Pelicans & Family Fundraising Raise $100,000

As the season of giving gets underway with the upcoming holidays, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans give thanks to the scores of volunteers that work in the team's concession stands. During the 2011 baseball season, the Pelicans disbursed almost $100,000 to Family Fundraising, a non-profit entity that coordinates the majority of the team's staffing needs in the food and beverage operation, which in turn is donated to worthy causes.

Family Fundraising volunteers each designate a beneficiary of their choice that receives funding in lieu of wages for games worked. These causes, listed on page 2, include churches and schools. Many family members utilize the funds to support youth athletics and cultural pursuits of their children.

"The dedication and professionalism of our Family Fundraising volunteers amaze me," commented Pelicans GM Scott Brown. "Most of our participants work a full day and then pull a night shift catering to our fans for the betterment of our community and their children."

Although volunteers have provided concessions labor since the team's inception in 1999, Family Fundraising was created in 2009 to consolidate the various volunteer groups under one umbrella. Approximately 200 different volunteers filled more than 2,700 shifts in 2011 alone.

"The relationship between the Pelicans and Family Fundraising has provided wonderful opportunities for a lot of people to raise money for local groups and to allow their children to participate in sports, music and other extra-curricular events," said Dave Griffis, Family Fundraising Vice President and Scheduling Coordinator.

Organizations to which checks have been written in 2011 on behalf of our volunteers:

• Schools: Baldwin County H.S., Carolina Forest Elementary, Carolina Forest High School, Conway Middle School, Myrtle Beach Intermediate, Myrtle Beach High School, NMB Middle School, NMB High School, Ocean Bay Elementary, Socastee High School, St. Andrew Catholic School, St. James Middle School, St. James High School, Horry County Schools
• Churches: 1st Baptist Church of NMB, Carolina Forest Community Church, Celebration Presbyterian Church, Christ Community Church, Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, First Presbyterian Church, H U B Church, Holy Lamb Lutheran Church, Palmetto Shores Church, Shields Chapel F.B.H. Church, St. Andrew Catholic Church, Surfside Presbyterian Church, Trinity United Methodist Church
• Athletics: AAU ATHLETICS, Carolina Forest Booster Club, Carolina Forest Community Center, City of Conway Parks & Rec, Coastal aquatic club, Horry County Parks and Recreation, MBHS Booster Club, Myrtle Beach Stars (volleyball), NMBHS Athletic Booster Club, Pee Dee Pony Club, Prestwick tennis, Sharks Booster Club, SuperKicks, Winthrop Eagle Volleyball Camp, YMCA
• Soccer: Banyana United, Beach United FC, Coast FA, coastal Carolina (soccer camp), Friends of Myrtle Beach Soccer, Lloyd's Soccer (equipment purchased to support our teens and their clubs), Long Bay Soccer Club, North Carolina Girls Soccer Camp, SC United Mt. Pleasant, Soccer Centers For Excellence, Soccer Locker (equipment)
• Baseball/Softball: East Coast Softball Association, Stars of 2morrow
• Dance: Academy of Dance & Fine Arts, Bay Pointe Dance Academy, Beach Team, Dance Express, Elite Dance, Team Cypress, The Dance Experience
• Gymnastics: ACX, Champions in Training, Fitness in Motion, FLIP, Gymnastics and More, Gymnastics Inc., Rivertown Fitness
• Cheerleading: Bravette Booster Club, MBXtreme Cheer, Waccamaw High School Cheerleading
• Music: Daniel HS String Orchestra, Glynis Hopkins Piano Studio, Kate Brown Music, Long Bay Music Teachers Association, MBHS Orchestra, NMBMS Orchestra, OMNI Cheer, Orlando All-Stars, School of Rock, St. James High School Band
• Miscellaneous: Boy Scout Troop # 850, Camp Longridge, Civil Air Patrol, MBHS NJROTC, Pee Dee Area Council (scouts), Possibilities Without Borders (non-sectarian missionary work)