RoughRiders Awarded "Community Partner of the Year"
Friday, February 05, 2010
Frisco, TX - The Frisco RoughRiders' community involvement in 2009 was recognized at The 26th Annual Frisco Chamber of Commerce Awards Celebration. Last year the RoughRiders donated cash, goods and services to over 750 community organizations. Among them were organizations like Frisco Family Services, Frisco Miracle League, the Collin County Children's Advocacy Center and the Frisco Officer Recovery Fund.
The RoughRiders Foundation leads the team's community efforts. Now, in its seventh year, the RoughRiders Foundation works to enhance the community through charitable contributions, grants and programming initiatives. The key areas of focus for the RoughRiders Foundation are organizations that motivate and reward children and families in areas of education, good health and community service activities.
The RoughRiders Foundation has seen significant growth in the past three seasons. Since 2007, the RoughRiders Foundation has grown the amount of fundraising by 300%. Fundraising efforts center around three key events; 'Riders Bowl in the spring, the RoughRiders Foundation Golf Tournament in the summer and a Home Run Derby in the fall. Mixed in with these events are memorabilia and jersey auctions throughout the year along with "Pass the Boot", at Texas League tradition of collecting donations for players who hit home runs at home games.
In 2009, the RoughRiders Foundation partnered with the Taylor Hooton Foundation to host "Hoot's Chalk Talk." This program was the first time the Taylor Hooton Foundation partnered with a Minor League Baseball team to use a baseball clinic to educate children about the dangers of performance enhancing drugs. RoughRiders players were on hand to teach baseball drills and the 'Riders athletic trainer and strength and conditioning coach helped reinforce the message of the program.
Last year the 'Riders also supported local education through the FISD Teacher Recognition Program. Teachers from five FISD schools were recognized for their contributions to both their schools and communities. Selected teachers were treated as "VIPs" at Dr Pepper Ballpark, were recognized on the field at a RoughRiders' game, and were given a check for $500 to be split between the Frisco Education Foundation and the winning teacher's school.
Supporting teachers and education is also an important reason the team created the Teachers Tools Program. For the fifth year, the RoughRiders partnered with 5th grade classes in Frisco ISD and ten other local school districts on this program. Fifth grade teachers were given merchandise, tickets and passes to an exclusive carnival day at Dr Pepper Ballpark as tools to reward students. Over 60 schools and 6,000 students were impacted by this program.
When asked about the Roughriders' award, Frisco Mayor Maher Maso commented that, "it was exciting to see the RoughRiders receive a reward that is so well deserved. While the reward was for the 2009 year, the RoughRiders have been a true community partner every year. They never hesitate to get involved and always give back to the community in many different ways. Frisco is fortunate to have them in our city."
In addition to programming initiatives and financial contributions, the 'Riders donated one of their greatest resources to the community in 2009 - Dr Pepper Ballpark. In April, the RoughRiders hosted the 2nd Annual Easter "Eggstravaganza" egg hunt. In October the 'Riders hosted the 2nd Annual Pumpkin Patch at Dr Pepper Ballpark.
The RoughRiders look forward to building upon and enhancing their efforts in the community in 2010 and beyond.
About the RoughRiders
The Frisco RoughRiders are the Double-A Affiliate of the Texas Rangers and play their games at Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco, Texas. The team has finished first in all of Double-A Baseball in attendance in each season from 2005 - 2009. The RoughRiders are also owned by Mandalay Sports Entertainment winners of the "Baseball Organization of the Year" in 2008 by Ballpark Digest. For more information on Mandalay Baseball Properties, the Frisco RoughRiders and Dr Pepper Ballpark, contact Aaron Goldsmith at (972)334-1976 or via email at AGoldsmith@RidersBaseball
