FORT MYERS, Fla. (Feb. 13, 2015) – Dr. Charles Steinberg, Boston Red Sox executive vice president and senior advisor to the president/CEO, will serve as this year’s Evening with the Red Sox guest speaker, sharing his experience working with the team and cultivating the passionate Red Sox Nation fan base.
Steinberg returned to the Red Sox in February 2012, after four years away – two years with the Los Angeles Dodgers and two with the Commissioner of Baseball. In his previous six seasons in Boston, as executive vice president of public affairs, Steinberg was a creative force in the franchise’s fan-friendly attitude, good will, market outreach and communications. Among his responsibilities and innovations were the Opening Day ceremonies (including the presentation of the world championship rings in 2005), players greeting fans at the gates, the Father’s Day Catch at Fenway, the Celebration of the Life of Ted Williams, the creating of the Fenway Ambassadors program, as well as community events on holidays and more. Upon his return in 2012, he helped orchestrate the celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Fenway Park, the tribute by the Boston Pops at Symphony Hall, and the Celebration of the Life of Johnny Pesky. When he first arrived in Boston, together with the new ownership in 2002, Steinberg helped cultivate the passionate Red Sox Nation fan base and contributed to the improvements that enabled the ownership to save Fenway Park. He was instrumental in the daily playing of “Sweet Caroline” in Boston, as well as the creation of Rick Dempsey’s performance of “Old Time Rock and Roll” in Baltimore, the playing of “Hells Bells” heralding Trevor Hoffman’s entrance in San Diego, and the playing of “Don’t Stop Believing” in Los Angeles.
Steinberg started his career spending 19 years with his hometown Baltimore Orioles, rising from intern to head of public relations. Before joining the Red Sox in 2002, Steinberg was the executive vice president of public affairs for the San Diego Padres from 1995 through 2001. He has earned five championship rings: World Championships with Baltimore (1983) and Boston (2004, 2007), and league championships with Baltimore (1979) and San Diego (1998).
A musician and songwriter, Steinberg has created compositions that have been recorded by Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr., former Chicago lead singer Bill Chapman and others. He was part of a group that sang on the Dropkick Murphy’s hit song, “Tessie,” and had a cameo with Drew Barrymore in the Farrelly Brothers’ hit film, “Fever Pitch.” Steinberg has won an Emmy Award for the television production of the story of the 1998 National League Champion Padres and a Telly Award for the video of the 1989 Orioles.
Benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County, the 10th Annual Evening with the Red Sox will be held on Monday, March 2 at JetBlue Park located at 11500 Fenway South Drive in Fort Myers. The evening will begin at 5:30 and include a cocktail reception with hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine, dinner, autograph signings from Red Sox players, and silent and live auctions that will include exciting trips to major cities, sports memorabilia packages, theme park passes, golf outings and more. Last year’s event included autograph signings by Craig Breslow, Mike Carp and Will Middlebrooks.
Joe Castiglione, radio announcer for the Red Sox, author and lecturer, will serve as the event’s emcee.
Presenting sponsors for this year’s event are Allstate Insurance and Ted Todd Insurance. Additional sponsors include Bell Tower Shops, Coca-Cola Company, Crowne Plaza Hotel at the Bell Tower Shops, CVS Pharmacy, Devitt & Smith, Diversified Yacht Services, Dr. Garramone, Encore Bank, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida Power & Light Company, Hoover & Associates, Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers, Jaguar, JetBlue Airways, Morgan Stanley, Owen-Ames-Kimball, Perfect Game in Ft. Myers, Pools Pros, Inc. and Aqua Illusions, Priority Payment Systems, Quattrone & Associates, Red Sox Foundation, Ron’s Painting, St. John’s Insurance, Suncoast Beverage, TECO Energy, UBS Financial Services, Inc., and Universal Insurance.
Sponsorships and tables are still available from $1,250 to $10,000. Donations for auction items are also being accepted. Individual tickets for the event are $200 per person.
Funds raised during the event provide more than 30,000 hours of service to more than 420 young people in our community who are a part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County. Last year, more than 1,300 youth demonstrated academic success, character and leadership and healthy lifestyles from the agency’s programs.
Celebrating 40 years of providing quality youth programs and brighter futures for young people in the Lee County community, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County works to inspire and enable young people to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. The BGCLC strives to provide a safe, world-class Club experience that assures success is within reach of every young person who walks through its doors. The organization envisions all of its members graduating high school with a plan for the future, demonstrating good character, citizenship while adapting a healthy lifestyle.
The area’s five Clubs are located in communities with the greatest need where similar services are limited or nonexistent. Membership dues are $10 per school year so that all children can have access to its programs. The BGCLC relies upon the philanthropic support of individuals, corporations and foundations in order to sustain and grow its services.
For more information, to become a sponsor, or to register for the event, contact Shannon Lane at 239-334-1886 or slane@bgclc.net.
