'Pack the Park for Midlands Gives' Raises $9,000 for Local Non-Profits

COLUMBIA, S.C. - In partnership with Midlands Gives and Central Carolina Community Foundation, the Columbia Fireflies helped raise $9,000 dollars for 48 different non-profit organizations that participated in the team's annual 'Pack the Park for Midlands Gives' fundraising initiative on August 7. The event allows each non-profit to individually sell tickets in a collective effort to raise money and awareness for their organizations. Each non-profit receives a percentage of the money from their tickets sales; the Fireflies also donate extra money to the top three selling non-profits.
"Pack the Park is a great annual opportunity for us to support numerous non-profits from our local community all in one day," said Fireflies Team President John Katz. "We are very excited to be donating a record amount of $9,000 back to the non-profits who participated in the event this season."
In its third season Pack the Park set a record of total tickets sold and in turn, money being donated back. With nearly 1,700 tickets sold by non-profits for the event, $9,000.00 has been donated back to the non-profits this year. Family Promise of the Midlands was the non-profit that raised the most money in 2018 and set a record for number of tickets sold by an individual non-profit.
"It has been an amazing experience working with the Central Carolina Community Foundation on Pack the Park since our inaugural season," said Fireflies Marketing/Client Services Manager Ashlie DeCarlo. "It's been incredible watching the event's growth and we can't wait to break those records again next season. Event sales have more than doubled since the kickoff in 2016."
For more information on fundraising programs with the Fireflies, contact 803-726-4487.
**
About the Columbia Fireflies
The Columbia Fireflies are the South Atlantic League affiliate of the New York Mets. Winners of Ballpark Digest's Best New Branding and Logo Award in 2016, the Fireflies play games across the southeast and mid-Atlantic regions, including against in-state rivals in Charleston and Greenville. The team partnered with the city of Columbia and Hughes Development to construct Spirit Communications Park, a multi-use outdoor sports and entertainment venue at the center of the BullStreet District. The Columbia Fireflies are owned by Hardball Capital, owners of the Fort Wayne TinCaps of the Midwest League and the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Southern League. For more information, visit ColumbiaFireflies.com, or follow the Fireflies on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
About Spirit Communications Park
Spirit Communications Park, the 2016 Ballpark Digest Ballpark of the Year, is a 365-day per year multi-use sports and entertainment venue located in the heart of downtown Columbia, SC. Spirit Communications Park is the home ballpark for the Columbia Fireflies, the South Atlantic League affiliate of the New York Mets. Designed for baseball, concerts, football, soccer and a host of other activities, the venue seats approximately 9,000 for sporting events and up to 15,000 for major outdoor concerts. With 16 luxury suites and a 7,000 square-foot Club Level Lounge, Spirit Communications Park can also host everything from business meetings to wedding receptions, and everything in between. The venue is open 365 days a year and serves as a public park with the wrap-around concourse representing 1/3 of a mile for walkers and joggers. For more information, visit SpiritCommunicationsPark.com.