May 1, 2010

It’s easier than ever to support the World Series
Fans can now donate via cell phone and by eating out

Senior League Baseball World Series officials unveiled a series of programs Friday that will make it easier than ever for baseball fans to support the 2010 World Series, which will be held Aug. 14-21 at Shawn T. Mansfield Stadium here in Bangor.

“All these measures were taken to hopefully get the local community on board with the World Series and be able to support it, but not have to go to the extent of being a corporate sponsor and spending big bucks,” Tournament Director Mike Brooker said.

Supporters of the series can now make a $10 donation to the series just by using their cell phone and texting “giveten slws” to 20222. After sending “yes” to the confirmation prompt, your $10 contribution will appear on your next cell phone bill or be deducted from your account balance if you are using a pre-paid plan. Your cell carrier’s text messaging rates will apply.

The “giveten slws” program began Friday and will run through September.

“We’re hopeful that people who come here from the World Series will learn of it and support it and also take it back to their local community and say, ‘Hey, these people are doing a great job’” Brooker said.

If you live close to Bangor, there are several other ways to support the series. Monday, May 3 will be “Baseball Night in Eastern Maine” at the Sports Arena, on outer Hammond Street in Hermon. Sponsored by Bangor Breakfast Kiwanis, Sports Arena, and Acme Pizza and Wings, the event will run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The $10 admission charge will go directly to the World Series. In exchange, patrons will get a $10 electronic game card to use.

“Baseball Night” will feature pitching instruction for the kids, an auction, several door prizes, and local sports celebrities as guest speakers.

Also on May 3, the Ground Round, on Odlin Road, will have a “FUNdraiser” night for the World Series. Patrons who bring in a special coupon will have 20 percent of their check, minus tax and tip, donated by the Ground Round to the World Series. You can download a coupon here. Just print it and take it with you to the restaurant and present it when you pay.

Additional Ground Round FUNdraiser nights will be on Monday, June 7 and Monday, July 5. Check back often to download coupons for the June 7 and July 5 FUNdraising nights.

Local fans of the series can also donate their spare change to the series at all Leadbetter’s Super Stops and Mobil On The Run locations, and at Fairmount Market, the Corner Store, and Seamus’s Market. Look for a donation box at the counter.

And if you’re feeling lucky, a $20 donation could get you as much as $5,000 in a 50/50 raffle sponsored by the Bangor Elks Club. A maximum of 500 tickets will be sold. Raffle tickets are available at Mansfield Stadium, on 13th Street, and from Elks Club members.

As always, if you have a business and would like to become a sponsor of the series, you can contact fund-raising coordinator Doug MacDonald, Tournament Director Mike Brooker, or Information Director Ryan Robbins. Visit the Sponsor Info page for details on the different sponsorship levels.

“The support here is pretty good,” Brooker said. “We have a lot of commitments already. Others are still pending; they’re having to get approval from their board of directors. But we haven’t had anybody say ‘no’ yet this year. So we’re hopeful that we’re going to be able to maintain the same level of corporate sponsorship.”

The Senior League Baseball World Series features some of the world’s best 14- to 16-year-olds in Little League Baseball. The series consists of 10 teams, including five regional champions from the United States, the Canadian national champion; world regional champions from Asia-Pacific, Europe-Middle East-Africa, and Latin America; and the Maine District 3 champion, which serves as the host.

Annual expenses for the series, which has been held at Mansfield Stadium since 2002, are approximately $175,000. Some notable Bangor World Series alumni include Atlanta Braves pitcher Jair Jurrjens (2002, Curacao), Washington Nationals minor leaguer Shairon Martis (2002, Curacao), Philadelphia Phillies top prospect Domonic Brown (2004, Florida), and former University of Maine star and current St. Louis Cardinals minor league Curt Smith (2002, 2003, Curacao).