Photos: Red Sox Week of Service 2014

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Feb. 18, 2015) – For the fifth consecutive year, the Boston Red Sox are planning a series of events and activities from Feb. 26 to March 2 that will give back to communities throughout Southwest Florida.

Highlights include a free admission open house and yard sale at JetBlue Park at Fenway South, uniformed personnel and front-office staff volunteering with nonprofits across Southwest Florida, and two longtime fundraising efforts that will help children in need throughout the community.

“For many years, we have supported various fundraisers in Southwest Florida, and four 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, senior director of Florida business operations.

Beginning Thursday, Feb. 26, Red Sox uniformed personnel and front-office staff will spend the day volunteering with Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida’s Clean Sweep, Goodwill L.I.F.E. Academy students and Community Cooperative.

On Friday, Feb. 27, the 22nd annual Boston Red Sox Children’s Hospital Celebrity Classic golf tournament benefiting the Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida will take place at the Forest Country Club in South Fort Myers.

On Saturday, Feb. 28, the Red Sox will host a public open house and yard sale at JetBlue Park at Fenway South, a free event featuring a variety of family-friendly activities and player autographs as well as lots of Red Sox memorabilia for sale.

The 10th Annual Evening with the Red Sox benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County will take place on Monday, March 2 at JetBlue Park.

2015 RED SOX WEEK OF COMMUNITY SERVICE 

Thursday, Feb. 26  – Day of Community Service 

On Thursday, members of the Red Sox uniformed personnel and front-office staff will perform community service for two nonprofit agencies in Southwest Florida including Community Cooperative and Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, Inc. From 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Red Sox volunteers will help Goodwill collect donations at JetBlue Park as part of its Clean Sweep in the front lawn. From 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., class members of the Goodwill L.I.F.E. Academy will be at JetBlue Park to watch players practice, enjoy lunch and have the chance to play catch and interact with players. In the afternoon, volunteers will prepare nutritious meals for the hungry in Southwest Florida through Community Cooperative’s Community Café and Marketplace and Meals on Wheels programs.

  • Community Cooperative: 3429 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33916
  • JetBlue Park at Fenway South: 11500 Fenway South Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33913

Friday, Feb. 27 – 22nd 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 22nd 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. 28 – Free public Open House/Yard Sale at JetBlue Park

The Red Sox will host a free public open house on Saturday, Feb. 28 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at JetBlue Park at Fenway South, the team’s 106-acre Spring Training and Player Development Complex in Lee County. The family-friendly event will give fans an opportunity to walk freely around JetBlue Park, enjoy inflatables, games, arts and crafts, a petting zoo, discounted concessions and player autographs in the afternoon. The team will also hold a yard sale, giving fans an opportunity to purchase a selection of items including memorabilia from former and current players, collectables from the World Series season, facility signage, historic programs, workout equipment, photos and more. Proceeds will be donated to the Red Sox Foundation, a 501(c)(3) and the official team charity of the Boston Red Sox. The Foundation’s primary focus locally is in serving the health, education, recreation and social service needs of children and families across Southwest Florida. All yard sale items are subject to availability and will be sold on a first come, first served basis. A blood drive will also be taking place during the open house for those who are able to make a blood donation to help support Florida’s Blood Center.

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

Monday, March 2 – 10th Annual Evening with the Red Sox benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County
For the 10th consecutive year, the Red Sox will host Evening with the Red Sox dinner and auction 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, dinner, and live and silent auctions featuring Red Sox memorabilia, regular season game packages, vacation packages and local golf and restaurant experiences.

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

Pitchers and catchers report to JetBlue Park on Feb. 20 and will hold their first workouts Feb. 21; position players will hold their first workouts Feb. 25. Workouts are free and open to the public.

The team opens its exhibition season Tuesday, March 3 at 1:05 p.m. with a single admission double header against the Northeastern University Huskies and the Boston College Eagles.

The Grapefruit League schedule launches on the road at nearby Hammond Stadium on Thursday, March 5 against the Red Sox’s Chairman’s Cup rival, the Minnesota Twins. The Grapefruit League home opener against the Miami Marlins is set for the following day at 1:05 p.m. The Red Sox will host Minnesota on Saturday, March 7 at 1:05 p.m., the second of nine contests between the cross-town foes.

The Red Sox will visit its American League East rival New York Yankees on Wednesday, March 11 in Tampa, and will then host them Friday night, March 13 at 7:05, one of three night games on the home schedule.  Other division matchups include two games versus the Baltimore Orioles, four against the Tampa Bay Rays, and two against the Toronto Blue Jays.