Omaha Storm Chasers' Community Relations 2012 Review

2012 Omaha Storm Chasers Community Relations Review

Kansas City Royals Caravan

Kansas City Royals’ players Alex Gordon, Mitch Maier and Johnny Giavotella, along with several other Royals dignitaries, stopped in for the annual Kansas City Royals Caravan in January 2012.

This year was special as one really lucky fan of the KC Royals met his hero Alex Gordon during the Children’s Hospital visit. Then the players met the Omaha Storm Chasers fans at the Kroc Center for Q&A.

Speakers’ Bureau

Members of the Omaha Storm Chasers Speakers’ Bureau spoke at dozens of engagements throughout the

Omaha metro area in 2012.

Read Across America

Omaha Storm Chasers staff took time during the months of

February and March to read to local schools around the Omaha

metro area.

How to Score

Mark Nasser, Director of Broadcasting for the Omaha Storm Chasers, visited schools in the Omaha metro area and taught them how to

keep score in baseball with a pencil and paper.

Hit the Books

The Hit the Books reading program was a huge success this season with a 45 schools participating, a total of 14,173 students.

Cox Home Run for Youth & Library Day

Cox Home Run for Youth was held on April 10. Over 2,000 students attended the game.

On August 5 and 6, the Omaha Public Library distributed 24,000 donated tickets for their Summer Reading Program.

Home Run Foundation of Greater Omaha

Robinson Athletic Scholarship

This year was our fourth annual Home Run Foundation of Greater Omaha-Robinson Athletic Scholarship. This years

recipients were Damaris McKeiver and Jazmine Polk. Each recipient

received a $500 scholarship.

89.7 Kids Who Rock

The Omaha Storm Chasers teamed up with 89.7 The River for the “Kids Who Rock” program. Fifteen children from

the ages 7-17 were nominated to come out to a game and an exclusive picnic at Werner Park.

Community Organization of the Night

Through our partnership with Today’s Dental, the Omaha Storm Chasers provided non- profits the opportunity to come out to Werner Park throughout the 2012 season. Each non- profit received:- Concourse booth- First pitch- On-field interview- Radio interview

Sam’s Club Canned Food Sunday

Every Sunday home game, the Omaha Storm Chasers and Sam’s Club help collect non-perishable canned goods in exchange for a FREE

McDonald’s Berm ticket. Over 3,600 items were donated.

Ronald McDonald House

With help from McDonald’s and Nissan of Omaha, the Storm Chasers shattered the previous record by raising $17,720 for the

Ronald McDonald House.

PlaySmart

For Every RBI, $10.00 went to PlaySmart, courtesy of Werner Enterprises. $3,840 was raised in 2012.

Public Service Appreciation

On August 4 the Omaha Storm Chasers held the annual Public Service Appreciation night for local police, fire, rescue and other service personnel.

Chasers FUNdamentals

Mission StatementBringing the game of baseball to the youth of minority populated areas in Omaha. In partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of the

Midlands and the Salvation Army North Corps, our efforts are focused on connecting Minor League Baseball and the Omaha Storm Chasers to those communities during a culturally diverse youth clinic

program.

Chasers FUNdamentals

The 2012 season marked the third year for the Chasers FUNdamentals program, presented by the Home Run Foundation of Greater Omaha and run by the Omaha Storm Chasers front office staff.

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Omaha participated in an eight-week clinic every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Hillside Little League ball fields.

The Salvation Army North Corps also took part in a four-week session of Chasers FUNdamentals, taking place at the North Corps location.

Each Wednesday, bus transportation for the participants of Chasers FUNdamentals was, for a third year, provided by the Peter Kiewit Foundation.

Chasers FUNdamentals

Goals of the Program• Bring baseball back to

minority communities• Teach minority children the

fundamentals of baseball• Assist local youth

organizations in securing funding and equipment

Chasers FUNdamentals

In 2012, the Storm Chasers were honored to welcome Major League Baseball great Darryl Strawberry for a Chasers FUNdamentals clinic.

Darryl was the 1983 National League Rookie of the Year and an 8-time All-Star. In his 17-year career he hit 335 home runs and had 1000 runs batted in.

Darryl spoke to the kids about the importance of education, hard work, and dedication. His lasting message was “if you believe it, you can be it.”

Chasers FUNdamentals

Autism Action Partnership Jersey Auction

Again for 2012 Autism Action

Partnership night was held at Werner Park. Game worn

jerseys were auctioned and

raised $5,950 for Autism Action Partnership.

Nebraska Colon Cancer Jersey Auction

The jersey auction on July 14 went to the Nebraska Colon

Cancer, raising $3,840.

Aflac Children’s Cancer Center of Atlanta

Omaha Storm Chasers players and coaches

sported blue pinstripe jerseys in honor of Aflac Children’s Cancer Center of Atlanta on Thursday,

July 19. The Aflac Children’s Cancer Center of Atlanta raised $3,940.

Nebraska Organ Recovery Jersey Auction

On August 4, the Omaha Storm Chasers auctioned off special jerseys for Nebraska Organ Recovery at Werner Park.

They raised $4,095.

CARE ProgramChasers Actively Reaching Everyone

Thanks to all the season ticket holders who turned in their unused tickets to give over 500 children the opportunity to

come out to Werner Park during the 2012 season.

Donations

The Omaha Storm Chasers were very proud to have donated over $39,000 in monetary donations, merchandise,

suites tickets, min plans and birthday parties.

Staff Community Hours

The Storm Chasers staff members volunteered throughout the 2012 season. Collectively, they had a

total of 901 hours.

Player Appearances

The Omaha Storm Chasers baseball players made 73

different appearances during the 2012 season.

Mascot Appearances

Stormy, Casey and Vortex were busy as the Omaha Storm Chasers mascots. Besides the 75 home

games they also did 129 free mascot appearances.

Jirschele Family Memorial Golf Outing benefiting MDA

This was a very special day for the Jirschele Family, the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Omaha Storm Chasers. The outing was held at Eagle Hills Golf Course,

raising $1,395 in support of MDA.

Salvation ArmyBell Ringing

Memories for Kids

The Omaha Storm Chasers were the first to host an event for the Omaha Memories for Kids. On February 25, the LaHood family

and friends took a sneak peek in the Chasers locker room, took batting practice, and

toured Werner Park.

Memories for Kids

Pitch, Hit and Run

Werner Park hosted Pitch, Hit and Run on April 22, 2012.

Great Plains Black History Museum

The Omaha Storm Chasers hosted the Great Plains Black History Museum at Werner Park from May 17-May 20.

Thanks to Werner Enterprises for helping transport the exhibit.

VODEC Dance

The Storm Chasers were proud to host the Vocational

Development Center’s (VODEC) dance under the “Big Top” at

Werner Park.

Walk to Defeat ALS

- For the second consecutive year, the Walk to Defeat ALS was held at Werner Park. - The walk is an opportunity to bring hope to ALS patients and to raise money for a cure. - This year’s walk helped raise over $127,716.70 to defeat ALS. The Omaha Storm Chasers raised over $10,000.

Boxer 500

The Omaha Storm Chasers were proud to host the 2012 Boxer 500 5K Run/Walk, 1M Walk & Kid’s Run at Werner Park. Over 1,000 people ran or walked in support of Colon

Cancer Awareness.

Light the Night Walk

On October 11 the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society held the Light the Night Walk at Werner

Park. Over 1,500 participated in the walk.

The Omaha Storm Chasers would like to thank all of our fans and

partners for your support during the 2012 season.

For more information about the Omaha Storm Chasers Community

Relations Department, contact:Andrea Stava (402) 738-5115 [email protected]

See you all next season!

2012 Omaha Storm Chasers Community Relations Review