Sports stats



Rock Cats & BFG Donating Bikes to Kids

August 28, 2008 - Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


Barnum Financial Group & Rock Cats to present 150 deserving children with bicycles during 2nd Annual "Bikes for Kids" event on Saturday night at New Britain Stadium

New Britain, CT - The New Britain Rock Cats and Barnum Financial Group will surprise 150 deserving children with new bicycles prior to Saturday night's Rock Cats game at New Britain Stadium.

Barnum Financial Group, an office of MetLife, will place 150 bikes and helmets around the field that will then be presented to a pre-determined group of at-risk youths. The children in attendance - who will be provided with free tickets to the game for themselves and two family members - will be unaware that attending the game will also result in free bikes. The presentation, which will begin at approximately 6:15 P.M., will conclude with the children riding their bikes off the field.

The children selected will be from various organizations throughout the state who work in conjunction with the Rock Cats Foundation. Nearly 80 organizations associated with children will also be involved.

Paul Blanco, Managing Director of Barnum Financial Group, who is committed to helping kids achieve the American Dream, was introduced to Bikes for Kids two years ago. His colleagues and founders of the organization, Bill and Debbie Pollakov, started the program five years ago in San Diego, CA as a way for inner-city kids to explore neighborhoods and other cultures within close proximity from where they lived. The program has since expanded to Utah, Minnesota, Louisiana, and Connecticut.

This will be the second year Barnum Financial Group has donated bikes to children through the Bikes for Kids program. Last year, three hundred children - from the Valley YMCA, Parent Child Resource Center, Lower Naugatuck Valley Boysand Girls Club, TEAM and the Bridgeport YMCA - received bikes at Bridgeport's Harbor Yard.

Barnum Financial Group, a proud sponsor of the Rock Cats, was ranked as the #1 MetLife Firm for 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007. BFG was also chosen as the #1 Place to Work in Connecticut in 2007.

The Rock Cats take on the Binghamton Mets on Saturday, August 30th, at 7:05 P.M. in the second of four remaining games in the final homestand of the 2008 season. For more information, please contact the New Britain Rock Cats at (860) 224-8383.

• Discuss this story on the Eastern League message board...

Eastern League Stories from August 28, 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.

OurSports Central