Community
In 2009, the Cleveland Indians introduced a new Community Outreach initiative called "Fill the House for Charity". Thirteen different local non-profit service agencies enjoyed the opportunity to raise funds and awareness for its particular cause. Each non-profit organization generated revenue through the sale of discounted Indians tickets for its specific Wednesday game and utilized Progressive Field to share its goodwill message. The Indians donated $5 per every ticket sold by the agency, as well as an additional $1 for every ticket sold to that game.
The Indians also provided charities with in-kind items such as a suite, autographed merchandise and a Batting Practice Experience; as well as media exposure. In 2009, the Indians donated over $600,000 to local non-profit service agencies through Fill the House for Charity.
The Indians look to help fight pediatric and adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer through a new initiative called Indians Kick It: a simple concept - raise money for cancer research by playing kickball. Each group that raises $2,500 or more gets to play a kickball game on Progressive Field.
To make it even easier for communities, schools, recreation centers, businesses, colleges, sports teams or just anyone to hold a kickball game; Kick It Kits which include all the basic materials needed to play kickball are sold in Indians Team Shops and online!
"Indians in the Community" is an employee volunteer program that assists area neighborhoods and charitable partners. In 2009, the Cleveland Indians accomplished four major done-in-a-day projects: Opening Day Party at the Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital, Boys & Girls Club - West Side Club Refurbishment, Rebuilding Together Cleveland and Cleveland Indians Take Over The Foodbank.
The Indians will continue its partnerships and care for the Cleveland community by participating in two major done-in-a-day projects and four other Indians in the Community events in 2010.
In addition to Indians in the Community, the Cleveland Indians kicked off the 2009 holiday season with a Week of Caring. The week started with a Lift Up America/Tyson Chicken Food Distribution, followed by the Annual Cleveland Indians Food Drive and concluded with a day of volunteering at the Cleveland Foodbank.
The Indians also participate in The Giving Tree to benefit kids in foster care through Cleveland's Children and Family Services and Indians DH Travis Hafner holds his annual Pronkta Claus toy drive each year, benefiting the children at Beech Brook, a local foster care agency.
As a civic leader in the City of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, the Cleveland Indians provide assistance to non-profit organizations to help raise funds necessary to support its missions. In responding to these requests, the department provides in-kind (autographed jerseys, bats, balls, etc) and monetary donations. On an annual basis, the organization donates more than $300,000 and 12,000 items to non-profit organizations.
Tribe players spend the day shopping with children from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland and Lorain County at a local Dick's Sporting Goods. Kids ages 7-15 receive $100 gift cards for back-to school shopping.
Tribe players such as Grady Sizemore, Ryan Garko, Shin-soo Choo, and others were on hand to help the kids make the most of their gift card by purchasing clothes, shoes and many other needed items.
Members of the Cleveland Indians front office staff battle members of the Cleveland Browns staff in the annual "Cleveland Sports Bowl": a fundraiser to benefit the "Bowl for Kids' Sake" program for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Cleveland. The 2009 friendly competition marked the 7th year the Browns and Indians have competed.
Susan G. Komen For The Cure and Prostate Cancer Foundation: Each year the Cleveland Indians participate in a Mother's Day initiative dedicated to increase awareness for Susan G. Komen For The Cure and raise funds to support breast cancer research. MLB provides pink wristbands and decals to each club and pink bats are used and then collected for auction. Similarly, each year the Indians participate in a Father's Day initiative dedicated to generate awareness and raise funds for the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Each club participates in a special 6th Inning Stretch to symbolically recognize that 1 in every 6 men will develop prostate Cancer.
Participating organizations include: 4♦ALS Awareness; All-Stars Among Us; Aquafina MLB Pitch, Hit & Run; Commissioner's Initiative for Kids; Jackie Robinson Foundation; MLB Player's Give Back; Prostate Cancer Foundation; Roberto Clemente Award; September 11th Remembrance; Stand Up to Cancer; Susan G. Komen For The Cure; Welcome Back Veterans.
