perfect Attendance Night - More than 6,000 area elementary school children who achieve perfect attendance throughout the academic school year are honored at the second of two Perfect Attendance Days (the first was June 29). The Royals salute these dedicated students with complimentary tickets.
• 50/50 Raffle presented by Edelman & Thompson - A portion of the proceeds from the nightly Royals Charities fundraiser will benefit Make-A-Wish Missouri. www.royals.com/5050.Friday,

July 25 - Cleveland Indians vs. Royals, 7:10 p.m.

• 4ALS - The Royals join Major League Baseball to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Lou Gehrig's historic farewell speech by joining forces with the ALS Association Keith Worthington Chapter to raise awareness for the disease, otherwise known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The night will include a special pregame tribute, including a reciting of Gehrig's famous speech and a first pitch by ALS patient Scott Cart. Visit www.MLBCommunity.org for more information on the partnership between MLB and ALS charities in support of the search for a cure.
• Big Game James Section - Pitcher James Shields, together with the Royals and KCP&L, will host foster care children and their families in the Big Game James Section. Each child from KVC Health Systems will receive complimentary tickets in section 206, a "Big Game James" t-shirt and a free meal courtesy of ARAMARK and Papa John's Pizza. The special guests will also participate in a meet-and-greet with Shields prior to the game.
• Stars of the Classroom - The Royals join the Missouri Lottery to honor outstanding educators through the Missouri Lottery Stars of the Classroom recognition program. Prior to six Royals games throughout the season, the Missouri Lottery and the Royals celebrate the achievements of top teachers from six school districts in the metro area.

Saturday, July 26 - Cleveland Indians vs. Royals, 6:10 p.m.

• Butler Youth League Visit - Billy Butler will meet members of the Graceland Sports Thunder, the winning team in his Hit-It-A-Ton Youth League Challenge. The softball team joined other youth ball teams in May to collect both food items and money for the Bishop Sullivan Center's food pantries. As a result of a random drawing of the 64 teams that participated, the Thunder won first prize and will have the opportunity to meet Butler, have a BBQ tailgate and enjoy the game courtesy of Hy-Vee. The "meet and greet" will occur during Royals batting practice between 4-4:30 p.m.  

• Art Stewart Book Signing at Rally House - Senior Advisor to the General Manager Art Stewart will be signing his new book The Art of Scouting: Seven Decades of Chasing Hopes and Dreams in Major League Baseball from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Rally House in Independence, Mo. In addition, All-Star catcher Salvador Perez will make a special appearance during the signing. Please note that fans must purchase a copy of the book to receive one additional autographed item (signed by either Stewart or Perez) at the publisher's request. 

Sunday, July 27 - Cleveland Indians vs. Royals, 1:10 p.m.

• Ban Johnson All-Star Game - The Royals host the Ban Johnson All-Star Game before the game against the Indians. The club has hosted the event, which features many of the top college ballplayers from the area that play in this summer wood bat league, since 1969. The game will start at 9 a.m. and conclude by 11:30 a.m. 
• Dream Factory Day at The K - Children, families and volunteers with Dream Factory will enjoy a special day at Kauffman Stadium where they will get to take part in a special pregame parade on the field and then watch the game. In addition, friends of the Dream Factory program are invited to purchase special tickets in the Hy-Vee Infield or Field Plaza sections with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Dream Factory. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.royals.com/dreamfactory.

Monday, July 28 - Off Day

• Gordon and Hosmer to Meet Fans at Sprint - Left fielder Alex Gordon and first baseman Eric Hosmer will meet fans and sign autographs at the Sprint store located at 11788 W. 95th Street across from Oak Park Mall in Overland Park, Kan. Hosmer will appear from 11 a.m.-noon, while Gordon will follow from noon-1 p.m. In addition, the first 50 people to purchase an accessory, upgrade a device or add a new line of service at the 95th Street location on July 28 will receive two vouchers redeemable for a Field Plaza seat to an upcoming Royals home game. Restrictions apply. From 10 a.m.-2 p.m., fans may also sign up for a chance to win great Royals prizes, including autographed Hosmer and Gordon jerseys and baseballs.
• Sweeney Baseball Camp - Former Royal Mike Sweeney will host his Catholic Baseball Camp of Kansas City, July 28-30, at Mid-America Sports Complex in Shawnee, Kan. Sweeney will be joined by several former players to teach kids ages 7-16 lessons in both baseball and their faith during the three-day event. The camp is a partnership between Sweeney and the Catholic Youth Organization for Johnson and Wyandotte Counties. Registration and additional information can be found at www.catholicbaseballcamp.com or by calling the CYO at (913) 384-7377.

Tuesday, July 29 - Minnesota Twins vs. Royals, 7:10 p.m.

Wednesday, July 30 - Minnesota Twins vs. Royals, 7:10 p.m.

• MLBPA City Clinic - The Major League Baseball Players Association's Players Trust will host a City Clinic from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Community America Ballpark located at 1800 Village W. Parkway in Kansas City, Kan. Several Royals players will join Ripken Baseball to provide free hands-on instruction for pre-selected youth baseball players. The Players Trust created the City Clinics program to help Major Leaguers address the dwindling number of African American youth playing baseball. Sponsored by Majestic Athletics, this program has impacted more than 6,000 disadvantaged youth across the United States.

• RBI Youth to Ride Fan Express - Select participants of the Kansas City, Kan., Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities program who participated in the MLBPA City Clinic earlier in the day will ride FOX Sports Kansas City's "Be Royal Fan Express" bus to attend the Twins vs. Royals game. The kids will be treated to tickets and food compliments of the MLBPA Player's Trust, FOX Sports Kansas City and the Royals. The bus is scheduled to arrive at Kauffman Stadium Gate C around 6:15 p.m.
• Dream Factory - Throughout the season, the Royals grant the wishes of Dream Factory children. These youngsters, who face life-altering challenges, will meet Royals players, watch batting practice from the dugout and enjoy the game and refreshments. Their Royals experience appears on the KMBC-TV (Channel 9) 10 p.m. newscast.

Thursday, July 31 - Minnesota Twins vs. Royals, 7:10 p.m.

• Special First Pitch - Tom Willis, a man born without arms, will throw out a first pitch prior to the series finale. Willis has thrown out a first pitch at several MLB ballparks across the country as part of his Pitch for Awareness tour. He will be in town to share his message of awareness of the abilities of persons with disabilities and will also participate in the Royals Charities 5K Run/Walk on Saturday. The race benefits Variety Children's Charity of Greater Kansas City, an organization providing children with developmental disabilities the adaptive equipment and opportunities need for activity and inclusion.

Friday, August 1

• Royals Charities 5K Packet Pick-Up - Participants of the annual Royals Charities 5K Run/Walk, scheduled for Saturday, August 2, can pick up their race packets from noon-8 p.m. at Ultramax Sports, located at 6911 Tomahawk in Prairie Village, Kan.

Saturday, August 2

• Royals Charities 5K Run/Walk - Royals Charities hosts the Royals Charities 5K Run/Walk presented by Hy-Vee, which begins at 8 a.m.   The event, which benefits Variety Children's Charity of Greater Kansas City, features a course that takes runners around the Kauffman Stadium warning track. Fans can register for the Royals Charities 5K Run/Walk online at www.royals.com/run until July 30 or during packet pick-up held at Ultramax Sports in Prairie Village, Kan., on August 1 or at Rivals Sports Bar from 6-7 a.m. on the morning of the race.

Fans may purchase tickets online at royals.com, by calling 1-800-6ROYALS, at area Hy-Vee stores or at the Kauffman Stadium Box Office. 

For more information, members of the media may contact the Royals Publicity Department at (816) 921-8000.