The Lexington Legends today (Nov. 17) announced donations for 2009 totaling $983,750.72 to a variety of non-profit organizations serving central Kentucky. The Ivy Walls Charitable Giving Foundation Fund at Bluegrass Community Foundation, in cooperation with the Legends and business sponsors, presented checks to organization representatives today in the Maker's Mark Club at Applebee's Park.In its nine-year history, the Legends organization has now donated more than $8 million to the region.
"The mission statement of Lexington Professional Baseball Company says it right up front; we have a responsibility to make the quality of life of our communities and their citizens better. I am so proud of our folks who work throughout the year making sure that the brand of the Legends is synonymous with giving and improving lives."
"This is one of my favorite days of the year," said Legends General Manager Andy Shea. "It's an all-encompassing moment of the things we try to do every single day as we try to give back to the community."
Ivy Walls Management is a Lexington-based organization that manages the operation of minor league baseball teams, including the Legends.
Organizations receiving funds were:
-The Makenna Foundation. Established in 2001 in memory of Makenna David, who died of a rare lung disease in 1998, the Makenna Foundation has raised more than $1.2 million for the Kentucky Children's Hospital. The Legends' Charity Ball Toss event, sponsored by Copy Express, generates funds for general support of the Makenna Foundation.
-Big Brothers Big Sisters. Big Brothers Big Sisters is the oldest and largest youth mentoring organization in the United States, and has worked for more than a century to develop positive relationships that have a lasting impact on young people. Raising Cane's donated $10 to BBBS for every walk by a Legends batter during home games.
-The Markey Cancer Foundation. The Legends' campaign to "strike out breast cancer," sponsored by ADI, provides five dollars for each strikeout recorded by Lexington pitchers during home games. The fight against breast cancer is also supported by the Legends' Breast Cancer Brunch and the sale of pink game jerseys, also sponsored by ADI.
-Kentucky Pink Link. The Breast Cancer Brunch and the sale of pink game jerseys also benefit the Kentucky Pink Link program, which serves breast cancer patients on a personal basis by reducing and/or eliminating barriers to screening, diagnosis, and treatment.
-St. Joseph Hospital Nursing Scholarship Program. The sale of regular game jerseys worn by Legends' players provides general support for the program, which provides one- and two-year scholarships to deserving nursing students at area colleges and universities.
-Habitat for Humanity. Sponsored by Fifth Third Bank, a giant piggy bank was placed inside the gates of Applebee's Park, where it attracted contributions for Lexington Habitat for Humanity. Lexington Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit, ecumenical Christian ministry that cultivates partnerships with families in need, sponsors and volunteers to build affordable housing in Fayette County.
-Lexington Humane Society. Sponsored by IncrediPet, the Legends held two "Bark in the Park" nights during the 2009 season. After making a donation to the Humane Society as an "admission" charge, fans could bring their dogs to the Legends game on "Bark in the Park" nights. Also, portions of proceeds from vendors who set up exhibits at Applebee's Park on those nights went to the Humane Society.
-The Boy Scouts of America Bluegrass Council. Sponsored by Windstream, a $25 donation is made to the Boy Scouts for every stolen base by a Legends player during home games.
-Eternal Valor. The Eternal Valor Foundation's mission is to facilitate and assist in the creation and management of scholarships, charities and events in order to honor the memory of deceased veterans. On Military Appreciation Night, the Legends sold fatigue jerseys to support Eternal Valor.
-American Red Cross and God's Pantry. The annual "Guns 'n' Hoses" softball game at Applebee's Park, sponsored by Gall's, matches Lexington police officers against firefighters. Proceeds provide general support to the American Red Cross, the nation's premier emergency response organization, and God's Pantry, which fights hunger by collecting and distributing donated food to agencies across central and eastern Kentucky.
-PBI Bank Community Organization of the Night program. Through the PBI Bank Community Organization of the Night program, donations were made to 70 non- profit organizations during the 2009 season. The Community Organization of the Night is not only an effective way for the Legends to work with non-profit organizations, it's also a treat for Legends fans, who receive complimentary items ranging from pens to bike helmets from the participating organizations.
In-kind donations
The Legends also make substantial in-kind donations throughout the year, including a long-standing relationship with United Way of the Bluegrass. Donors to the United Way of the Bluegrass campaign receive two free box seat tickets to a Legends home game. In the 2009 season, just over 44,000 box seat tickets were given to United Way donors.
Other in-kind projects were associated with Special Olympics, the walk to defeat ALS, the Kentucky Center for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery's Smokeless Tobacco Education program, and Hit the Books, a joint effort between the Legends and Chick-Fil-A to encourage Central Kentucky students to read.
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