INDIANAPOLIS -- Minor League Baseball Charities is proud to announce that it has named Ed Randall's Bat for the Cure (BFTC) as its first Homegrown Charity Partner. BFTC, which has worked closely with Minor League Baseball for several years, heightens prostate cancer awareness, promotes early PSA testing, and raises much needed research funding to fight the disease. In 2009, BFTC conducted more than 130 Prostate Cancer Awareness Nights in its Minor League Road Trip program.

"Minor League Baseball is proud to name BFTC as our initial charity, as part of our Homegrown Charities Partners program," stated Pat O'Conner, Minor League Baseball president. "By its nature, the Homegrown Charities Partners is a program where these partners have, in large part, roots traceable to Minor League Baseball. BFTC is such a partner.

"Ed Randall's personal and career paths run deep into Minor League Baseball. BFTC's noble and good work is done with many of our member teams. We have an obligation to look out for our fans when we can, and BFTC is an important component in the lifestyle and wellness testing and education in our cities. This is a natural partnership, and we are pleased to welcome BFTC to our charities partnership family," O'Conner added.

"It is an honor for my organization to partner with Minor League Baseball and be designated one of their official charities," Ed Randall, the chairman and founder of Ed Randall's Bat for the Cure said. "It is humbling to be included in the company of other legacy Minor League Baseball Charitable Partners, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Special Olympics and The ALS Association.

"After two years of preparations that began at the Baseball Winter Meetings in Dallas in 2005, we debuted our Prostate Cancer Awareness Nights in Pawtucket, R.I., in June, 2007. Now, 275 ballparks later, the team owners and operators and their devoted staffs, are the reason we have scaled this mountain to plant our flag. My charity is excited to be forging a long and mutually beneficial relationship between our organizations, since we both believe that the health of every fan is important. We look forward to helping men stay healthy through greater awareness and knowledge about prostate cancer."

For the second year in a row, BFTC will sponsor free, simple PSA screenings for thousands of Baseball Winter Meetings attendees. The free screenings will be held on Wed, Dec. 9, inside The Baseball Trade Show™ at the Indiana Convention Center.

The Minor League Baseball Charity Partner's Program was founded in 2004 to provide national exposure for charities, expand current relationships between clubs and local chapters, and to foster new relationships where none exist. The ALS Association, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Special Olympics are National Charity Partners of MiLB Charities.