minnesota twins community report

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KIDS ARE BETTER OFF THROUGH BASEBALL.

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The Twins Community Fund stands for something bigger than renovated baseball and softball fields. It’s about more than

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uniforms and equipment and clinics. Because the Twins Community Fund not only provides the resources to get more kids involved

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in the game, but the game itself continues to pass down invaluable experiences, lessons and lifelong memories to kids.

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Message from Dave St. Peter

Community Fund Programs • Our Mission

• Fields for Kids

• Reviving Baseball in the Inner City (RBI) • Play Ball! Minnesota

• Play Ball! Minnesota Youth Clinics

• Diamonds and Dreams Scholarship Program • Youth Baseball and Softball Grants • TwinsCare

Carl R. Pohlad Award Kirby Puckett Award

Terry Ryan Award

Minnesota Twins: Players and Alumni

• Twins Community Fund Fundraising Events • Current Player Involvement • Alumni Involvement

• Twins Wives Organization • Blizzard Tour Minnesota

Minnesota Twins: In the Community • Homelessness

• Health and Wellness

• Boys & Girls Club of the Twin Cities Partnership • Twins Winter Caravan

• Courage Center and “Rolling Twins” • Nonprofit Fundraising

• Perfect Attendance, Perfect Game • Go Twins Go Green

• Holiday Week of Giving

• Break a Bat, Plant a Tree

MESSAGE FROM DAVE ST. PETER It was 1961 when the Twin Cities became “Major League” as the Minnesota Twins were born, creating a five-state region known as Twins Territory. The past five decades have produced vivid memories of championship seasons, Hall of Fame players and special times at the ballpark for multiple generations across the Upper Midwest. While the Twins fully understand the importance of wins and losses, the franchise remains equally committed to

NOTE: Type will be retouched to look burned into wood.

being an active member of our community. To that end, we proudly share the team’s 2010 Community Report with hopes that it provides insight to the club’s ongoing dedication to making Twins Territory a better place to live. THANK YOU for your support. We look forward to seeing you at the ballpark and in our community.

COMMUNITY FUND

Win Twins!!!

-Programs-

Dave St. Peter President, Minnesota Twins

OUR MISSION Established as a nonprofit organization in 1991, the mission of the Twins Community Fund is to enrich local and regional communities by providing resources for the healthy development of children and families through an association with baseball, softball and the Minnesota Twins.

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F IE L D S F OR K I D S

F IE L D S F OR K I D S

Since 1999, the Twins Community Fund’s Fields for Kids program has granted more than

$1.6 million to renovate or construct 425 YOUTH BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL FIELDS. Matching grants are available in amounts from $1,000–$10,000.

FOSSTON SCHOOL DISTRICT received a matching grant in 2009 to replace the fencing and backstop at its high school baseball field and improve its dugouts.

Before

After

“None of this would have been possible without the generous grant from the Community Fund. It is now possible for future Greyhound baseball players to be proud of their home field.” ­

DID YOU KNOW? Fields for Kids grants provide essential field components, such as new sod, infields, fencing and dugouts, that ensure the safety of the players.

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Before

After

—Don Gutterud, Fosston Baseball

Before

After After

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P L AY B A L L ! MINNESOTA

RE V I V IN G B ASE B A L L IN T H E INNER CITY ( R B I )

The Twins Community Fund, in partnership with the Minneapolis and St. Paul Park and Recreation Departments, funds

Play Ball! Minnesota is a collaboration of youth baseball and softball organizations working together to grow their

and administers youth leagues within the two cities. Founded in 1993 by the Twins and players Kirby Puckett and Dave

respective sports. PlayBallMN.com is the leading source for youth baseball and softball information and news in

Winfield, MORE

Minnesota. Our annual Coaches Conference brings together youth baseball and softball coaches from around

THAN 6,000 youth BALLPLAYERS currently PARTICIPATE in the Twins RBI Program. The Twins

Community Fund hosts the annual RBI Regional Tournament, which is comprised of RBI tournament teams from around

Minnesota to SHARE

IDEAS AND LEARN NEW COACHING TECHNIQUES. The Play Ball! Minnesota Coaches Award

the region vying to move on to the RBI World Series.

recognizes outstanding youth baseball and softball coaches.

PLAY BALL! MINNESOTA YOUTH CLINICS 2010 marks the 50th year of the Twins Youth Clinics program. To celebrate the occasion, 50 free skills clinics will be held across the Upper Midwest this year. In 2009, the clinics provided FREE

DID YOU KNOW? In 2008, the Minneapolis/St. Paul Junior Boys All-Star team won the regional tournament for the first time, earning a trip to the RBI World Series in Compton, California.

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BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL INSTRUCTION TO MORE THAN 4,000 YOUTH.

DID YOU KNOW? More than 800,000 youth have participated in Play Ball! Minnesota clinics since their inception in 1961.

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YOUT H B ASE B A L L AN D SO F T B A L L G RANTS

D IAMON D S AN D D REAMS SC H O L ARS H IP PRO G RAM

Diamonds and Dreams

PROVIDES scholarships of $2,000

Our tournament grants assist organizations hosting state, regional and national youth baseball or softball tournaments. Competitive Youth Baseball and Softball Grants PROVIDE

to high school seniors in pursuit of postsecondary education.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT for travel and operational costs for upper-level

traveling baseball and softball teams in the Upper Midwest. Baseball and softball camp scholarships give economically disadvantaged youth the opportunity to attend baseball and softball instructional camps. Coaching grants provide dollars to youth organizations to hire high school or college-age coaches and administrators.

“Watching the Minnesota Twins as a child with my parents and my grandparents was always the best way to spend a day. Receiving the Minnesota Twins Community Fund Diamonds and Dreams Scholarship is a great honor. My dream of getting my business management and sales and marketing career is one step closer with your help.”

—Danny Leindl, 2009 Diamonds and Dreams Scholarship recipient

TWINSCARE The TwinsCare ticket program provides free tickets to nonprofit organizations to be used by underserved families and children. More than

20,000 twinscare TICKETS will be dontated in 2010, a value of

more than $400,000. This program is generously supported by players, the Minnesota Twins, Community Fund Cornerstone Partners and the Carl and Eloise Pohlad Family Foundation.

DID YOU KNOW? Diamonds and Dreams scholarship recipients are chosen based on academic achievement, community service, demonstrated leadership and participation in an organized youth softball or baseball program.

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K IR B Y PUC K ETT AWAR D

CAR L R . PO H L A D AWAR D

The Carl R. Pohlad Award is given by the Twins Community Fund to recognize the outstanding community involvement and

The Kirby Puckett Award recognizes a Twins alumni player

on-field performance of a current Twins player each season. The 2009

or coach who best exemplifies Kirby’s legacy of community

WINNER WAS JUSTIN MORNEAU, who was honored for

his work with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, youth ball field renovation, families of military personnel and children’s hospital visits.

service and involvement. The 2009

WINNER WAS ROD CAREW.

Rod, whose daughter Michelle died of leukemia in 1995, was

carl r. pohlad award winners

honored for his work with children’s cancer charities and the

2009 – Justin Morneau

national bone marrow donor database.

2008 – Joe Mauer 2007 – Johan Santana 2006 – Michael Cuddyer 2005 – Ron Gardenhire 2004 – Torii Hunter 2003 – Doug Mientkiewicz 2002 – Brad Radke 2001 – Corey Koskie 2000 – Denny Hocking 1999 – Ron Coomer

kirby puckett award winners 2009 – Rod Carew 2008 – Kent Hrbek 2007 – Tony Oliva 2006 – Harmon Killebrew

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P L AY B A L L ! MINNESOTA TERRY RYAN AWAR D

This award recognizes a leader in supporting Minnesota youth baseball and/or softball by contributing to the advocacy and promotion of the game and its participants. The award is named after long-time Minnesota Twins general manager Terry Ryan in honor of his passion and dedication to the promotion of baseball and softball in Minnesota. Each year, nominations are taken from baseball and softball fans in Twins Territory and the founding members of Play Ball! Minnesota select a winner.

terry ryan award winners 2009 – Jim Peck 2008 – Tink Larson 2007 – Bill Peterson 2006 – John Wilkens

2009 PLAY BALL! MINNESOTA TERRY RYAN AWARD WINNER: Jim Peck, Minnetonka, Minn. Jim Peck’s coaching career has spanned 46 years, including 10 in Babe Ruth Baseball and 36 in American Legion Baseball. During those 46 years, Peck has amassed over 1,500 wins, including four state championships, five state runners-up, one American Legion national runner-up, two American Legion regional championships and two American Legion regional runners-up. More than 300 players Peck has coached over the years have moved on to play college baseball, 17 have signed professional contracts and four made it to the major leagues. Peck has also served as an American Legion World Series staff member for many years and is the current program director and coach for the national 18 and under American Legion team that participates in the USA Baseball Tournament of Stars program.

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CURRENT P L AYER IN V O L V EMENT

TWINS COMMUNITY F UN D F UN D RAISIN G E V ENTS

Fundraising events include TwinsFest, where Twins players,

PLAYER-SUPPORTED CHARITIES

coaches and alumni gather for a weekend in January to

Since the early days of the franchise, Twins greats such as Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva and Rod Carew have defined

meet fans and help raise money for the Twins Community

greatness on the field while stressing the importance of giving back to the community. The Twins Alumni Association

Fund. Events also include the Welcome Home Luncheon

helps foster greatness long after a player has retired from the game. Many former Twins annually participate in TwinsFest

and the Autograph Party.

and Autograph Party. Others continue to lend their names, time and money to support specific charities. Today, current Minnesota Twins players and their families follow the same tradition by selecting and supporting community organizations.

DID YOU KNOW? Twins Fest is one of the largest team-run fan festivals in professional sports.

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CURRENT P L AYER IN V O L V EMENT

CURRENT PLAYERS AND COACHES SUPPORT THESE CHARITIES/CAUSES: Nick Blackburn: Project Success

CURRENT P L AYER IN V O L V EMENT MICHAEL CUDDYER’S CELEBRITY WAITER EVENT benefitting the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities.

Jesse Crain: Courage Center, TwinsCare Michael Cuddyer: Boys & Girls Clubs, Twins Community Fund Board Member, TwinsCare

JOE MAUER’S GOLF TOURNAMENT

Matt Guerrier: Komen for the Cure

benefitting Friends of St. Paul Baseball.

Brendan Harris: Queensbury Youth Baseball Orlando Hudson: Autism, Around the Mound Tour, TwinsCare Jason Kubel: Kub’s Kids T-ball, TwinsCare Joe Mauer: Friends of St. Paul Baseball, MLBPA Action Team/Volunteers of America, Catholic Athletic Association,

Highland Friendship Club, TwinsCare

Justin Morneau: Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, Special Olympics, TwinsCare, Fields for Kids Joe Nathan: Nat’l Center for Fathering, Roberto Clemente Sports City, TwinsCare Nick Punto: ACES, TwinsCare Jon Rauch: Ronald McDonald House, TwinsCare Denard Span: Reviving Baseball in the Inner City

JUSTIN MORNEAU CASINO NIGHT

Jim Thome: Foster Care, TwinsCare

benefitting juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Delmon Young: Courage Center Jr. Rolling Twins Manager Ron Gardenhire: ALS Association,

Veterans-related charities,



People Serving People Homeless Shelter

Pitching Coach Rick Anderson: ALS Association Hitting Coach Joe Vavra: ALS Association

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A L UMNI IN V O L V EMENT

A L UMNI IN V O L V EMENT

FORMER PLAYERS AND THEIR CHARITIES/CAUSES:

KENT HRBEK: ALS ASSOCIATION

Twins Alumni give back to their communities all over the country. Some examples of these efforts are listed below. Bert Blyleven: Parkinsons Rob Carew: Children’s Cancer Charities and Be The Match Registry

raising funds for research to fight ALS.

ROD CAREW: BE THE MATCH raising awareness of the National Marrow Donor Program.

Ron Coomer: Miracle League of MN Jim Eisenreich: Tourette’s Syndrome Kent Hrbek: ALS Association, MN Chapter Harmon Killebrew: Harmon Killebrew Foundation, Twins Community Fund, Miracle League of MN Tim Laudner: Minnesota Stroke Association Paul Molitor: Camp Heartland Tony Oliva: Upper Midwest Youth Baseball/Softball Programs, Batten Disease, Meals On Wheels Brad Radke: The Brad and Heather Radke Family Foundation, Hennepin County Medical Center, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, American Cancer Society Roy Smalley: Pitch In for Baseball Terry Steinbach: ALS Association, MN Chapter

TONY OLIVA MAKES MORE THAN 100 COMMUNITY APPEARANCES A YEAR, often speaking to youth about following their dreams.

THE HARMON KILLEBREW GOLF CLASSIC benefitting the Twins Community Fund and the Miracle League of Minnesota.

DID YOU KNOW? Kent Hrbek has raised more than $1 million for ALS programs since 1982. He also helped develop the Hrbek-Sing Communication and Assistive Device Program in conjunction with Courage Center and the ALS Association, which works to alleviate communications issues experienced by people with ALS as they lose their ability to speak.

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t h e t w i n S w i v e s o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d c o a c h i n v o lv e m e n t

TWINS WIVES ORGANIZATION In 2009, the Twins Wives Organization

DONATED MORE THAN $40,000

to Minnesota nonprofit organizations. Supported organizations included: Southside Life Center, Sharing and Caring Hands, Salvation Army, People Serving People, Camp Erin, Minnesota Military Family Foundation, Gillette Children’s Hospital, Epilepsy Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – Minnesota Chapter, Courage Center, Kaleidoscope and Cheerful Givers.

BLIZZARD TOUR: A RIDE TO FIGHT ALS Since 2003, Twins Manager Ron Gardenhire has participated in the Black Woods Blizzard Tour, a 370-mile snowmobile ride to raise funds for the ALS Association. He, along with a group of Twins alumni and coaches including Terry Steinbach, Joe Vavra and Rick Anderson, serves as a Celebrity Host for the event, which has raised more than $3 million in its history.

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COMMUNITY PRO G RAMS

COMMUNITY PRO G RAMS

HOMELESSNESS

TWINS WINTER CARAVAN

Fundraisers and partnerships benefit homeless-serving organizations

For two weeks in January, Twins players, alumni, coaches

like People Serving People, Common Bond, Heading Home

and staff travel Twins Territory to visit fans. The Twins

Minnesota, Salvation Army Harbor Light and Mary’s Place.

Winter Caravan visited MORE

THAN 50 CITIES IN 2010.

The Twins Winter Caravan was created in 1961, and is

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

currently the largest caravan of its kind in professional sports.

The Hennepin County Step To It Challenge encourages residents and students to increase their physical activity.

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE TWINS CITIES PARTNERSHIP The Minnesota Twins and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities have partnered together for more than 25 years. The official charity partner of Major League Baseball, the Boys & Girls Clubs provide a positive, safe, fun and educational environment for youth. The Twins and the Clubs partner together for fundraisers, raising awareness of the Clubs’ programs and the RBI Program.

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COMMUNITY PRO G RAMS

COMMUNITY PRO G RAMS

COURAGE CENTER AND “ROLLING TWINS”

NONPROFIT FUNDRAISING

We are a proud sponsor of the Rolling Twins team.

The Minnesota Twins contributed memorabilia,

GO TWINS GO GREEN: SUSTAINABILITY STATEMENT Our future success—both on and off the field—is built on a business

tickets and game experiences to more than

4,500 FUNDRAISERS IN 2009. •

HOLIDAY WEEK OF GIVING

model that embraces operational efficiency, environmental stewardship

The Twins front office employees dedicate

and social responsibility. We honor the power of sport by leading through

a week each December to giving back to five

example and working to have a positive influence in the world.

community organizations.

Pentair’s custom-designed Rain Water Recycle System saves more than two million gallons of water annually by using rain water to irrigate the field and wash the lower decks of the stadium.

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Having collected the most LEED certification points ever awarded to a ballpark, Target Field is the greenest ballpark in America.

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More than 30% of all installed materials used in the construction of Target Field are made up of recycled content.

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60% of the building’s exterior is made of regionally-sourced limestone from Mankato, Minn. More than 20% of building materials came from within 500 miles of the ballpark.

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There are 827 bicycle storage locations within 200 yards of Target Field.

PERFECT ATTENDANCE, PERFECT GAME rewarded middle school students who achieved perfect attendance in the 2008–2009 school year. Other education programs include the Father of the Year Essay Contest,

DID YOU KNOW?

Summer Reading Incentives, Salute to Education discounted tickets for students and

Previous Holiday Week of Giving stops include People Serving People, the Commonbond After School Program, and Bikes for Kids.

teachers, plus special curriculum days like Weather Day and Physics Day.

break a bat, plant a tree Every time a Minnesota Twins pitcher breaks the bat of an opposing player during the 2010 season, Minnesota

DID YOU KNOW? Since 2006, the Courage Center Rolling Twins have placed in the top four in the National Wheelchair Softball Tournament.

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State Parks and Trails will plant 100 trees in one of the 73 Minnesota state parks and recreation areas or along one of the 21 Minnesota state trails.

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22 00 11 00 BB OO AA RR DD OO FF DD II RR EE CC TT OO RR SS The Minnesota Twins Community Fund is governed by a board

of directors comprised of a majority of members from the Upper Midwest.

COMMUNITY MEMBERS Dr. Mark Dienhart, Chair - University of St. Thomas - St. Paul, Minn Duane Arens - Connexus Energy - Minneapolis, Minn Paul Asao - Red Ball Marketing - Chanhassen, Minn

Julianne Bye - Minneapolis YWCA - Minneapolis, Minn Sharon Euerle - Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic

Administrators Association - Mankato, Minn

Brent Gish - N  ational Indian Impacted

Schools Association - Naytahwaush, Minn

Jay Kim - Dorsey and Whitney - Minneapolis, Minn

Tom Larson - The Toro Company - Bloomington, Minn

Lynn Littlejohn - Mortenson Construction - Minneapolis, Minn Kevin Merkle - Minnesota State High School League - Brooklyn Center, Minn

Lea B. Olsen - Freelance Broadcaster - Minneapolis, Minn Duane Reed - Cargill, Retired - Minneapolis, Minn

Mark Schiffman - Drawbridge Consulting - Waconia, Minn

Jim Senske - New Ulm Baseball Association - New Ulm, Minn Kate Walker - Immediate Past Chair - St. Paul, Minn

INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERS Michael Cuddyer - Minnesota Twins - Minneapolis, Minn

Becky Crain - Twins Wives Organization - Minneapolis, Minn Gene Larkin - Minnesota Twins - Eden Prairie, Minn

Dave St. Peter - Minnesota Twins - Eden Prairie, Minn Elliot Jaffee - US Bank - Minneapolis, Minn

Mark Schindele - Target Corporation - Minneapolis, Minn

C O M M U N ITY FU N D C O R N E R STO N E PA RTN E R S :