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The fourth annual Pirates Charities Spring Training Golf Classic took place on Thursday, February 24 at the beautiful River Wilderness Golf & Country Club in Parrish, Florida. A field of 23 foursomes participated and had the opportunity to enjoy an afternoon on the links with a Pirates celebrity while supporting the efforts of Pirates Charities. New skipper Clint Hurdle surprised the group by having the entire Pirates team stop by during registration and lunch to say "hello" to everyone. Also, Pirates Chairman Bob Nutting briefly addressed the group immediately prior to the 1 p.m. shotgun start to thank everyone for their support of Pirates Charities and encourage them to spread the word about the new "Fields for Kids" matching grant program.
With the establishment of Pirates Charities as the philanthropic arm of the organization in 2006, the Pirates set out to formalize their charitable efforts and make an even greater impact in terms of meeting the needs of the communities where the team has a presence. Since then, Pirates Charities has raised and contributed more than $1.7 million to a wide variety of worthwhile projects and non-profit organizations -- not only in the Pittsburgh region, but also in the team's spring training home of Bradenton, FL, and in the Dominican Republic city of Estorga where the Pirates Latin American headquarters is located.
Proceeds from this year's Spring Training Golf Classic will be used to fund the Pirates Charities "Fields for Kids" program in Bradenton, an initiative that will provide matching grants of between $1,000-$5,000 to qualified organizations for the renovation or construction of youth baseball and softball fields. The program is open to any non-profit organization, school or government agency that operates a youth baseball or softball program in Manatee County. In the two years that Pirates Charities has offered the "Fields for Kids" program in the Pittsburgh region, 49 grants totaling more than $200,000 have been distributed.
Funds from the first three editions of the Pirates Spring Training Golf Classic have been used to purchase a school bus and upgrade the computer lab for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County, and to help renovate two youth baseball fields at Norma Lloyd Park, also located in Bradenton, Florida.
In addition to 23 current Pirates players who played golf as celebrities during this year's event, President Frank Coonelly, GM Neal Huntington, Bill Mazeroski, Manny Sanguillen, Kent Tekulve, Bill Virdon, and broadcasters Greg Brown and Steve Blass participated.
Pirates Charities is launching a Fields for Kids - Bradenton program this Spring. Just like the Pittsburgh version, Pirates Charities will award grants between $1,000 and $5,000 to youth baseball and softball complexes in need of repairs and upgrades. Fields for Kids Bradenton program »
The Pittsburgh Pirates and the philanthropic arm of the Pirates, Pirates Charities, opened the new "Pirates Charities Computer Tech Lab" at the Bradenton Boys & Girls Club in March of 2010.
Bob Nutting, Chairman of the Board of the Pirates and Pirates Charities, was on hand for the event, along with Carl Weeks, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Manatee County, and children from the Bradenton Boys & Girls Club.
Pirates Charities and project partners transformed an old, dingy computer room into a new state-of-the-art computer tech lab. The lab will provide the more than 330 children that utilize the Bradenton Boys & Girls Club every day with the opportunity to fully participate in the Boys & Girls Club Project Learn program, which reinforces and enhances the skills and knowledge young people learn at school.
Pirates Charities partnered with local organizations to help make the renovation possible, including Aldrich Rug Interiors, who donated the carpeting; Signzoo, who donated the signage in the new lab and Fellows Painting, who donated their services to brighten the room with fresh paint.
The Pirates hosted the 3rd annual Pirates Charities Spring Training Golf Classic on Friday, February 26, 2010 at River Wilderness Golf & Country Club. Paricipants had the opportunity to enjoy a round of golf with a Pirates celebrity while supporting the efforts of Pirates Charities in the Bradenton area.
With the establishment in late 2006 of Pirates Charities as the philanthropic arm of the organization, the Pittsburgh Pirates set out to formalize its charitable efforts and make an even greater impact in meeting the needs of the communities where we have a presence. Since then, Pirates Charities has contributed more than $1.2 million dollars to worthwhile projects and non-profit organizations.
Proceeds from the 2010 event directly assist the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County and the Norma Lloyd Park Youth Baseball Field Renovation Program.
Children's book drives were held in 2010 at McKechnie Field on Tuesday, March 2 during the exhibition game vs. State College of Florida-Manatee at 12:05 p.m., Saturday, March 6 vs. Philadelphia at 1:05 p.m. and Sunday, March 7 vs. Minnesota at 1:05 p.m.
Fans were encouraged to bring new and used children's books to donate when entering the gates.
The books were collected for the benefit of Wakeland Elementary School as part of the National Education Association's Read Across America program
There were silent auctions of valuable autographed MLB, NFL and NHL memorabilia inside McKechnie Field on five dates in 2010: Sunday, March 14 (1:05 p.m. vs. New York Yankees); Monday, March 15 (1:05 p.m. vs. Philadelphia); Wednesday, March 17 (1:05 p.m. vs. Detroit); Friday, March 19 (1:05 p.m. vs. Boston) and Sunday, March 21 (1:05 p.m. vs. Tampa Bay). Proceeds from the silent auctions benefit Pirates Charities.
Spring Training PirateFest, sponsored by Champs, was held on Saturday, March 27, 2010 outside McKechnie Field in conjunction with the Pirates 1:05 p.m. game vs. the Toronto Blue Jays. During the celebration, which took place for its fifth year, fans were able to win prizes and take part in activities such as taking photos and receiving autographs from Pirates players and coaches.
The Pirates hosted the Second Annual Pirates Charities Golf Classic on February 18, 2009 at the River Wilderness Golf and Country Club.
More than $20,000 was raised during the event and will be designated toward charitable projects in the Bradenton and Manatee County areas.
Some of the current and former Pirates who took part in the event included Paul Maholm, Daniel McCutchen, Ross Ohlendorf, Neil Walker, Tyler Yates, Tony Beasley, Steve Blass, Milt May, Bill Mazeroski, Manny Sanguillen, Kent Tekulve, Pirates broadcaster Greg Brown and Pirates President Frank Coonelly.
On March 23, 2009, a Spring Training edition of Gloves for Kids took place at the Bradenton Dick's Sporting Goods. A $10 admission cost allowed fans to receive autographs from Pirates players and coaches as well as a $5 Gift Card to Dick's Sporting Goods. All proceeds went to benefit Pirates Charities to help youth baseball in the Bradenton community.
Thirty students are honored monthly for their academic excellence throughout the school year by the Pirates in the Pirate City dining hall.
The Pirates provide lunch for the students and their guests and a Pirates player encourages them to stay in school and keep up the good work.
The Pirates provide Student of the Month certificates and prizes for each of the students.
The Pirates journey throughout Manatee County bringing fun with their inflatable speed pitch machine.
The Pirates inflatable speed pitch provides fun for all ages, appearing at events benefiting countless community groups, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County, Resource Connection for Kids, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Meals on Wheels, Little Leagues and many many more.
The Pirates will also bring the inflatable speed pitch to a series of American Cancer Society Relay for Life events across Manatee County this year.
