Royals in the Community

KANSAS CITY, MO (July 18, 2013) - The legacy of the MLB All-Star Game held in Kansas City last July continues into 2013 with special events during the upcoming homestand. On July 19, during a special pregame ceremony, the Royals will recognize this year's class of All-Star Scholars. Using funds from the 2012 All-Star Game, the Royals and Royals Charities will also support the groundbreaking of two baseball fields in Independence, Mo. and Olathe, Kan., on July 23 and 24.

Along with the All-Star celebrations, the Royals will also host a Miracle League Game (July 20) and the annual Ban Johnson All-Star Game (July 21). In addition, plenty of kids programs will be held at Kauffman Stadium, including KidsFest and a special Toys for Tots collection on July 21, Buses for Baseball on July 22 and RBI Night on July 25.

Friday, July 19 - Detroit Tigers vs. Royals, 7:10 p.m.

• Meet Greg Holland at Majestic Team Store - 2013 All-Star Greg Holland will sign autographs and meet fans at the Majestic Team Store at Kauffman Stadium from 1-2 p.m. The Team Store opens at noon, and the autograph session is free to all guests. Please note that autographs will be limited to two per person each time through the autograph line.
• Headbands of Hope - Several Royals Wives, led by Nicole Johnson, and Sluggerrr will visit The University of Kansas Cancer Center, located at 2330 Shawnee Mission Parkway (west entrance off Belinder St.) in Westwood, Kan., for a Headbands of Hope distribution at 1:30 p.m. The wives will deliver specially-designed headbands to young girls battling cancer. For every headband purchased through www.headbandsofhope.org, one is donated to a girl with cancer and $1 is donated to the St. Baldrick's Foundation to fund life-saving childhood cancer research.
• Hosmer Big Brothers/Big Sisters Meet & Greet - During batting practice, Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer will meet children and mentors involved in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program of Greater Kanas City. Hosmer serves as a spokesperson for BBBS and hosted a recruiting event for "Bigs" earlier this year.
• 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 will receive complimentary tickets in section 206, a "Big Game James" t-shirt and a free meal courtesy of ARAMRARK and Papa John's Pizza. Guests will also participate in a meet and greet with Shields prior to the game. 
• 50/50 Raffle presented by Edelman & Thompson - Royals Charities is hosting a 50/50 Raffle for every Royals home game in 2013, giving fans more chances to win big! Royals Charities staffers will sell raffle tickets from the time the gates open until the end of the sixth inning. One winning ticket will be selected with the winner taking home half of the evening's net proceeds. www.royals.com/5050.
• All-Star Scholars Recognition - Prior to the game, Royals will recognize the 2013 class of the MLB Royals All-Star Scholars program. The Scholars have the opportunity for a $2,500 per-year scholarship, renewable up to four years at any two- or four-year college/university in Missouri or Kansas. The 2012 class, who just completed their first year of college, will also be on-hand to welcome the new scholars. The students were selected from the 20/20 Leadership program, which serves students from moderate- to low-income families to educate and expose them to community issues, develop personal and leadership skills and build community-wide relationships. The program identifies five students per year and was created from proceeds from the 2012 All-Star Game in Kansas City.

Saturday, July 20 - Detroit Tigers vs. Royals, 6:10 p.m.

• Meet Aaron Crow at Rally House - Pitcher Aaron Crow will sign autographs and meet fans at the Rally House in Independence, Mo., from noon-1 p.m. The autograph session is free to all guests. Please note that autographs will be limited to two per person each time through the autograph line.
• Royals Host Miracle League Game - The Royals will host young baseball players from the Miracle League of Olathe to play a game at the Blue KC Little K from 4-5 p.m. The kids, who have various types of physical disabilities, have been playing in the backyard of a home in Merriam, Kan. On Wednesday, the Royals will join other community groups to break ground on a new field that will be used by the young ballplayers near Olathe Northwest High School. 
• 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.
• State Farm Pitch In Award - State Farm Insurance honors a local organization that positively impacts the Kansas City area during a special recognition prior to the game. On July 20, State Farm and the Royals honor the Kelsey Smith Foundation, which was formed in 2007 after the abduction, sexual assault, and murder of 18-year-old Kelsey Smith. Her parents, Greg & Missey Smith, work to honor and perpetuate Kelsey's life by empowering families, friends, and communities to proactively protect one of its most precious resources, namely its youth and young adults. In addition, they have advocated for the passage of the Kelsey Smith Act, a law to help locate missing people, which has passed in 14 states, including Kansas and Missouri.
• 50/50 Raffle presented by Edelman & Thompson - A Royals Charities fundraiser in which one lucky fan will win big! www.royals.com/5050. 

Sunday, July 21 - Detroit Tigers 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 Tigers. 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. 
• Kids Fest - Before the game, kids and fans young at heart can enjoy lots of entertainment and activities in the Outfield Experience including a concert by School of Rock, autograph session with Sluggerrr and plenty more! The first 5,000 kids, 14 and under, will get a Sluggerrr Bank, courtesy of the Kansas City Zoo. There will also be a Toys for Tots collection set up at the entry gates for anyone who wants to drop off new and unopened toys. Gates open at 11:30 a.m. www.royals.com/kidsfest.
• UMPS CARE - The Royals partner with Major League Baseball umpires to offer memorable baseball experiences for children awaiting adoption and at-risk youth in mentoring programs. The children receive a VIP experience including complimentary tickets, a baseball goody bag, and the unique opportunity to step on to the field for a souvenir baseball and photo.

• Royals Troopers - The Royals Grounds Crew welcomes select children who have a parent deployed through the United States military efforts overseas to join them in game preparations as part of the Royals Troopers program. The honored kids will help prepare the field prior to the game and will receive game tickets and Royals merchandise.
• 50/50 Raffle presented by Edelman & Thompson - A Royals Charities fundraiser in which one lucky fan will win big! www.royals.com/5050. 

Monday, July 22 - Baltimore Orioles vs. Royals, 7:10 p.m.

• Royals Baseball Ability Camp - The Royals are partnering with the Recreation Council of Greater Kansas City (RCGKC) to present a free interactive camp that allows kids with physical or developmental disabilities to experience the joy of playing baseball. The camp will run from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the YMCA Challenger Sports Complex in Kansas City, Mo. Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar and pitcher Luis Mendoza will take part starting at 11 a.m., and Sluggerrr will make an appearance starting at 10:30 a.m. For more information, visit www.rcgkc.org.
• Buses for Baseball - The Major League Baseball Players Association hosts underprivileged children in all 30 ballparks through the Buses for Baseball program. The special guests will have a chance to meet with select Royals players behind the Royals dugout during batting practice and will receive tickets, souvenirs, food and transportation. 
• 50/50 Raffle presented by Edelman & Thompson - A Royals Charities fundraiser in which one lucky fan will win big! www.royals.com/5050. 

Tuesday, July 23 - Baltimore Orioles vs. Royals, 7:10 p.m.

• Independence Field Groundbreaking - In partnership with Variety Children's Charity of Greater Kansas City and the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, the Kansas City Royals and Royals Charities will use funds from the 2012 MLB Gatorade All-Star Workout Day to support the building of two adaptive baseball fields for children with disabilities. The first groundbreaking ceremony will be held at 12:30 p.m. at McCoy Park near Highway 24 and Delaware in Independence, Mo. 
• 50/50 Raffle presented by Edelman & Thompson - A Royals Charities fundraiser in which one lucky fan will win big! www.royals.com/5050.

Wednesday, July 24 - Baltimore Orioles vs. Royals, 7:10 p.m.

• Olathe Field Groundbreaking - The Royals and Royals Charities will host a groundbreaking ceremony for the second of two adaptive fields being built with proceeds from the 2012 MLB Gatorade All-Star Workout Day that will serve as the new home field for the Miracle League of Olathe. Festivities are set to begin at 12:30 p.m. at the Olathe Northwest High School Athletic Complex in Olathe, Kan. 
• 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.
• Perfect Attendance Night - More than 6,000 area elementary school children who achieve perfect attendance throughout the academic school year are honored at one of two Perfect Attendance Days (the first was July 2). The Royals salute these dedicated students with complimentary tickets.
• 50/50 Raffle presented by Edelman & Thompson - A Royals Charities fundraiser in which one lucky fan will win big! www.royals.com/5050.

Thursday, July 25 - Baltimore Orioles vs. Royals, 7:10 p.m.

• RBI Night - The Royals host participants in the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program of Kansas City, Kan., for a special night at Kauffman Stadium. The kids receive complimentary tickets, food and special recognition during the game.
• 50/50 Raffle presented by Edelman & Thompson - A Royals Charities fundraiser in which one lucky fan will win big! One winning ticket will be selected with the winner taking home half of the evening's net proceeds. On July 25, the other half will be directed to Harvesters - The Community Food Network. www.royals.com/5050. 

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