Amaro Jr. Added to Winter Banquet Lineup

Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. has been added as a Guest of Honor for the 2014 Phillies Winter Banquet presented by The Air Products Foundation, Lehigh Valley Health Network and Service Electric Cable TV & Communications, to be held on Thursday, January 23, 2014, at the Sands Events Center in Bethlehem. Amaro Jr. will join Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg along with 3B Cody Asche, INF/OF Darin Ruf and RHP Jonathan Pettibone on the Winter Banquet lineup. Seat or table reservations are now on sale and available by calling (610) 841-PIGS (7447). Interested parties are reminded that seating is limited and the Phillies Winter Banquet has sold out in years past. The event will begin at 6 p.m.

Amaro Jr., 48, was named Senior Vice President and General Manager on November 3, 2008 after 10 years as an assistant GM under Pat Gillick (2006-2008) and Ed Wade (1999-2005). In his first five years as General Manager, the Phillies have won three NL East division titles along with the 2009 NL Pennant.

In his first year as GM, Amaro Jr., was honored as Executive of the Year by the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association (PSWA) while the Phillies won the National League pennant for a second straight year. Under his direction in 2010, the Phillies captured their fourth straight NL East Division crown and advanced to the National League Championship Series for a third consecutive campaign.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Amaro Jr., was a batboy for the Phillies from 1980-83 when his father, Ruben Sr., was the first base coach. After being selected by the Angels in the 11th round of the 1987 draft, Amaro Jr., made his Major League debut with the club in 1991. Following that season, he was traded to the Phillies, where he spent five of his seven big league seasons.

The annual Phillies Winter Banquet is IronPigs Charities' flagship event with donations topping $124,000 in 2013. All of the money raised benefits IronPigs Charities, a non-profit organization striving to provide educational and recreational opportunities for children in the Greater Lehigh Valley.

The main program for Phillies Winter Banquet features players and personnel from the Philadelphia Phillies and includes a dinner and open bar, a sports memorabilia silent auction, raffles and an entertainment portion with the special Phillies guests.

Tickets are $85 per person or $775 for a table of ten. Championship tables, allowing patrons entrance to a private pre-event reception are also available. The event will begin at 6 p.m. with a cocktail hour and commencement of the auctions and raffles.

The state-of-the-art Sands Bethlehem Events Center, a spacious 50,000 square foot venue, opened in 2012 on the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem campus and has already hosted a wide array of premier musical acts, comedians and sporting events. The events center is directly located adjacent to the Sands Hotel. Winter Banquet attendees may enter at any of the Sands Boulevard entrances off 3rd Street and follow the signs directing you to the rear of the hotel.

The Phillies Winter Banquet beneficiary, IronPigs Charities presented by The Air Products Foundation, is a recognized 501(c) (3) non-profit organization on the state and federal level. One of the annual highlights of the Winter Tour event is the distribution of grants to local non-profit organizations. In fact, over $375,000 has been distributed at this event since debuting in 2008. Since its inception in 2007, IronPigs Charities has made more than $560,000 in monetary contributions.

To renew or order season tickets, mini plans or group tickets for the 2014 IronPigs season presented by Capital BlueCross, call (610) 841-PIGS (7447) or visit Coca-Cola Park's ticket office during normal business hours.