Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are committed to positively influencing and supporting the local community beyond just baseball. We believe that in keeping with the New York Yankees tradition, we have a responsibility to give back to the community that has supported us throughout the years. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders organization places priority on supporting the communities where our fans and employees live and work. We support many organizations and charities, including groups assisting disadvantaged youth, educational development and youth baseball programs. In addition, the RailRiders community outreach program will continue to grow over the next several years, as we plan to implement senior citizen, military, school and community organization programs in an effort to become the most community-minded Minor League Baseball team in the nation.
Donations Monetary Griffin Pond Animal Shelter $190 Children s Advocacy Center $150 City of Wilkes-Barre $100 Greater Scranton Jaycees $250 Sandy Hook School Support Fund $1,700 American Red Cross Hurricane Sandy Relief $1,000 Total $3,390 Gifts-In-Kind Assorted Non-Profit Organizations and Charities $40,000 Homeless and Women s Shelters $35,000 Salvation Army $10,000 NEPA Boys and Girls Club $1,500 American Red Cross $500 Friends of the Poor $15,000 Pennsylvania Clothing Recyclers $20,000 Lackawanna County Children and Youth $5,000 Little Sisters of the Poor $5,000 CHAMP Appearances $35,000 Total $167,000
CHAMP Appearances There s nothing more important than getting your name out in the community, no matter what type of business you re in. It helps when you have the perfect walking billboard like the beloved CHAMP, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders mascot, who made nearly 350 appearances in 2012. CHAMP is by far the most active community member of the SWB RailRiders front office, although he tends to spend more time having fun than actually working. CHAMP will be joined by a couple of friends in 2013, but will continue to be one of the iconic images of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre franchise.
Adopt-A-Field Program In 2012, the SWB RailRiders implemented the inaugural year of the Adopt-A- Field Program. Each year, the RailRiders front office will adopt two Little League fields -- one respectively in both Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties -- to provide service and groundskeeping duties. RailRiders front office staff and groundskeeping crew spend an entire day renovating the Little League s field, from re-building pitcher s mounds, to infield maintenance, to ensuring measurements are correct, along with working on the bullpen and warning track areas. In 2012, Little League fields selected were Moosic Little League and Kingston/ Forty Fort Little League. A social media contest will be held each year to select the field to be renovated.
Tokach takeover When the SWB RailRiders heard of the tragic arson fire at Plains Little League s Tokach Field in June, we could only imagine how emotionally drained the players, parents and community were. All SWB staff members quickly sprung into action, organizing all the family fun and entertainment that we would provide at a SWB RailRiders home game: A public address announcer, mascot CHAMP, pre-game introductions, a National Anthem performer, color guard, music, promotions, in-between-innings skits, a hat giveaway, a special edition game program and much more. The turnout was amazing. Nearly 1,000 fans gathered to support Plains Little League and make donations. The event raised the spirits of all involved and raised more than $4,000 to help rebuild the Little League s concession stand that was burned. Tokach Takeover was also a finalist for MiLB s Golden Bobblehead Award for Best Charity Promotion.
Hope Week 2012 The SWB Yankees and Rochester Red Wings shared the Red Wings home stadium of Frontier Field during the 2012 season. On August 8 and 9, the Yankees and the Red Wings joined forces during HOPE Week (Helping Others Persevere & Excel). SWB and Rochester hosted Challenger Little League teams on August 8 from Greece and Fairport, with players from both teams as well as the coaching staffs from the Yankees and Red Wings providing assistance to the athletes competing in a special game at Frontier Field. On August 9, Yankees and Red Wings players hosted a pair of baseball clinics for the Rochester Boys and Girls Club and Rochester Hispanic Youth Baseball, teaching baseball fundamentals to both groups. Following each of the events all of the participants had the opportunity to have lunch with players and coaches from both teams and get autographs from their favorite Yankees and Red Wings.
New Jersey for New Jersey In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre RailRiders decided to team up with the American Red Cross to hold a donation drive during the team s Big Reveal party on November 14, where the organization announced its new name, logos and uniforms. During the Big Reveal attendees could donate $1 or one can of food for a raffle ticket, which gave the donator the opportunity to win a brand new SWB RailRiders authentic jersey. The event raised nearly $1,000 and numerous boxes of canned goods to benefit victims of Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey.
Trail of Treats Each October, the SWB RailRiders participate in the annual Trail of Treats program to benefit the United Way. Children from United Way agencies -- most have physical and/or mental challenges -- are invited to trick or treat the safe way as many local businesses set up booths and hand out candy. The SWB RailRiders booth continues to be a favorite stop along the trail.
Make-A-Wish scoopers On September 27, Scranton/Wilkes- Barre RailRiders front office staff members were celebrity scoopers at Cold Stone Creamery on Montage Mountain in Moosic, PA. Although they were no ice cream scooping pros, they got the job done and benefited a great cause. CHAMP also showed up to help and show his support. All proceeds benefited the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
United Way s Day of Caring In June, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders participated in the United Way s Day of Caring by painting and updating a children s room at the NEPA Child Development Council in Wilkes-Barre. The Child Development Council is a private, non-profit child care organization serving more than 1,200 children annually from 6 weeks to 12 years of age in Luzerne and Wyoming Counties in northeast Pennsylvania. The mission of the Council is to provide the highest quality of child care possible for all children entrusted to its care while promoting their social, emotional, physical and intellectual development.
NEPA Boys & Girls Club Members of the SWB Rail- Riders front office staff visited the NEPA Boys & Girls Club in September... and came bearing gifts. Members of the club were given an official SWB Yankees gameday hat, a T-shirt and trading card sets. CHAMP came along to help out, but spent more time goofing off than helping. In all, the RailRiders donated about $1,500 in merchandise to the club
Newtown Donation When the SWB RailRiders front office learned of the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, the team decided to use an already planned event as a way to raise funds for the victims. On December 15, the Saturday after the incident, the RailRiders held their first-ever Holiday Tent Sale at PNC Field. Ten percent of the sales that day went to the Sandy Hook School Support Fund, a fund set up by the United Way to provide support services to the families that were affected by the mass shooting. The team was able to donate more than $1,700 to the cause thanks to donations and proceeds raised from the sale.