Condors Reach New Heights in the Community
May 31, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release
Bakersfield, CA - The Bakersfield Condors had a record setting year both on and off the ice. The Condors recorded their first ever playoff series win and kept playing until game seven of the Pacific Division Finals. Along the way, $404,825 was donated in cash or product to local non-profit organizations bringing the franchise total to two million dollars since the inaugural 1998-1999 season. The Condors would like to thank the fans and the community of Bakersfield, as well as all of this year's sponsors for their support during the 2005-2006 season.
The Condors raised a franchise record $86,950 this season with the popular Jersey Off Our Back auctions. On Saturday, November 19th, a Bakersfield themed jersey brought in $16,650 for the Ronald McDonald House. The Petroleum Shrine Club received $23,250 from the Team USA Olympic jerseys auctioned off February 17th. In that auction, Ryan Munce topped Paul Rosebush by $100 for the highest individual bid received at $3,800. A month and a half later, Kevin St. Jacques claimed the top seat with a $4,000 bid on his Bakersfield Fog flashback jersey April 1st. That auction also featured jerseys for former Fog and Condors players Kevin Barrett and Glen Mears and raised a total $32,200 for CASA. The auctions concluded with the silent bids for the Condors Warm-up Jersey, featuring the US Army desert camouflage sweater worn during pre-game warm-ups at all home games. An inspiring $14,850 was collected benefiting the Active 20/30 Club and specifically 9-year-old Walker Franks, a local boy with acute aplastic anemia. This$86,950 in 2005-2006 jersey auctions is a 20% increase from the previous season's total.
Fur was flying once again on Saturday, November 26th, as fans participated in the annual Teddy Bear Toss. An overwhelming 6,119 stuffed toys were thrown onto the ice following the Condors first goal. The fuzzy friends were collected and distributed to less fortunate children with the help of the United Way. A few days later, fans once again provided for the less fortunate by bringing new or gently used coats for the annual Project Warm Families Coat Drive. Junior Achievement helped distribute the 2,000 coats collected to appropriate organizations in Kern County. The coat collection is the longest tenured charity drive in franchise history, dating back to the Fog days.
Local hockey players and Condors fans rang in the New Year with the 2nd Annual Condors Fighting Cancer Hockey-Thon organized by former Fog and Condors defenseman Kevin Barrett. The event included 27 hours of hockey, including a Celebrity and Legends game featuring former players, members of the media, and current assistant coach Mark Pederson. The event raised $20,384.77, bringing the two year total to an impressive $44,000 benefiting Link to Life, a local breast cancer resource center.
In February, the 7th Annual Tip-A-Condor Charity Dinner was held at the Crystal Palace. Condors players went from skaters to waiters, collecting tips for the Kern County Shrine Club. A record $16,000 was raised to help Shriner's hospitals.
Other highlights from the 2005-2006 season include:
More than 7,700 lbs of non-perishable food items were collected for The Salvation Army and Golden Empire Gleaners during the season.
The Condors hosted the 2nd Annual Field Trip Game with a special start time of 10:30am and free educational handouts to every child in attendance. The booklets, courtesy of The Bakersfield Californian, featured hockey-related information and questions in the subjects of geography, math, language, science and health.
Roughly 8,000 students earned free tickets to Condors games through exceptional performance and attendance in the classroom through the Condors THINK (Turn Hockey Into New Knowledge) and Condors Classroom Champions programs. Players and office staff visited schools to discuss the importance of education and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. An additional 7,000 students were awarded complimentary admission for their participation in the DARE program.
An amazing 1,107 pillows were collected for various Kern County charities with the return of the Condors Pillow Fight on the 31st of March as the Condors made a second attempt to break the world record for the largest pillow fight.
Thanks to the support of local businesses, 2,867 tickets were donated to underprivileged children through the Condors Big Buddies Program, an 87% increase over 2004-2005.
At every home game this season fans could purchase an opportunity drawing ticket for $1 with the chance to win a 2004-2005 game worn jersey or a 2005-2006 team signed replica jersey. The proceeds from the drawings benefited both the Non- Profit Organization of the Night and the Condors Charities Fund. A total $18,833 was raised, beating the previous season's total by more than $10,000.
Non-profit organizations could raise even more money for their cause by participating in a Condors fundraiser. This season, more than $27,000 was awarded to groups for their fundraising efforts!
The 2005-2006 season provided a stellar performance both on and off the ice. The Condors players, mascots and front office staff made more than 150 appearances at schools and charity functions all over Kern County. With the support of our generous sponsors and fans, the Condors have been able to raise an astonishing $2 million in franchise history. It is easy to see why Bakersfield is Condorstown!
The season may be over, but the Condors don't have any plans to slow down. The group will remain active in the community attending various functions all summer long. Staff and mascots will be heading to libraries, schools, kids activities and charity functions of all kinds. The Condors Care-a-Vans will be visiting various Kern County communities collecting items for Goodwill Industries.
2005-2006 Condors Charity Event Listing
Sunday, October 9th -Condors Open House and Canned Food Collection
Thursday, November 17th - Military Appreciation Night
Saturday, November 19th - Bright House Networks, KUZZ 107.9 & McDonald's Bakersfield Themed Jersey Raffle & Auction and Military Appreciation Night
Tuesday, November 22nd - Bakersfield Californian, FOX 58, KGEO AM 1230 & Arrival Communications Businesspersons Special / Field Trip Day
Saturday, November 26th - 29 Eyewitness News, KERN 1410 AM & Wells Fargo Bank Teddy Bear Toss
Wednesday, November 30th - KGET-TV 17, News Radio 970 KGET & Barber Honda Project Warm Families Coat Collection and Stanley Cup Tour for Hurricane Relief
Friday, December 9th - R&D Leather Furniture / Stay Focused Ministries Toy Drive
Monday, December 26th - Boxing Day Celebration
Saturday, December 31st - Bright House Networks & KUZZ 107.9 2nd Annual Condors Fighting Cancer HockeyThon and New Year's Eve Kids Countdown
Friday, February 17th - KGET-TV 17, 98.5 The Fox & American Business Machines Jersey Raffle & Auction - USA Olympic Team
Monday, February 20th - KUZZ 107.9 & The Crystal Palace Tip-a-Condor
Tuesday, March 14th - Community Connection for Child Care Cell Phone & Printer Cartridge Collection
Monday, March 20th - KERN 1410 AM Help for the Homeless Canned Food Collection
Wednesday, March 29th - AT&T Yellow Pages Phone Book Recycling Night
Friday, March 31st - WB-TV 12, 106.1 KRAB Radio & American Business Machines World's Largest Pillow Fight
Saturday, April 1st - Bud Light Jersey Raffle & Auction - Bakersfield Fog
Tuesday, April 11th & Friday, April 14th - Active 20/30 Club Jersey Raffle & Silent Auction - US Army Warm-Up
Mercy & Memorial Hospitals & ARRC Technology - THINK (Turn Hockey Into New Knowledge) program.
29 Eyewitness News & SC Architect - Condors Classroom Champions program
Holiday Inn Select - DARE program
Bright House Networks, Bakersfield Californian & Hometown Buffet - Condors Kids Club
If your business or organization is interested in sponsoring one or more of the Bakersfield Condors outstanding community programs, or you would like to schedule an appearance, contact the Community Relations Department at 324-PUCK (7825).
To stay up to date on all the off-season happenings, log on to www.bakersfieldcondors.com.
ECHL Stories from May 31, 2006
- Gladiators Extend Series with 6-1 win over Aces in Game Four - Atlanta Gladiators
- RoadRunners Raise Over $132,000 For Charity During Inaugural 2005-06 Season - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Inferno Announce New GM/COO - Columbia Inferno
- Condors Reach New Heights in the Community - Bakersfield Condors
- Condors at Kids Fest this weekend; Helped build a house on Tuesday - Bakersfield Condors
- Royals Raise and Return $85,000 To Charitable Organizations - Reading Royals
- Five Former Stingrays Appear in Calder Cup Finals - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL Today - ECHL
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