PIRATES CHARITIES PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS

On Thursday, June 8 the Pirates officially announced a partnership with EL1 Sports, a leading national youth sports training company, to support access to high-quality development tools and resources for youth athletes in the Pittsburgh region with the goal of increasing local participation in baseball and softball and developing local talent. To help further the efforts of this new partnership, EL1 and the Pirates will be opening the first-ever "Pirates Training Center" located in Canonsburg, Pa., operating as Bianco School of Baseball, powered by the Pirates. From team exercises and seasonal camps to high-level tournaments and one-on-one lessons, athletes from all backgrounds and corners of the community will build on their experience, level-up their skills and develop their character, while reaping the benefits and joys of our National Pastime.

In partnership with A Glimmer of Hope, the Pirates and Pirates Charities hosted the annual Pitch for Hope Women's Baseball Clinic on June 3 at PNC Park. Clinic participants rotated through stations on the field and received instruction from Pirates players and coaching staff including Rob Zastryzny, JT Brubaker, Derek Shelton, Mike Rabelo, Oscar Marin, and their significant others. Participants then were treated to a brunch at the ballpark where they enjoyed specialty products from Aveda and Kendra Scott, participated in a special raffle featuring autographed items, and spent quality time bonding and supporting one another in their journeys that have all been impacted by breast cancer. All proceeds from the event benefit A Glimmer of Hope and the great work that they do in our community to fight against breast cancer.

In honor of Memorial Day and Military Appreciation Month, Pirates Charities hosted a Military Heroes Clinic on May 28 where veterans, military servicemen and women participated in a clinic on the field at PNC Park. Military heroes from Friends of Fisher House, Guardian Angels Service Dogs, Helping Heroes, Veterans Leadership Program, TAPS, Veterans Breakfast Club and Veterans Place on Washington Boulevard participated in a five-station clinic, honing their skills and creating lifetime memories at the ballpark. After the clinic, participants enjoyed a cookout-style lunch with Pirates pitcher JT Brubaker and were honored and thanked for their bravery and service.

Pirates Charities hosted the second annual Family Walk presented by Allegheny Health Network and Highmark on Saturday, May 20 where Pirates players and coaches, front office staff, partners, mascots and fans gathered at PNC Park to walk together for mental health. Fans walked throughout the ballpark, enjoying beautiful sites, mindful moments and quality time with loved ones before ending the walk by crossing home plate. After the walk, participants were joined by mascots and players for a mental health resource fair and carnival to enjoy games, music, face painting and more! This event is key to reducing stigmas surrounding mental health while also raising funds that support important mental health programming in the Pittsburgh area, such as Pirates Charities and AHN’s CHILL Mobile program.

The Pirates and Pirates Charities are proud to have hosted the opening ceremonies for the 12th annual Special Olympics of Pennsylvania Be a Fan Torch Run at PNC Park on Tuesday, May 16th. Chairman Bob Nutting was joined by local dignitaries to welcome more than 125 law enforcement officials and Special Olympics athletes to celebrate the start of the three-day, 150 mile torch run from Pittsburgh to State College, PA, the site of the 2023 Special Olympics Pennsylvania Summer Games.

As a part of the Pirates and Pirates Charities growing partnership with Friends of Pittsburgh Fisher House, Pirates players were joined by volunteers from 84 Lumber to do an overhaul of the home’s kitchen and laundry room. Vince Velasquez and Rob Zastryzny also spent time getting to know veterans and service men and women who were supported by the Fisher House over lunch, courtesy of Giant Eagle. Friends of Fisher House provides free of charge accommodations for families of veterans and active-duty military personnel who are hospitalized at the VA of Pittsburgh. Friends of Fisher House was celebrated for the work they do to support those who have made the ultimate sacrifice as a part of the Pirates Military Monday game on May 8.

On April 22, Pirates Charities hosted a Miracle League Fantasy Camp at the Miracle League of South Hills where 45 of their athletes were joined by Pirates players, coaches, significant others and mascots as they practiced their skills throughout this clinic-style event. Each Miracle League athlete was outfitted in a custom Pirates jersey with their name on the back, a Pirates hat and other Pirates goodies prior to the clinic, which took place on their newly re-surfaced adaptive playing field that Pirates Charities helped to support. Each athlete had their name announced during the opening ceremonies and then rotated through five stations, hitting, pitching, fielding, fly balls and base running, while Pirates players and coaching staff gave them pointers, encouragement and a unique Pirates experience they and their families will never forget.

The Pirates welcomed a group of Pirates RBI and local softball athletes for a Women’s History Month Networking and Service Event. The young athletes heard from a panel made up of women from the Pirates front office, and later networked with the panel that spoke in addition to other female staff from the Pirates and our partners at Duquesne Light. After learning about different career opportunities in sports, the softball athletes and participating female staff members participated in a service project where they put together care packages for The Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh.

On February 22, Pirates Charities hosted a Miracle League Fantasy Camp for 35 athletes from the Miracle League of Manasota alongside Pirates players, coaches, and mascots. Each Miracle League athlete received a custom Pirates jersey with their name on the back, a Pirates hat and other Pirates goodies prior to enjoying the clinic-style event, which took place on an adaptive playing surface to ensure athletes of all abilities could enjoy the event. Each athlete had their name announced during the opening ceremonies, was welcomed to the field by Pirates Chairman Bob Nutting and then rotated through five stations, hitting, pitching, fielding, fly balls and base running, while Pirates players and coaching staff gave them pointers and provided a once-in-a-lifetime experience for these athletes and their families.

In effort to support local veterans during the winter months, players and front office staff volunteers were joined by volunteers from 84 Lumber to make care packages of essential home goods, Pirates goodies, and delivered them along with a meal, catered by Chick-fil-A, to Veterans Place of Washington Boulevard. Veterans Place provides transitional housing, workforce development and employment services, and is the home to the Veterans Resource Center which provides meals, and daily, local transportation special interest programs to support varying needs of veterans and their families!

This holiday season, the Pirates have been proud to support our community through various activations aimed at making the holidays a little brighter for those in need. Through a partnership with the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, the Pirates front office and uniformed staff adopted 150 local kids, providing gifts and stocking stuffers including items such as toys, games, bikes and clothing. In addition, the Pirates took part in the Latino Community Center’s annual holiday event by providing gifts to kids they serve and having Pirates players and the Parrot pose for photos with kids and families, bringing smiles to all who participated. The entire Pittsburgh Pirates organizations wishes you and your loved ones a Happy Holiday season!

This Thanksgiving, the Pirates once again joined forces with the Penguins and Steelers to host a Thanksgiving meal distribution on Pittsburgh's North Shore, which served 300 families in need. Players from each team including David Bednar, Jake Guentzel and Mitch Trubisky proudly sported their black and gold alongside the Pirate Parrot, Iceburgh and Steely McBeam while loading cars with pies and gift cards from Giant Eagle, a fresh turkey and box of all the fixings from the Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and goodies from each of the teams to allow families to celebrate together with their loved ones around a full table.