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IL1 Lehigh Valley IronPigs

Two Local Little League Teams "Hijacked" for Special Baseball Game at Coca-Cola Park

May 10, 2016 - International League (IL1)
Lehigh Valley IronPigs News Release


(Allentown, Pa.) - IronPigs Charities surprised two local financially distressed little leagues and provided them with the experience of a lifetime as both Allentown's East Side Memorial Little League and Bethlehem's Southside Little League were unexpectedly transported to Coca-Cola Park via Operation: Team Hijack to play a truly special game on Monday, May 9. In addition to providing an unforgettable experience for the two teams during Operation: Team Hijack, each little league received a $10,000 donation from IronPigs Charities as part of $40,000 in overall donations announced by IronPigs Charities in a pre-game presentation. IronPigs Charities also unveiled a brand-new initiative, GameOn! Lehigh Valley, a valuable resource for local youth leagues in all sports that will provide educational resources and programs for local youth league organizers as well as grant funding for league and venue enhancements.

Upon arrival at Coca-Cola Park for Operation: Team Hijack, the two teams were not only greeted by cheering fans but also received the full IronPigs experience which included brand-new jerseys, locker room access, starting lineups introductions, headshots on the videoboard and many other features normally reserved for IronPigs games only.

In addition to the $10,000 donations to each of the two Operation: Team Hijack Little Leagues, IronPigs Charities also announced a pair of additional $10,000 donations for renovation projects at both Limeport Stadium and Coplay's Baliet Stadium to bring the total donation total to a staggering $40,000.

Operation: Team Hijack served as a wonderful opportunity for two local teams (9-10 year olds) to have the experience of a lifetime and as a perfect forum to unveil the new GameOn! Lehigh Valley initiative. The new program has three valuable components:

- Online Presence - Launching later this month, this online portal will serve as a one-stop shop for any parent, coach or league representative seeking information on local youth leagues in all sports. If you're the organizer of a youth little league and would like to have a complimentary online presence along with other GameOn! Lehigh Valley benefits (such as discounts on apparel and equipment), please contact Dana DeFilippo at ddefilippo@ironpigsbaseball.com.

- Educational Programs - GameOn! Lehigh Valley will conduct free seminars for local leagues in a number of valuable areas such as field maintenance, concessions operations, record keeping, fundraising, legal expertise and more.

- Grant Funding - GameOn! Lehigh Valley will provide financial support to local leagues through a new grant application process. Qualifying organizations will be able to submit grant requests annually. More information on this process will be announced this summer.

"GameOn! Lehigh Valley is an initiative that has been years in the making and will serve a critical role for local leagues, coaches, parents and players," remarked IronPigs Charities President Kurt Landes. "This is a transformative program that will allow us to truly support youth recreational activities through a specialized grant process while also providing an invaluable resource for local leagues. GameOn! Lehigh Valley is the first-ever initiative to specifically help local youth league administrators while also sharing valuable resources and best practices."

For more information on GameOn! Lehigh Valley, or to find out how your local youth league can get involved for free and enjoy the program's benefits, please contact Dana DeFilippo at ddefilippo@ironpigsbaseball.com or (610) 841-1213.

Since debuting in 2008, IronPigs Charities presented by The Air Products Foundation has contributed a total in excess of $980,000 in cash grants to dozens of local non-profit entities that provide education and recreational opportunities for children in the Greater Lehigh Valley area. IronPigs Charities, is a recognized 501(c) (3) non-profit organization on the state and federal level.

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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.

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