FORT MYERS, Fla. (Feb. 17, 2014) – For the fourth consecutive year, the Boston Red Sox are planning a series of events and activities from Feb. 21 to 26 that will give back to communities throughout Southwest Florida.

Highlights of the week include a free-admission Spring Training Open House at JetBlue Park at Fenway South, uniformed personnel and front office staff volunteering at various nonprofits across Southwest Florida, and two longtime fundraising efforts that will help children in need throughout Southwest Florida.

“For many years we have supported various fundraisers in Southwest Florida, and three years ago, we began adding additional activities to highlight the good work of organizations in Lee County that, every day, are serving people here who are most in need,” said Katie Haas, director of Florida business operations. “This year we look forward to branching out even further into the community to celebrate the third year of JetBlue Park and Fenway South and spend time helping even more of our community neighbors.”

The week of service will begin Friday, Feb. 21 with the 21st Annual Boston Red Sox Children’s Hospital Celebrity Classic golf tournament, benefiting the Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, at the Forest Country Club in South Fort Myers.

On Saturday, Feb. 22, the Boston Red Sox will host its annual Spring Training Open House at JetBlue Park, a free event open to the public featuring a variety of family-friendly activities, the World Series trophies, player autographs and more.

The Ninth Annual Evening with the Red Sox, benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County, will take place on Monday, Feb. 24 at JetBlue Park.

On Tuesday, Feb. 25 and Wednesday, Feb. 26, Red Sox uniformed personnel and front office staff will spend the afternoons volunteering with Child Care of Southwest Florida, Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida and Community Cooperative Ministries, Inc.’s Backpack Program at Treeline Elementary.

2014 RED SOX WEEK OF COMMUNITY SERVICE

Friday, Feb. 21 – 21st Annual Boston Red Sox Children’s Hospital Celebrity Classic

Members of the Red Sox uniformed personnel, alumni and front office staff will participate in the 21st Annual Boston Red Sox Children’s Hospital Celebrity Classic golf tournament being held at The Forest Country Club in South Fort Myers. All proceeds raised will help fund an expansion of the Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, providing extensive medical subspecialty treatments and state-of-the-art lifesaving care for the children of Southwest Florida.

  • The Forest Country Club: 6100 Club Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33908

Saturday, Feb. 22 – Red Sox Spring Training Open House at JetBlue Park

The Red Sox will host its annual Spring Training Open House on Saturday, Feb. 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at JetBlue Park. The family-friendly event will give fans an opportunity to walk freely around JetBlue Park while enjoying inflatables, games, arts and crafts, a petting zoo, farmer’s market with more than 30 vendors, discounted concessions, pictures with the World Series trophies and player autographs and more. A bloodmobile will also be onsite for anyone who is able to donate and wants to help support Florida’s Blood Center. Before the open house, the public is invited to watch that morning’s workouts beginning at 9 a.m. The event is open to the public and free of charge, including complimentary parking.

  • JetBlue Park at Fenway South: 11500 Fenway South Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33913

Monday, Feb. 24 – Ninth Annual Evening with the Red Sox 
For the ninth consecutive year, the Red Sox will host Evening with the Red Sox benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County to be held at JetBlue Park from 5:30 to 9 p.m. The evening will include an opportunity for autographs with Red Sox players, live and silent auctions featuring Red Sox memorabilia, regular season game packages, vacation packages and local golf and restaurant experiences. Red Sox Manager and AL Manager of the Year Runner-Up John Farrell will serve as the evening’s guest speaker.

  • JetBlue Park at Fenway South: 11500 Fenway South Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33913

Tuesday, Feb. 25 – Day of Community Service 
On Tuesday, Feb. 25 from 3 to 5 p.m., members of the Red Sox uniformed personnel and front office staff will perform community service at Child Care of Southwest Florida. Volunteers will be involved in a variety of activities including playing t-ball with children and planting, trimming and general clean up of a butterfly garden.

  • P.A. Geraci Child Development Center: 3713 Canal Street, Fort Myers, FL 33916

Wednesday, Feb. 26 – Day of Community Service 
On Wednesday, Feb. 26, members of the Red Sox uniformed personnel and front office staff will perform community service for two nonprofit programs in Southwest Florida including Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida’s Clean Sweep Donation Drive at JetBlue Park at 7 a.m. and CCMI’s Backpack Program at Treeline Elementary at 3 p.m. Volunteers will be involved in a variety of activities including helping collect donations at JetBlue Park and filling backpacks with nonperishable food items for local elementary students who otherwise might go without a meal during the weekend.

  • JetBlue Park at Fenway South: 11500 Fenway South Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33913
  • Treeline Elementary: 10900 Treeline Ave., Fort Myers, FL 33913

The Red Sox will open the Spring Training season with two college exhibition games on Thursday, Feb. 27 at 1:05 p.m. with a single-admission doubleheader game against the Northeastern University Huskies followed by a game against the Boston College Eagles.

All 2014 day games at JetBlue Park are scheduled to begin at 1:05 p.m., and all night games are scheduled at 7:05 p.m.

The Red Sox will launch the 2014 Grapefruit League schedule at home on Friday, Feb. 28 at 1:05 p.m. against the Minnesota Twins. The Twins host the Red Sox at Hammond Stadium the following night, the second of six contests between the cross-town foes.

On Monday, March 17 at 1:05 p.m., the St. Louis Cardinals will visit JetBlue Park for a St. Patrick’s Day rematch of the 2013 World Series participants.

Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report on Saturday, Feb. 15, and will hold their first workout on Monday, Feb. 17. Position players report on Feb. 18 with the first full-squad workout set for Thursday, Feb. 20. All workouts are open to the public free of charge.

The Red Sox have sold out 14 of the 15 Grapefruit League games at JetBlue Park. Standing-room-only tickets are still available for the March 11 game against the Miami Marlins. Seats also remain available for the college doubleheader Feb. 27 against Northeastern University and Boston College.