PHOENIX -- March 9 is a date that has always stood out in Arizona as it was on that date in 1995 that Major League Baseball awarded an expansion franchise to Phoenix and Tampa-St. Pete.
Now, that day has another meaning in Diamondbacks history as the team announced it had surpassed $100 million in giving over the last 31 years, a milestone that was noted by Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, who proclaimed Monday as “D-backs Give Back Day” in the state.
The Diamondbacks commemorated the milestone by hosting an event at Chase Field for 100 of their non-profit partners as well as civic leaders and donors.
None were told there would be a red-carpet entrance and that they would receive a commemorative trophy and jacket. The Diamondbacks also made available 10,000 tickets this season for the non-profits to distribute as they see fit.
"The minute the doors opened and I saw all of our non-profit partners surprised and the smiles on their faces, it made it all worthwhile," said Debbie Castaldo, who runs the Diamondbacks’ community outreach programs.
Some of the highlights from the last 31 years include:
- More than $100 million in total charitable giving supporting hundreds of non-profit organizations statewide.
- More than $12.8 million awarded through the Ken Kendrick Grand Slam Awards.
- More than $7 million distributed through the Derrick Hall President’s Circle Grants.
- 46 baseball and softball fields built or renovated statewide through the Mike Kennedy 'Diamonds Back' Field Building Program.
- Six Kendrick Family Fields constructed to provide permanent community infrastructure.
- The D-backs Give Back Youth Jersey Program, which is the largest youth jersey initiative in professional sports.
- Free participation programs including D-backs Nike RBI serving underserved youth.
"We don't always control the results on the field," Diamondbacks team president/CEO Derrick Hall said. "You have bad luck, bad bounces, you have injuries. But we do control what we do when it comes to giving back to our fans and making them proud of that impact that we make in the community. We give back more each year than all of the other local sports teams combined. We're very proud of that. We don't do it so we can brag or pat ourselves in the back. We do it because we know it's the right thing to do. We understand that we're a community asset, and we understand our social responsibility as a franchise."
That has been a hallmark of the team and its best players since its inception. From Luis Gonzalez, who joined the Diamondbacks in 1999, to Paul Goldschmidt to Corbin Carroll, all of the faces of the franchise through the years have been known for their community involvement.
"Being a part of the community is something that was emphasized when I came here," Gonzalez said. "And that was important to me as well, and you've seen it with other guys through the years -- we knew how important it is to be a part of the community and we welcomed it."
One organization the Diamondbacks work closely with is the Boys & Girls Club of the Valley and its president and CEO Marcia Mintz spoke at Monday's event.
"$100 million in charitable giving," Mintz said. "That's not just a number on a check, something to grab a headline or even something to write on the back of a jersey. It's 31 years, hundreds of thousands of Arizonans being fed, sheltered, mentored, and given the opportunities to learn and play. It's hundreds of non-profits being able to open their doors, launch programs and say yes to one more child who needs help. The Diamondbacks have shown up through changing seasons, changing needs and changing times. That kind of long-term commitment is very, very rare, and it's changed what's possible for Arizona's future."
So what's next for the Diamondbacks’ community efforts after raising a record $13.2 million last year?
"We're already thinking about the next $100 million," Hall said.