FORT MYERS, Fla. (Feb. 23, 2013) – For the third consecutive year, dozens of the Boston Red Sox’s uniformed personnel and front office staff performed a weeklong series of events and activities from Feb. 17 to 22, that gave back to communities throughout Southwest Florida.
Highlights of the week included a free admission open house at JetBlue Park at Fenway South; uniformed personnel and front office staff volunteering at 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 two years 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 branched out even further into the community to celebrate the second year of JetBlue Park and Fenway South and spent time helping even more of our community neighbors.”
The week began Sunday, Feb. 17, with the Boston Red Sox hosting the public open house of JetBlue Park at Fenway South, a free event featuring a variety of family-friendly activities.
Tuesday, Feb. 19 and Wednesday, Feb. 20, Red Sox uniformed personnel and front office staff spent the afternoons volunteering at Habitat for Humanity of Lee County, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast, CCMI’s Backpack Program at Treeline Elementary and the Harry Chapin Food Bank.
The Red Sox Week of Community Service calendar also included two long-time Red Sox charitable events – the 8th annual Evening with the Red Sox benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County on Monday, Feb. 18th at JetBlue Park and the 20th annual Boston Red Sox Children’s Hospital Celebrity Classic golf tournament benefiting the Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida on Friday, Feb. 22 at the Forest Country Club in South Fort Myers.
2013 RED SOX WEEK OF COMMUNITY SERVICE
Sunday, Feb. 17 – JetBlue Park at Fenway South – Public Open House
The Boston Red Sox hosted a public open house on Sunday, Feb. 17 beginning at 11:00 a.m. at JetBlue Park at Fenway South, the team’s 106-acre Spring Training and Player Development Complex in Lee County. The Open House, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., was open to all fans and visitors. During the Open House, fans will had an opportunity to walk freely around JetBlue Park and enjoy player autographs, discounted concessions and entertainment on Fenway South Drive – a street festival reminiscent of Yawkey Way in Boston. Much like at Fenway Park in Boston, the street had entertainment including face painting, magicians, a petting zoo, stilt walkers, a bounce house, obstacle course, other games for children and arts and crafts courtesy of the Alliance for the Arts helping children turn recycled Red Sox materials into works of art. As well, to help support Florida’s Blood Center, a blood drive took place during the open house for those who are able to make a blood donation.
• JetBlue Park at Fenway South: 11500 Fenway South Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33913
Monday, Feb. 18 – 8th Annual Evening with the Red Sox benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County
For the 8th consecutive year, the Boston Red Sox hosted the Evening with the Red Sox benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County held at JetBlue Park from 5:30 to 9 p.m. The evening included 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 Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Sam Kennedy served as the evening’s guest speaker.
- JetBlue Park at Fenway South: 11500 Fenway South Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33913
Tuesday, Feb. 19 – Day of Community Service
On Tuesday from 3 to 5 p.m., members of the Red Sox uniform personnel and front office staff performed community service at two nonprofit agencies in Southwest Florida, including the Habitat for Humanity of Lee County and Big Brothers Big Sister of the Sun Coast. Volunteers were involved in a variety of activities at each location including the rehabbing of affordable housing for families in need, helping children who may not have a strong male or female presence in their life with homework, arts-n-crafts and outdoor recreational games.
- Habitat for Humanity of Lee County: Rosemary Park, Bonita Springs, Florida 34135
- Big Brothers Big Sister of the Sun Coast: Heights Community Park/Big Brothers Big Sisters Pavilion, 7340 Concourse Drive, Fort Myers, 33908
Wednesday, Feb. 20 – Day of Community Service
On Wednesday from 3 to 5 p.m., members of the Red Sox uniformed personnel and front office staff performed community service at two nonprofit agencies in Southwest Florida including CCMI’s Backpack Program at Treeline Elementary and the Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida. Volunteers were involved in a variety of activities including filling backpacks with non-perishable food items for local elementary students that otherwise might go without a meal over the weekend and helping fight hunger by helping the food bank package food items that will be sent to feed the needy across Southwest Florida.
- Treeline Elementary: 10900 Treeline Ave., Fort Myers, FL 33913
- Harry Chapin Food Bank: 3760 Fowler St., Fort Myers, FL 33901
Friday, Feb. 22 – 20th Annual Boston Red Sox Children’s Hospital Celebrity Classic
Members of the Boston Red Sox uniformed personnel, alumni and front office staff participated in the 20th 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
The Red Sox will host 20 games in its second year at the state-of-the-art complex. The team began its 2013 spring game schedule on Thursday, Feb. 21, with the traditional, single-admission double-header against the Northeastern University Huskies and Boston College Eagles starting at 1:35 p.m.
The 2013 spring slate features eight scheduled night games at JetBlue, including a matchup on Tuesday, March 5, with Team Puerto Rico, which will be preparing for the third World Baseball Classic.
