Sharks Partnering with Local Charities for Opening Weekend
May 21, 2019 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Wilmington Sharks News Release
The Wilmington Sharks are partnering with Nourish NC, as well as Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry INC (WARM), to assist with the continued recovery efforts from Hurricane Florence. With these partnerships, The Sharks will be running a fundraiser to raise money for those that are still affected from the storm. The Sharks will also be running "Operation Peanut Butter" in an effort to replenish the stock of Nourish NC.
The fundraiser will take place during the Sharks opening weekend on May 30th and 31st at Buck Hardee Field at Legion Stadium. It will feature the Sharks taking on the Fayetteville SwampDogs on May 30th and the Holly Springs Salamanders on May 31st. First pitch for each game will be at 7:05 PM with the gates opening at 6 PM both nights. It will culminate with the Sharks wearing "Cape Fearless" jerseys for the game on the 31st, which will be followed by the first postgame fireworks show of the season.
"We want to dedicate the Opening weekend of our season to the people in the Cape Fear region," said Carson Bowen, Wilmington Sharks General Manager. "We want to salute the fearless individuals during that time and bring attention to the fact that some of our neighbors still need a hand. The fortitude and resilience that our people showed throughout the storm was incredible. Neighbors were not hesitating to drop everything and help their neighbors. We want to keep this sense of camaraderie going."
Through Operation Peanut Butter, the Sharks aim to raise over 2,000 jars of peanut butter over Opening Day weekend in an effort to help replenish the stock of Nourish NC's supplies lost due to Hurricane Florence. Fans are encouraged to bring in jars of peanut butter to the stadium throughout opening weekend. Fans can also drop off supplies at any of the collections stations listed below:
- Any Excite Credit Union location
- Renaissance Dental (7205 Wrightsville Ave, Wilmington, NC)
- Battle House Wilmington (1817 Hall Dr, Wilmington, NC)
Nourish NC strives to "Provide healthy food to younger children, empowering them to succeed in the classroom and in their community," says Katelyn Mattox, Nourish NC's Program Director. "Our goal is to enhance children's health and well being by preventing the devastating consequences of child hunger. We are committed to providing our community's most vulnerable children with nutritious food because one in four children in New Hanover County struggles with hunger."
"The Wilmington Sharks' efforts to raise awareness and collect 2,000 jars of peanut butter will help restock shelves and continue to nourish the bodies, minds, and souls of New Hanover County's most vulnerable kids," said Mattox.
WARM's mission is to ensure safety in people's homes by bringing in volunteers to complete urgent repairs, accessibility upgrades and hurricane relief to low-income homeowners across Brunswick, Pender, and New Hanover counties. They also strive to help residents with low income receive the resources that they need to get their homes back. WARM has rebuilt over 1,200 homes throughout the counties of Brunswick, New Hanover, and Pender for owners who cannot afford it since 1996 when Hurricane Fran hit.
"With the support of local businesses like the Wilmington Sharks, we will continue until everyone in our region is safe at home," said JC Lyle, the Executive Director of WARM.
All 35 of the team's "Cape Fearless" jerseys will be auctioned off on the Live Source App. The Live Source App is available for download on the Apple App Store as well as Google Play. The auction will begin at Noon on May 23rd and will close at 9 PM on May 31st. The Sharks will donate all the proceeds to WARM.
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Coastal Plain League Stories from May 21, 2019
- Sharks Partnering with Local Charities for Opening Weekend - Wilmington Sharks
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