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FSL1 Bradenton Marauders

2015 Fields for Kids Bradenton Area Grants Announced

August 13, 2015 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Bradenton Marauders News Release


Pirates Charities, the official philanthropic arm of the Pittsburgh Pirates, today announced the recipients of the Bradenton Area "Fields for Kids" matching grant program for 2015. Nine local youth organizations located throughout the Bradenton area were awarded grants to help ensure their programs continue to thrive.

Six of the nine local nonprofits are return grantees of the "Fields for Kids" program, which is one of Pirates Charities' signature programs and provides financial support to improve youth sports and recreational facilities through matching grants.

The organizations receiving Fields for Kids grants will be recognized with a check presentation ceremony at McKechnie Field on Saturday, August 15. The ceremony will take place prior to the 6:30 p.m. game between the Bradenton Marauders and the Charlotte Stone Crabs.

The organizations that are impacted by the 2015 grants include the Manatee Area Youth Soccer Organization which supports 400 girls who participate in the program. Funds would be used to renovate the cabinet and countertops to bring the organization's concession stand up to code, replace dilapidated goal nets and replace other broken equipment.

The Miss Manatee Softball, Inc., which has over 280 girls participating in their program, will utilize the funds to update electrical systems at three of their fields. The Manatee High School Baseball program, which serves more than 40 boys, received a matching grant to replace their unrepairable scoreboard.

The Manatee High School Key Club is constructing a playground accessible for children with disabilities and an inclusive environment for able-bodied children as well. The unique to the community playground will be open for all residents of Manatee County and visitors to the Riverwalk.

The Ana Maria Island Community Center received a matching grant as they plan improvements such as addressing drainage issues to the playing fields for several youth sports programs, including baseball and soccer.

The Beach Dawgs Baseball, which has more than 60 boys participating in the league, will utilize the funds to build a new batting cage. Currently the organization has four fields used by eight teams and only one useable batting cage.

The Nolan Middle School will utilize the Pirates matching grant to fund their Slacklining program to enhance Nolan Middle School physical education program. The group is working to reach children at an early age with physical activities to combat obesity and sedentary lifestyles. Slacklining is the use of a form of webbing that is tensioned between two anchor points to balance, similar to slack rope walking and tightrope walking.

Two groups from the Braden River area will benefit from the 2015 Fields for Kids matching grants as the Braden River High School team will receive a grant to assist with the addition of their new scoreboard, add outfield fence screening, purchasing new field equipment and field maintenance equipment. Also, the Braden River Little League will leverage the funds to add batting cages and additional field improvements as well as purchase equipment.

Grant funds from the "Fields for Kids" program may be used for the upgrading of essential field components such as sod, infield playing surfaces, fencing, dugouts and irrigation systems. Upgrades to the overall facility, including lights, bleachers, scoreboards and concession stands are also eligible. Nearly 800 youth in the Bradenton area will benefit from the 2015 grants.

In 2014, a total of seven youth baseball and softball organizations located in Manatee County were awarded grants to help ensure their programs continue to thrive. Since the program began in 2009, more than 235 individual grants have been distributed in Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Eastern Ohio and the Pirates Spring Training home of Bradenton (Manatee Co.), Florida.

To find out more information on the "Fields for Kids" program, please visit www.pirates.com/piratescharities.

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