Hot Stove Banquet set for Jan. 17th
The 17th Annual Hot Stove Banquet will include a silent auction featuring sports memorabilia and local items, the first Cedar Rapids appearance of the Minnesota Twins Winter Caravan as well as the induction of the Class of 2013 into the Cedar Rapids Baseball Hall of Fame. This year's Hall of Fame Class includes Alex Monchak, Pat Harmon, Casey Kotchman, Trevor Hoffman and Jim Curran.
This is the first time the Minnesota Twins Winter Caravan has visited Cedar Rapids and will feature Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, and bench coach Terry Steinbach; Twins mascot TC Bear; Minnesota Twins shortstop Brian Dozier; a roundtable discussion with Q&A sessions and autographs. Dick Bremer, the Twins play-by-play broadcaster on Fox Sports North, will emcee the Twins Winter Caravan.
Proceeds from this event help the Kernels Foundation accomplish its vision of ensuring that all youth in Eastern Iowa have the opportunity to experience the thrills and life-enhancing lessons that come from engaging in athletics and recreational activities.
In 2012 the Kernels Foundation helped fund the Kernels Summer Reading Program. The reading program assemblies are presented in 56 area elementary schools for over 25,000 kids. Through the support of the Kernels Foundation, the reading program is able to grow each year and continue to offer great rewards to encourage summer reading. Along with this project, the Kernels Foundation also administers the annual Nick Adenhart Memorial Scholarship to one area high school student, and supports local disaster relief funds to improve or rebuild disaster damaged recreational and athletic facilities. The Kernels Foundation also continues to support the League of Dreams, which is an instructional, non-competitive, coach-pitch baseball league designed to emphasize teamwork, sportsmanship and the importance of an active lifestyle.
Tickets for the banquet are on-sale now, and are $35 in advance and $40 at the door with corporate tables seating 10 people available for $325. Tickets can be purchased at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium during regular business hours 9 AM to 5 PM, or by phone at 363-3887. Banquet tickets may be purchased on-line at www.kernels.com, starting Monday, December 3rd.
KCRG TV-9 and Cumulus Media stations KRNA, KHAK, KDAT and KRQN are proud media sponsors of the 17th Annual Hot Stove Banquet.