Sports stats

Rock Cats Join National Alliance For Community Education To Promote Healthier Communities

April 20, 2008 - Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT - The New Britain Rock Cats announced today they have entered into a season-long partnership with the national Alliance for Consumer Education (ACE) directed at informing a sizable share of their fan base - parents and children - about the prevalence and potentially fatal consequences of abusing inhalants associated with over 1,000 commonly-available household products. While the Partnership for a Drug-Free America indicates that more than 20% of US teenagers reported using an inhalant inappropriately, less than 10% of American parents believe their children have engaged in this dangerous behavior. The perils of inhalant abuse - and the wide disconnect between reported use and parental awareness - caused the Alliance for Consumer Education to approach the Rock Cats about a joint public awareness campaign during the 2008 Season.

While the Rock Cats are members of the historic 12-team Eastern Baseball League, the Alliance for Consumer Education is a Washington, DC based charitable foundation that is dedicated to community health and well-being. It is focusing greater attention on the matter of inhalant abuse - "sniffing" and "huffing" of household products for the purpose of getting "high" - as it is a highly dangerous behavior that constitutes a "silent epidemic". Rock Cats' General Manager, John Willi, stated, "We in New Britain are in awe of the work being done by the Alliance to address the important issue of inhalant abuse. The Rock Cats can provide ACE an ideal venue to reach families in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts and help to positively impact their lives".

The Alliance launched its Inhalant Abuse Prevention Program in 2002. The public education campaign in which the Rock Cats are now involved is the first of its kind in all of Minor League Baseball and is designed to provide parents with dependable, practical information about inhalant abuse so they can include it in their substance abuse conversations with their children.

The Rock Cats have designated Saturday, May 17th as "Inhalant Abuse Awareness Night at New Britain Stadium", presented by ACE. The partners will distribute free Rock Cats caps with an embroidered ACE logo/Inhalant website to the first 1,500 fans 12-years-of-age and under who enter the park. Coincidentally, the Rock Cats will be playing the Portland Sea Dogs that night; they are the Eastern League partners of the 2007 World Champion Boston Red Sox. Throughout the evening of the 17th, members of the Alliance for Consumer Education will be at New Britain Stadium to speak with parents and kids about this silent epidemic that is inhalant abuse. Informational brochures on this important topic will be available at each and every home Rock Cats contest throughout the entire 2008 Season. Additional related activities include in-game Video Board Announcements by Rock Cats team members advising fans of the dangers associated with inhalant abuse and directing them to the www.inhalant.org website for further guidance and talking tips. Moreover, the Rock Cats will conduct a web-based contest encouraging kids to review the facts about inhalant abuse and write a short essay as to why people of all ages should avoid this unhealthy and very dangerous activity. Contest winners will have the opportunity to meet the Rock Cats players, be publicly recognized on the field, and toss out a ceremonial First Pitch! Details related to the contest are posted on the Rock Cats website, www.rockcats.com. All fans 17-years-of-age and younger are invited to enter!

The New Britain Rock Cats are the Double-A Eastern League affiliate of the American League's Minnesota Twins. The franchise, which recently began its 36th season in central Connecticut, is the oldest continuously operating professional sports franchise in the state of Connecticut.

Fans interested in securing tickets for the May 17th game - or any of the other 63 remaining home games in the 2008 Season - may do so by visiting the New Britain Stadium Box Office (M-F, 10 AM - 5 PM) or by calling the Rock Cats at (860) 224-8383. Moreover, fans interested in purchasing tickets on-line may do so by visiting the club's website at www.rockcats.com.



Eastern League Stories from April 20, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent New Britain Rock Cats Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central