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Wow! Our kids asked, “Can I Play?” And you responded with a resounding “Yes!”
Just 4 months into our $100,000 campaign to open up 10 new Full Count programs, our scorecard shows you have helped us raise through donations and grants a total of $59,300 toward our goal of opening up 10 new Full Count summer and after school programs. 
Check out our Facebook gallery below of some of the fun we had at our “Can I Play?” Gala helping to bring the life lessons inherent in the game of baseball to underserved youth!
Stay tuned for the launch of our new website and fun, easy ways to say “Yes!” to our kids.
In the meantime, you can help us toward our goal of funding 5 more programs by donating to our Can I Play? campaign.
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A BENEFIT FOR FRIENDS OF BASEBALL’S FULL COUNT AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM
Last year, when we celebrated our 10th Anniversary with nearly 300 community members, we asked the group to dream with us, “If Only…” If Only our kids played on safe fields. If Only coaches were provided with the training and resources they needed. If Only families didn’t have to worry about affording that glove. If Only every child had the chance to play. On Friday, September 23, 2016 at Oregon Golf Club, we will convene again to show you what is possible when we answer, “Yes” to this question for the most underserved youth in our community. Like last year, we will have an engaging program and live auction with “can’t get anywhere else” items and bring together hundreds of business and community leaders to support the engagement of our youth through baseball– inspired educational programming. But this year, our vision is bolder. We want to launch Full Count in 10 new schools this Fall and Winter. Our youth are asking, “Can I Play?” Please answer “Yes” with us and join us at this inspirational event. Play Ball, Nova Well as you might have noticed, it’s been too long since we have provided some updates on the website! While it is no excuse, we have been very busy in the field, literally, on the ball field! It has been a fun season for us at Friends of Baseball, including three Portland Metro area summer Full Count enrichment camps, with the second and third camps just wrapping up. We have two more ahead to round out the summer! What a blast it has been!
Opening Day was fun for us too! Not only did we get to celebrate it with our Partner Green Zebra grocery in North Portland kicking off the 2016 season, we also had the chance to give back to our friends at the Mariners. Specifically to a special kind of person by the name of Miles. Miles is an usher at Safeco field and has been for years, and he has made it his mission to keep the love of collecting baseball cards alive by handing out (from his own collection mind you) baseball cards to each young fan walking through his gate to Safeco field. We had the chance to replenish his stash of cards thanks to a generous gift from a local, true Friend of Baseball, Bruce Kracke. It was an honor to meet Miles and the smile on his face when we surprised him with over 10,000 cards — was priceless! Off the field, we have also expanded our board with 2 new members (Cindy Nichol and Drew Hagedorn) who we will introduce further after they have had a chance to get their feet wet. We just conducted our yearly strategy meeting in June. Both Cindy and Drew are jumping right in to get involved from the get go! Nova and the rest of the FOB board can’t wait to utilize their skills and passion for youth baseball and softball in the NW as we continue with our Can I Play initiative! And finally the biggest reason we are in transition, we are working hard to update our website, which we are very excited about! Not only will it be more informative, but easier for you, our visitors, to help contribute to the amazing game of youth baseball in the NWthrough FOB. Please stay tuned for the big reveal…coming soon! As we continue to finalize the website, please be patient. Keep in touch with us through FaceBook and most importantly, come and see us for our Gala on September 23rd at the Oregon Golf Club (for information, email nova@friendsofbaseball.org). In the meantime, I hope this update provides a glimpse into what we are up to and a chance to say THANK YOU to everyone who has supported our efforts over the years. As we always say…#baseballbuildscommunity. Play Ball! Ben Longcor Friends of Baseball Co-Founder/President HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM FRIENDS OF BASEBALL
When MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred issued his letter around this time last year, we were so inspired and motivated to learn that his priorities for Major League Baseball aligned so well with our priorities to Keep Kids on the Field of Play. He said, “Baseball is a game firmly rooted in childhood experiences, and its vitality and growth rely heavily on giving young people from all backgrounds the opportunity to play and watch baseball.” That’s why we were honored to have Commissioner Manfred participate in our 10th Anniversary Gala from afar with his special video message and congratulations not just to our Founders, but to ALL OF YOU who have been there along the way to help us help more kids. 2015 HIGHLIGHTS and MORE TO COME…
Today, it’s the first day of 2016. You know what that means. A new season ahead… PLAY BALL, Nova and Ben 10 YEARS KEEPING KIDS ON THE FIELD OF PLAY
The Seattle Mariners sent us a special holiday thank you video message to our partners and supporters who have done so much for youth baseball and softball over Friends of Baseball’s decade of service. At our Gala in November, we raised a little over $35,000 to help fund our new Full Count program to bring more youth to the game. We are proud to partner with the Seattle Mariners to build community through baseball and have their support at our 10th Anniversary celebration. Enjoy this special message from the Mariner Moose and his colleagues and our front office friends, Gina Hasson and Bob Hellinger. And remember baseball is always just around the corner. To a fun and memorable 2016 year and season! Your fans at Friends of Baseball Baseball doesn’t have to end with the post-season… Get your Gala tickets today and hear from the “Keeper of the Flame” Roberto Clemente Jr.Bid on Dream Baseball Experiences in our Live Auction including:
Golden Tickets also available for purchase to “steal home” for an auction item
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Friends of BaseballWe provide opportunities for success on and off the field for boys and girls in Oregon and SW Washington. Join us and answer "Yes" to the question, "Can I Play?" Archives
October 2016
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