Brewers Community Foundation Week will kick off Thursday, Aug. 16, with a mission to rally Milwaukee Brewers fans for fun and community outreach. In its third year, the week-long celebration opens up Miller Park to baseball lovers for a number of events seeking to both educate the public about the foundation’s charity efforts and ignite team spirit.
“We want our fans to have fun, we want them to learn more about the Brewers Community Foundation, and we’d like them to continue participating in supporting the community,” said Cecelia Gore, executive director of the foundation.
As the charitable branch of the Brewers, the foundation extends financial support to nonprofit organizations that have quality programming centered on health, education, recreation and basic needs. The week-long charity event at Miller Park will raise a pot of funds for the foundation, which has a grant program that distributes money to area nonprofits.
According to Gore, the foundation supports more than 200 organizations.
“I think people are aware of the fact that there’s great need in the community,” Gore said. “And I believe that they have come to recognize that the Brewers Community Foundation is doing quality outreach and that they can participate in having some fun and helping a good cause.”
Highlights of the week include a Wives’ Mystery Grab Bag on Saturday, Aug. 18, in which Brewers’ wives will sell autographed materials from the team and a Brewers Players Favorite Things Raffle on Monday, Aug. 20, that will give fans a shot at winning a basket of players’ favorite items. Other charity events include BCF Awareness Night on Tuesday, Aug. 21, when the foundation will teach fans about the community groups it supports and a clearance sale on Wednesday, Aug. 22, that will feature game-used items for sale.
The foundation has also organized an “Ultimate Auction” on Brewers.com running Aug. 7 until Aug. 21. Among the 13 prizes to bid on are an all-expense trip to the Brewers Fantasy Camp and the chance to fill in as a Brewers first base coach at 2013 spring training.
Gore said the foundation tries to schedule its annual fundraising week during a homestand when the Brewers are playing at home. Last year’s foundation week generated more than $200,000.
“We’re excited about [the fundraiser],” Gore said. “We’ve been successful in the past. Our fans have participated and walked away with some great Brewers items and they’ve also been helpful in giving to the community.”
For more information about the Brewers Community Foundation mission and the schedule of upcoming events at Miller Park, visit www.Brewers.com/bcfweek.
