Twins In the Community The Heart of Twins Territory Volume 18 - WINTER 2008-2009 Official Publication of the Minnesota Twins and the Twins Community Fund Twins Contribute $5.3 million in Community Support During 2008 Season The Minnesota Twins and the Twins Community Fund made collective contributions of $5.3 million during the 2008 baseball season. The contributions, including cash grants, community program expenses,twins tickets and memorabilia donations, supported a variety of causes in the Upper Midwest and Southwest Florida communities. Highlights of the Twins 2008 community giving include: Twins Community Fund The Twins Fields for Kids program granted $223,760 to build and renovate 49 Upper Midwest ballfields. Since 1999, more than $1.3 million has been granted to improve 372 Upper Midwest, Southwest Florida and Latin America ballfields. The Twins Play Ball! Minnesota Youth Clinic program visited 27 Upper Midwest and nine Southwest Florida communities providing free baseball and softball instruction to more than 6,000 young people. Grants totaling more than $120,000 were made to the Minneapolis and St. Paul park and recreation departments to operate Twins Rookie League and R.B.I. inner-city youth baseball and softball leagues. More than 6,000 participated in Twins Rookie League and R.B.I programs. $7,000 in grants was donated to seven youth baseball and softball organizations to support regional tournaments and innovative efforts to expand youth baseball and softball in their respective communities. Through the Diamonds and Dreams Academic Scholarship Program, 20 Upper Midwest high school seniors each received $1,000 for post-secondary education. Minnesota Twins Baseball Community Contributions and Outreach More than 5,500 community organizations received donations of Twins memorabilia to help raise funds for their work. Those organizations report raising more than $700,000 as a result of Twins contributions. More than 40 current and former Twins players and their wives helped raise more than $1 million via fundraising events for Upper Midwest and Southwest Florida charities. The Twins distributed nearly $3 million worth of tickets through the TwinsCare program, which provides needy youth and families the opportunity to enjoy live Twins baseball. Nearly 30,000 Twins incentive items were donated to more than 45 public libraries and schools across Minnesota and Iowa to help promote summer reading programs. Twins players and Twins mascot T.C. made more than 250 community appearances in 2008. Justin Morneau partnered with the Twins Community Fund to renovate a baseball field in Northeast Minneapolis For a complete list of Community Fund grants and programs, visit www.twinsbaseball.com/community. Applications for 2009 programs and grants will be available online in January. Minnesota Twins Baseball Club Minnesota Twins Community Fund 34 Kirby Puckett Place, Minneapolis, MN 55415 612.375.1366 (phone) 612.375.7480 (fax) www.twinsbaseball.com
TwinsFest 2009 Dates Announced The Twins Community Fund s largest fundraiser, TwinsFest, returns to the Metrodome Friday, January 23 through Sunday, January 25, 2009. More than 50 former, current, and future Twins players will appear during the event. TwinsFest 2009 will feature players autograph and photo sessions, live and silent sports memorabilia auctions, free youth baseball and softball clinics, a National Baseball Hall of Fame exhibit, tour of the Twins clubhouse, auditions to sing the National Anthem prior to a 2009 Twins home game, and more! Since its inception in 1989, TwinsFest has raised more than $3.6 million for the Twins Community Fund. Fore more information and to purchase tickets, call 1-800- 33-TWINS or visit www.twinsbaseball.com. Twins pitcher Kevin Slowey signs autographs at TwinsFest 2008 Play Ball! Minnesota Conference Hosts Youth Coaches and Volunteers The fifth annual Play Ball! Minnesota Youth Baseball and Softball Conference will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2009. The event will celebrate the beginning of the 2009 youth baseball and softball season by bringing together the region s youth coaches, administrators and volunteers to discuss topics and issues related to the game and learn from the many conference breakout sessions. Many of the conference breakout sessions will be led by Twins alumni and will address various areas of coaching and skill development. Play Ball! Minnesota members and Twins front office personnel also will participate in the administration sessions. For more information visit: www.playballmn.com. Diamonds and Dreams Scholarship Information Announced The Twins Community Fund Diamonds and Dreams Scholarship Program will grant a total of $40,000 in academic scholarships in 2009 to 20 high school seniors pursing post secondary education. Visit www.twinsbaseball.com/community for additional information and application materials. Upper Midwest and Southwest Florida students are eligible to apply for a Diamonds and Dreams scholarship. Recipients must actively participate in an organized baseball or softball program, perform community service or volunteer work, demonstrate leadership skills and excel in academics. The deadline to apply for a scholarship is March 1, 2009. Students who received 2008 Diamonds and Dreams scholarships are recognized before a Twins home game 2 Twins in the Community
Twins Spread Holiday Cheer with Week of Giving The Minnesota Twins players and front office joined together in December 2008 to demonstrate community giving during the holiday season. Monday, Dec. 15: Tuesday, Dec. 16 Wednesday, Dec. 17 YOUTH BASEBALL CLINIC AT COURAGE CENTER Twins front office staff joined Twins clinicians and Harmon Killebrew in teaching baseball skills to disabled youth at Courage Center in Golden Valley. Thursday, Dec 18 Friday, Dec. 19 NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE PEOPLE SERVING PEOPLE HOLIDAY PARTY Twins front office staff, Ron Gardenhire and TC served dinner to the residents of the temporary housing facility. The Twins also provided gifts to the child residents. BIKES FOR KIDS AT METRODOME SOUTH HAVEN SENIOR RESIDENCE Twins staff and Tony Oliva visited residents of the affordable housing community for seniors, provided snacks and gifts to the residents and visited with them on a one-onone basis. Twins staff and Tony Oliva delivered donated food items to the St. Paul organization and helped serve a turkey dinner to area residents. The Minnesota Twins hosted a holiday party for Bikes for Kids, a non-profit foundation that gives the gift of a new bicycle to disadvantaged youth. Youth were treated to free food, games, a bike safety demonstration and received a free bike. 2009 Twins Winter Caravan Will Visit Upper Midwest Communities The 49th Annual Twins Winter Caravan kicks off on January 12, 2009. This year s Winter Caravan will visit more than 60 Upper Midwest communities between January 12 and January 29, 2008. The Twins Winter Caravan features current and former players visiting schools, hospitals, service organizations and Upper Midwest companies during the day, with a traditional hot stove league program slated for each evening. The Winter Caravan is presented by Fox Sports North, KSTP Radio and the Twins Radio Network. Twins clinicians lead a youth baseball clinic at the Courage Center. Members of the Twins radio/television broadcast team, including John Gordon, Dan Gladden, Dick Bremer, and Bert Blyleven, will lead each leg of Winter Caravan. For more information on the Twins Winter Caravan, call 800-33-TWINS or visit www.twinsbaseball.com. Kevin Slowey and Scott Baker visit with a fan during the 2008 Twins Winter Caravan Twins in the Community 3
In 2008, the Twins Fields for Kids program granted $223,760 to build and renovate 49 Upper Midwest youth ball fields. Here are some of the results Holdingford, MN Before Holdingford, MN After Minnesota City, MN - Before Minnesota City, MN - After 4 Twins in the Community
Apply to Host a 2009 Upper Midwest Youth Clinic The Twins Community Fund will host Twins Youth Clinics in more than 30 Upper Midwest communities in 2009. If your community is interested in hosting a clinic, please call 800-33-TWINS or visit www.twinsbaseball.com/community in January 2009, for more information and to download a host community application. The complete Upper Midwest clinics schedule will be announced in April 2009. Twins clinics help youth develop their baseball and softball skills Twins Host Youth Clinics in Southwest Florida For the sixth straight year, the Minnesota Twins will host free youth clinics in Southwest Florida prior to spring training. The clinics will be held in January and February 2009. These two-hour clinics are open to boys and girls ages 5 to 16 and require no registration. Below is the schedule for the clinics. Visit www.twinsbaseball.com for more information. Date Time Location January 10 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Minnesota Twins / Lee County Sports January 17 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Buckingham Little League 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Lehigh Little League January 24 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Cape Coral Little League / Jason Verdow Park 1:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Bonita Springs Little League January 31 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. DeSoto Little League 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Port Charlotte Little League February 7 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. South Fort Myers Little League / Rutenberg Park 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. San Carlos Little League Twins in the Community 5
Twins Community Fund Mission The mission of the Minnesota Twins Community Fund is to enrich local and regional communities by providing resources for the healthy development of children and families through an association with baseball and softball and the Minnesota Twins. Community Members Kevin Cattoor, Chair Headwater Systems Julianne Bye Minneapolis YWCA Billy Collins St. Paul YWCA Julie Craven Hormel Austin, Minn. Mark Dienhart University of St. Thomas Brent Gish National Indian Impacted Schools Association Mahnomen, Minn. Roger Moe National Strategies, Inc.; Former Minn. State Senate Majority Leader Erskine, Minn. Ron Nelson 3M, Retired 2008 Board of Directors Lea B. Olsen Mark Schiffman Himle Horner Jim Senske New Ulm Baseball Association New Ulm, Minn. David Stead MN State High School League Jodie Tanaka Tempo Creative Consultants Kate Walker Macalester College Institutional Members Becky Crain Twins Wives Organization Michael Cuddyer Twins Player Ginny Hubbard Morris Hubbard Radio Elliot Jaffee US Bank, Gene Larkin Former Twins Player New Era Financial Dave St. Peter Twins President Contact us at: 34 Kirby Puckett Place, Minneapolis, MN 55415 612.375.1366 (phone) 612.375.7480 (fax) www.twinsbaseball.com 34 Kirby Puckett Place Minneapolis, MN 55415