Winter Banquet Grant Recipients Announced

IronPigs Charities presented by The Air Products Foundation, a non-profit organization striving to provide educational and recreational opportunities for children in the Greater Lehigh Valley area, awarded a total of $70,000 to 17 area non-profit organizations during Thursday’s Phillies Winter Banquet event at DeSales University.  IronPigs Charities has issued $326,018 in monetary contributions -- including $214,164 in grants -- since initiating the program in 2008. 

“These grants signify our continued commitment to local non-profit organizations that are making a positive and lasting impact on the lives and the health of the Lehigh Valley’s youth,” remarked IronPigs General Manager Kurt Landes.  “The Phillies Winter Banquet is the principal fundraiser for IronPigs Charities and our tremendous grant program and we are extremely grateful to our donors, supporters and fans for their unwavering support.”

The 17 beneficiaries of the annual IronPigs Charities grant program received their funding at the 4th annual Phillies Winter Banquet presented by Air Products and Coca-Cola on Thursday, January 27, at Billera Hall on the campus of DeSales University.  The Phillies Winter Banquet is the signature event of IronPigs Charities and allows crucial initiatives such as the annual grant program to operate effectively. 

Featured below is an alphabetized list of beneficiaries and a brief synopsis of their programs that are benefiting from this year’s IronPigs Charities grant program:

• Allentown YMCA & YWCA (Reaching More Kids for Health): The goal of the program is to provide additional access to recreational opportunities for low income youth both during and after school hours.
• Boy Scouts of America - Minsi Trails Council (Scout Reach/Urban Scouting): The strategies of the program include greater youth attendance, teaching new skills and additional community service.
• Boys and Girls Club of Allentown (Make your M.A.R.K.): The objective of the initiative is to provide disadvantaged, school-age youth in our community with individualized curriculum designed to improve areas of academic weakness.
• Boys and Girls Club of Easton (Triple Play: A Game Plan for the Mind, Body & Soul): “Triple Play” is a year-round program of after-school and summer structured activities which engage over 500 primarily low-income youth in physical fitness programs with healthy nutrition and preventive education.
• Camelot for Children (Camp Camelot): The week-long summer camp program for seriously ill and handicapped or disabled children provides these youngsters with fun and games, educational demonstrations, sports and other physical activities.
• Community Bike Works (Earn a Bike program): Children commit to twelve sessions and receive instruction in bike mechanics, bike safety and more as this work incentive program provides each participant the opportunity to earn a bicycle and a helmet.
• Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries, in partnership with Eastern PA Down Syndrome Center (Lose the Training Wheels Bike Camp): “Lose the Training Wheels” us a cano for youth with disabilities, that uses specially-adapted “roller training” bicycles and instruction by trained volunteers, to put the skill of learning to ride a two-wheel bicycle within the grasp of children with disabilities.
• East Side Youth Center (2011 Operating Needs for ESYC Sports): The funding will be used to benefit different ESYC youth sports and be used on equipment and accessories for baseball, football, basketball, soccer, wrestling and cheerleading.
• Family YMCA of Easton, Phillipsburg and Vicinity (Summer Youth Basketball Facility): The league is for boys and girls ages 9 to 18 and will reach out specifically to children from low income backgrounds.
• Foundation for Allentown City Schools (Louis E. Dieruff Athletic Department Needs): The support will allow the school to purchase needed new equipment for its athletes and athletic programs. 
• Friends of Allentown Parks (Baseball/Softball Clinics for Summer Playground Program Participants): The goal of the program is to assist the City of Allentown’s Recreation Bureau with developing baseball and softball clinics for the 1,600-plus participants in the 98th annual summer playground program. 
• Lehigh County Youth Association (LCYA Baseball/Softball): The aid will fund new uniforms and equipment for both baseball and softball.
• Miracle League of the Lehigh Valley (Baseball Supplies): Funding for new uniforms and supplies for the upcoming 2011 Miracle League season. 
• Northeast Bethlehem Youth Sports Association (NELL Batting Cage/Practice Area): Support will fund the refurbishment of a practice area that will provide a safe and functional area for teams to run practices in a station format. 
• Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley (Kick for Kancer): This program is designed around a one-day soccer camp for children with cancer and their families.
• Special Olympics – Bethlehem (Softball Uniforms & Equipment): Grant supports newly organized softball team with equipment and competition costs to grow from a practice team to a competitive team.
• Special Olympics – Lehigh County (Annual Track and Field Event): Funding will support the annual track and field event that has more than 400 athletes and 800-plus volunteers.  The event offers the greatest exposure for the organization to the community annually.

IronPigs Charities presented by The Air Products Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to provide educational and recreational opportunities for Lehigh Valley youth. Every dollar raised at the 4th annual Phillies Winter Banquet will be donated to IronPigs Charities.  For more information, visit the brand-new www.ironpigsbaseball.com. 

The IronPigs official 2011 home opener at Coca-Cola Park is on Thursday, April 7, at 7:05 p.m. against the rival Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. Season tickets, mini plans and group tickets for the 2011 season presented by Capital BlueCross are now on sale.