2013-08-15

The Orioles have supported the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS), a non-profit shelter that accepts and cares for all animals in need and promotes responsible pet ownership for a more humane community in Baltimore City, through pet calendar sales and player appearances at the shelter over the last several years, raising close to $100,000 for the organization through these efforts. The club will continue its support of BARCS this Saturday, August 17 as WEI-YIN CHEN, J.J. HARDY, NATE McLOUTH, TROY PATTON, CHRIS TILLMAN and MATT WIETERS will be on hand at the shelter from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to sign autographs for those who purchased a 2014 Orioles Pet Calendar. For a complete list of the players’ autograph schedule at the shelter, fans should visit www.orioles.com/petcalendar. Calendars will be available for purchase on Saturday at the BARCS Animal Shelter, in addition, the calendars are on sale now at www.orioles.com/petcalendar, at the Orioles Team Store in York, PA, and will be on-sale at Oriole Park beginning Friday, with proceeds to benefit BARCS. The 2014 Orioles Pet Calendar is presented by High’s Dairy Stores.

To help further support BARCS’ efforts, Orioles players including CHRIS DAVIS, TOMMY HUNTER, NATE McLOUTH, DARREN O’DAY and MATT WIETERS will appear at “Pawz for Pazo,” an exclusive event at PAZO Restaurant in Harbor East on Sunday, September 8. A limited number of tickets have been made available for purchase for $100 for the event, which will take place from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Admission to the event includes a signed 2014 Orioles Pet Calendar and food and drinks. Tickets are available at www.missiontix.com.

The largest companion animal shelter in Maryland, BARCS takes in over 12,000 dogs and cats and 1,000 wildlife and other small mammals annually. On any given day, BARCS cares for 110 dogs and 110 cats in the shelter, plus more than 800 animals in foster care.

SPECIAL CEREMONIES

RBI CEREMONY AND TROPHY PRESENTATION

On Friday, August 16 before their game against the Colorado Rockies, the Orioles will recognize players and coaches of the Baltimore RBI League champion teams in a special on-field ceremony. The champions --  Liberty Road (12 and under age group), the Gardenville Grays (13-15 age group), the Parkville Patriots (16-18 age group) and the Baltimore Rattlers (softball) -- will be honored in the ceremony. Over 500 Baltimore teenagers participated in the Orioles-funded league this summer.

MATCHBOX TWENTY’S KYLE COOK TO PERFORM NATIONAL ANTHEM

On Monday, August 19, the Orioles will welcome Matchbox Twenty’s lead guitarist KYLE COOK to perform the National Anthem before their game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Fans unable to attend the game will be able to enjoy the performance live on MASN and on the Orioles Radio Network, including flagship WBAL 1090 AM. Leading up to the performance, the Orioles held a sweepstakes online at www.orioles.com and randomly selected five lucky winners (and their guests) to attend the game and have a chance to meet Kyle before the performance.

SUMMER READING CLUB

On Monday, August 19, the Orioles will welcome the Maryland Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Lillian Lowery, and the 2013 Summer Reading Representatives from all the counties in Maryland. These students represent over 160,000 children all over Maryland who participated in the 2013 Summer Reading Club, Dig Into Reading.  The students registered at their local public libraries and completed the “Reading Log” by reading books, graphic novels or magazines.  The Orioles supported the 2013 Summer Reading Club, donating tickets to every library branch in Maryland. The Summer Reading Club is a cooperative project between local public libraries, such as Enoch Pratt Free Library and Baltimore County Public Library, the Maryland State Department of Education, and the Division of Library Development and Services, with funding from the Institute for Museum and Library Services.  

Y OF CENTRAL MARYLAND CAMP CEREMONY

Prior to their game against the Oakland Athletics on Friday, August 23, the Orioles will recognize children from the Y of Central Maryland in a pre-game ceremony. With the support of Orioles outfielder ADAM JONES, the Y of Central Maryland’s Send a Child to Camp campaign raised a record high of $238,524 this year, more than doubling last year’s total of $117,000. From June 5 through July 16, every $175 donation to the campaign included entry into a raffle to win four premium lower reserve tickets to an Orioles home game and the opportunity to meet Jones at batting practice. A total of 386 children have been provided scholarship financial assistance to attend Y Journeys summer camps this year in Baltimore City and throughout Central Maryland thanks in part to Jones’ support and a $17,500 donation to the program by the Orioles Charitable Foundation.

IN THE COMMUNITY

WAYNE KIRBY AT GARDENVILLE BASEBALL AWARDS CEREMONY

On Sunday, August 18 at 6:00 p.m., Orioles first base coach WAYNE KIRBY will speak at the awards ceremony for Gardenville Baseball, recognizing the efforts of all participants in the program. Gardenville is a baseball and softball league that has one team in each of the Orioles’ RBI program divisions (10-12,13-15,16-18 and softball) and is the home site of the Orioles’ Baltimore City Clinic.

HENRY URRUTIA AT YORK TEAM STORE

Orioles outfielder HENRY URRUTIA will make an appearance at the Orioles Team Store in York, PA on Tuesday, August 20 from noon to 1:00 p.m. Urrutia will sign autographs and greet fans. The event is free of charge and open to the public.

CHRIS DAVIS AT AT&T STORE IN COLUMBIA, MD

Orioles first baseman CHRIS DAVIS will make an appearance at the AT&T store in Columbia on Friday, August 23 from noon to 1:00 p.m. Davis will sign autographs and greet fans. The first 200 fans in attendance will be guaranteed an autograph. The event is free of charge and open to the public. The store is located at 6490 Dobbin Center Way in Columbia.

JASON HAMMEL AND FIDOS FOR FREEDOM

On Saturday, August 24 JASON HAMMEL will sign autographs in exchange for a $10 donation to Fidos For Freedom from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the organization’s offices at 1200 Sandy Spring Road in Laurel. Fidos For Freedom, Inc. is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization. Founded in 1987, Fidos’ mission is to enhance the quality of life of people living in the Washington, D.C.-Baltimore, MD metropolitan communities by providing specially trained hearing dogs, service dogs, and therapy dogs to those individuals with disabilities, children with reading difficulties, and patients in health care facilities.

AT THE BALLPARK

KIDS PEACE AT MARYLAND FOOD BANK

ANGELA SHOWALTER, wife of Orioles manager BUCK SHOWALTER, will join other Orioles wives and staff and KidsPeace youth, foster parents, staff and board members for a day of service at the Maryland Food Bank on Monday, August 19. KidsPeace and OriolesREACH are proud to partner with one of Baltimore’s top charities to give back to the community. The youth participating in the service day are part of KidsPeace’s KEYS (KidsPeace Empowering Youth to Succeed) program, which provides critical life skills training to youth before they age out of the foster care system.

The Showalters are strong supporters of KidsPeace and have spoken out to encourage families to consider fostering one of the many children and teenagers in need of loving homes. The Maryland Food Bank provides meals to a network of partner agencies, including soup kitchens, food pantries and emergency shelters. They rely on daily volunteers to sort, pack and flash-freeze meals.

KIDS RUN THE BASES FOR DUGOUT CLUB MEMBERS

Following their game on Sunday, August 25 against the Oakland Athletics, the Orioles will host a Kids Run the Bases event on the field at Oriole Park at Camden Yards exclusively for Dugout Club members. Fans 14 and under who attend the game and are members of the Junior Orioles Dugout Club are invited to line up outside of Gate D beginning at the top of the 9th inning to go on-field and run the bases after the game. Registration is not necessary and there is no additional charge to participate in the event.

GIANT FOOD HONORARY BAT KIDS

Once again, the Orioles have partnered with Giant Food stores this summer to host the Giant Honorary Bat Kids program. Children ages 6-14 can enter by filling out an entry form at select Giant Food stores and submitting in the entry box in the store or mailing the form directly to the Baltimore Orioles. This program will take place through August 30. One boy and one girl will be selected to be the Honorary Bat Kids at each Orioles game, excluding Sundays. Winners will receive four tickets to the game, on-field access to watch Orioles batting practice and the opportunity to receive autographs and an Orioles t-shirt and hat. Each winner will also participate in an on-field, pre-game ceremony in which they will be presented with an official Honorary Bat Boy/Girl certificate and have a photo opportunity with the Oriole Bird.

ORIOLES MILITARY APPRECIATION PROGRAM

As part of the Orioles’ Military Appreciation Program, sponsored by GEICO, the Orioles and OriolesREACH donate a catered private suite at each Sunday home game at Oriole Park to servicemen and women. On Sunday, August 18, military members from the Maryland Air National Guard will enjoy the game vs. the Colorado Rockies from a catered suite, have an opportunity for a meet and greet with NICK MARKAKIS and DARREN O’DAY and receive an Under Armour player t-shirt. On Sunday, August 25, military members from Warrior Events will enjoy the game vs. the Oakland Athletics from a catered suite, have an opportunity for a meet and greet with CHRIS TILLMAN and MATT WIETERS and receive an Under Armour player t-shirt.

STEAL SECOND BASE PRESENTED BY ESSKAY

The Orioles will again feature the Steal Second Base contest for every Sunday home game this season. Presented by ESSKAY, the Steal Second Base contest allows a young fan to participate in a timed race from the grounds crew area in center field to retrieve second base. Fans can sign up for the opportunity at the ballpark at any Fan Assistance Center. The lucky winner will receive four tickets to that day’s game, gift certificates to use inside the park, an Orioles jersey and an Orioles prize pack. This year, the contestants will also get to keep the authentic base that they steal. The winner for Sunday, August 18 is Lamont Edwards, a 9-year-old from Cockeysville, MD, and the winner for Sunday, August 25 is Matt Ruth, an 11-year-old from Hanover, PA.

ORIOLES REACH COMMUNITY BOOTH

During each home game the Orioles provide a community booth for charitable, non-profit organizations to distribute information, sell raffle tickets, register participants or conduct health care screenings for Orioles fans. The following groups will be at the community booth, located near Gate D, during this homestand:

DATE

ORGANIZATION

Fri, Aug 16

Promises for Parkinson's

Sat, Aug 17

Goldheart Golden Retriever Rescue

Sun, Aug 18

Breathe Deep Baltimore

Mon, Aug 19

All Shepherd Rescue

Tue, Aug 20

Vehicles for Change

Wed, Aug 21

Lupus Foundation of America DC/MD/VA Chapter

Fri, Aug 23

The Y of Central Maryland

Sat, Aug 24

Maryland Deaf Senior Citizens, Inc.

Sun, Aug 25

Babe Ruth Museum

ORIOLES REACH GAMEDAY EXPERIENCE PROGRAM

This season, OriolesREACH will again host thousands of underprivileged youth as part of the Gameday Experience Program. Group members receive game tickets, concessions vouchers, an Orioles t-shirt, a cap and transportation to and from the game. The program is supported by the following players: WILSON BETEMIT, ALEXI CASILLA, WEI-YIN CHEN, CHRIS DAVIS, JASON HAMMEL, J.J. HARDY, TOMMY HUNTER, ADAM JONES, BRIAN MATUSZ, NICK MARKAKIS, NATE McLOUTH, CHRIS TILLMAN and MATT WIETERS. The following organizations will attend games at Oriole Park during this homestand, courtesy of these Orioles players:

DATE

ORGANIZATION

SIZE

PLAYER SPONSOR

Fri, Aug 16

Christian Youth Athletics

150

Chris Davis

Sat, Aug 17

Restoration Community Church & Ministries

150

Wei-Yin Chen

Sun, Aug 18

Camp Erin

150

J.J. Hardy

Mon, Aug 19

Holy Nativity Episcopal Church

150

Matt Wieters

Tue, Aug 20

Saint Wenceslaus Church

150

Brian Matusz

Wed, Aug 21

Baltimore County Police Athletic League

150

Tommy Hunter

Fri, Aug 23

Rosemont Elementary School

150

Wei-Yin Chen

Sat, Aug 24

North Point Village Civic Association

150

Nate McLouth

Sun, Aug 25

Bluford Drew Jemison Middle

150

Adam Jones

GIVEAWAYS AND TICKET OFFERS

DATE

ITEM/OFFER

SPONSOR

ELIGIBILITY

Fri, Aug 16

AT&T Student Night

AT&T

LF Upper Reserve $6 for all students

Tue, Aug 20

Ollie's Bargain Night

Ollie's Bargain Outlet All Upper Reserve seats are $9 in advance

 

Junior Orioles Dugout Club Day

 

Pre-registered Dugout Club members

Wed, Aug 21

License Plate Frame

 

First 10,000 fans (15 and over)

Fri, Aug 23

AT&T Student Night

AT&T

LF Upper Reserve $6 for all students

 

Beatles Theme Fireworks (Postgame)

 

All fans

Sun, Aug 25

Ear Buds

PNC Bank

First 5,000 fans (14 and under)

 

JODC Kids Run the Bases

Heinz

Dugout Club members (14 and under)

 

Junior Orioles Dugout Club Day

 

Pre-registered Dugout Club members

 

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