Bandits take aim at service, fun

Sometimes, it’s not just about the game of softball. That will definitely be the case during the next homestead, as the Bandits focus on service at the ballpark. The Bandits front office has been hard at work planning community service events which will be held at upcoming home games. In most cases, if you participate in the service event you will receive a ticket discount or free stuff.

We are so excited about the support we received for our Breast Cancer Research Charity Exhibition Game on July 5, we know we can count on Bandits fans to make our next service days a success!

July 15^th we will host a toy drive for the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation. The legendary Chicago Bears running back established the Foundation with his wife Connie to help abused, neglected, and underprivileged children in the state of Illinois. The toys collected at the July 15 game will be distributed to children during the 2009 Holiday Season. Fans who bring a new toy to donate to the Walter Payton Toy Drive will receive one free outfield admission with the purchase of one outfield admission (Buy One, Get One) at the gate. Toys must be new, unwrapped, and in their original packaging. Visit the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation for more information.

July 16^th will feature a can food drive. Every year, 10 percent of the population of Illinois goes hungry. The Bandits will attempt to lower that statistic locally as food collected will be donated to the emergency food pantry at Elgin’s Centro de Información. We will gladly be accepting all types of canned food, but Centro de Información is especially in need of Hispanic diet staples like uncooked white rice, canned or dried red and pinto beans, and Goya products. All fans who bring a donation for the food drive will receive 20 percent off an outfield ticket at the gate. A food donation wish list and more information on their services is available at the Centro de Información’s website.

July 19^th the Bandits will team up with the American Red Cross to host a blood drive. The Red Cross donation trailer will be set up in the parking lot beginning at 1:00pm. The first 25 people who donate will receive a Dairy Queen ice cream cup, while all donors will get a coupon for $1.00 a Blizzard redeemably at the ballpark. Fastpitch Forever Magazine also is giving donors a free copy of their latest issue. Donate blood early and stay for the 3:05pm game. To register online and reserve a time, visit www.givebloodgivelife.org and click on the “Donate Blood Now” tab. Enter the Elgin zip code 60120 for information on the Chicago Bandits Blood Drive.

The July home series will not just focus on service, but fun as well. July 15^th is also Dog Day so bring your pooch out to the park for treat giveaways and doggie bag raffles. July 17^th will feature our post-game fireworks show, while also raising awareness for the steroid abuse awareness group, the Taylor Hooten Foundation. July 18^th will be a blast from the past as we throw it back to the 1940s and 1950s with women from the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, World War II memorabilia and veterans, and some swing time music. The series will wrap up with Olympic Day July 19^th with appearances by Chicago 2016, 2008 Olympian Larry Langowski, and 2008 Paralympian Curtis Lease.

The best part of promotions is not the planning, but rather seeing the fans having a good time and enjoying being at the ballpark. Please help us giveback by participating in our community service promotions and stay for our fun themed events!

See you there! – Brooke Buzard, Promotions and Marketing Intern

P.S. Look out for our next community service events during the August 5-9 home series vs. the Akron Racers, as we raise money for the American Cancer Society.