Twins broaden fund-raising efforts
11/23/2005
MINNEAPOLIS -- For the first time since 2001, the Twins couldn't call a season successful on the field because they didn't make it into the postseason.
But off the field, the club had 3.3 million reasons to feel good. That was the amount of money the Twins collected in contributions to its non-profit and community programs in the Upper Midwest, Southwest Florida and Latin America.
With three straight playoff teams from 2002-04, the Twins' popularity increased around the region. Charitable causes also thrived as a result.
"We understand as an organization the impact of giving back to the market," said Peter Martin, executive director of the Twins Community Fund. "We have ownership that drives our community outreach. We've not only increased the amount of dollars we've raised, but we've made a greater impact."
The Minnesota Twins Community Fund was established in 1991 to provide expanded recreation and education opportunities for young people. Last year, it contributed $2.85 million to support Upper Midwest charities with grants, community program expenses and donations of tickets and memorabilia. In 2003, the figure was $2.2 million.
Current and former Twins players helped raise more than $850,000 for nonprofit organizations through their involvement in charity fund-raising events. Players and the Twins' mascot, T.C. Bear, made more than 250 community appearances during the season.
One of the Twins Community Fund's biggest initiatives, the Fields for Kids program, received $217,000 in grants that helped renovate youth baseball and softball fields in 2005.
"We are proud of the community outreach and accomplishments of the Minnesota Twins and Twins Community Fund this season," said Twins president Dave St. Peter, who is also a Twins Community Fund board member. "The Fields for Kids ballfield renovation program built or renovated 36 ballfields in 2005. Since 1999, the Fields for Kids program has donated more than $1 million. This is just a small part of the overall contributions made by the Fund and Twins in 2005."
Other Twins Community Fund successes in 2005 were:
• The Twins Youth Clinic program visited more than 35 Upper Midwest and 15 Southwest Florida communities and provided free baseball and softball instruction to more than 12,000 youth.
• Grants totaling more than $139,000 were made to the Minneapolis and St. Paul Parks and Recreation departments and the Duluth and Rochester, Minn., and Winnipeg, Manitoba Boys & Girls Clubs to operate Twins Rookie League and RBI, inner-city youth baseball and softball leagues. More than 8,000 youth participated in Twins Rookie League and RBI programs.
• More than $155,000 was contributed to support TwinsCare, a Twins ticket donation program for disadvantaged youth and families.
• There were $13,000 in grants donated to 12 youth baseball and softball organizations to support regional tournaments.
• Minneapolis and St. Paul RBI programs hosted the RBI Central Regional Tournament, hosting more than 450 youth from around the United States.
• Eight youth-serving nonprofit organizations received a total of $7,000 in grants to support innovative efforts to expand youth baseball and softball in their respective communities.
• The Twins Wives Organization directed $45,000 in grants to Care Partners Division of Children's Cancer Research Fund, Human Services, Inc., Camp Heartland and Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare.
• In its inaugural year, 19 Upper Midwest high school seniors each received $1,000 in scholarship support for post-secondary education via the Diamonds & Dreams Scholarship Program.
• A collaboration of Minnesota youth baseball and softball organizations, called Play Ball Minnesota!, created a website (www.playballmn.com) to foster and promote youth baseball and softball. The collaboration also hosted the first-of-its-kind Minnesota Youth Baseball and Softball Conference in April.
In addition to the efforts of the Twins Community Fund, the club was also active in several other programs. More than 2,500 community organizations received donations of Twins memorabilia to help raise funds for their causes.
About $2.15 million in Twins tickets were donated to Upper Midwest nonprofit organizations serving economically disadvantaged youth. The Twins also helped raise more than $230,000 for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/
MINNEAPOLIS -- For the first time since 2001, the Twins couldn't call a season successful on the field because they didn't make it into the postseason.
But off the field, the club had 3.3 million reasons to feel good. That was the amount of money the Twins collected in contributions to its non-profit and community programs in the Upper Midwest, Southwest Florida and Latin America.
With three straight playoff teams from 2002-04, the Twins' popularity increased around the region. Charitable causes also thrived as a result.
"We understand as an organization the impact of giving back to the market," said Peter Martin, executive director of the Twins Community Fund. "We have ownership that drives our community outreach. We've not only increased the amount of dollars we've raised, but we've made a greater impact."
The Minnesota Twins Community Fund was established in 1991 to provide expanded recreation and education opportunities for young people. Last year, it contributed $2.85 million to support Upper Midwest charities with grants, community program expenses and donations of tickets and memorabilia. In 2003, the figure was $2.2 million.
Current and former Twins players helped raise more than $850,000 for nonprofit organizations through their involvement in charity fund-raising events. Players and the Twins' mascot, T.C. Bear, made more than 250 community appearances during the season.
One of the Twins Community Fund's biggest initiatives, the Fields for Kids program, received $217,000 in grants that helped renovate youth baseball and softball fields in 2005.
"We are proud of the community outreach and accomplishments of the Minnesota Twins and Twins Community Fund this season," said Twins president Dave St. Peter, who is also a Twins Community Fund board member. "The Fields for Kids ballfield renovation program built or renovated 36 ballfields in 2005. Since 1999, the Fields for Kids program has donated more than $1 million. This is just a small part of the overall contributions made by the Fund and Twins in 2005."
Other Twins Community Fund successes in 2005 were:
• The Twins Youth Clinic program visited more than 35 Upper Midwest and 15 Southwest Florida communities and provided free baseball and softball instruction to more than 12,000 youth.
• Grants totaling more than $139,000 were made to the Minneapolis and St. Paul Parks and Recreation departments and the Duluth and Rochester, Minn., and Winnipeg, Manitoba Boys & Girls Clubs to operate Twins Rookie League and RBI, inner-city youth baseball and softball leagues. More than 8,000 youth participated in Twins Rookie League and RBI programs.
• More than $155,000 was contributed to support TwinsCare, a Twins ticket donation program for disadvantaged youth and families.
• There were $13,000 in grants donated to 12 youth baseball and softball organizations to support regional tournaments.
• Minneapolis and St. Paul RBI programs hosted the RBI Central Regional Tournament, hosting more than 450 youth from around the United States.
• Eight youth-serving nonprofit organizations received a total of $7,000 in grants to support innovative efforts to expand youth baseball and softball in their respective communities.
• The Twins Wives Organization directed $45,000 in grants to Care Partners Division of Children's Cancer Research Fund, Human Services, Inc., Camp Heartland and Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare.
• In its inaugural year, 19 Upper Midwest high school seniors each received $1,000 in scholarship support for post-secondary education via the Diamonds & Dreams Scholarship Program.
• A collaboration of Minnesota youth baseball and softball organizations, called Play Ball Minnesota!, created a website (www.playballmn.com) to foster and promote youth baseball and softball. The collaboration also hosted the first-of-its-kind Minnesota Youth Baseball and Softball Conference in April.
In addition to the efforts of the Twins Community Fund, the club was also active in several other programs. More than 2,500 community organizations received donations of Twins memorabilia to help raise funds for their causes.
About $2.15 million in Twins tickets were donated to Upper Midwest nonprofit organizations serving economically disadvantaged youth. The Twins also helped raise more than $230,000 for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/
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