|
Twins Contribute $245,000 to Southwest Florida Charities
May 9, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TWINS CONTRIBUTE $245,000 TO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA CHARITIES $100,000 Donated to Habitat For Humanity MINNEAPOLIS – ST. PAUL (May 9, 2006) – The Minnesota Twins and the Minnesota Twins Community Fund (MTCF) today announced collective contributions of $245,000 to Southwest Florida non-profit and community organizations during the 2006 spring training season. The 2006 season was capped April 2 when the Twins donated all ticket revenue ($45,000) to Southwest Florida charities. In total, 37 community organizations received financial support from the game. In February, the Minnesota Twins also donated $100,000 to Habitat for Humanity to assist with Hurricane Katrina, Rita and Wilma rebuilding efforts across much of Gulf Coast region. Two new homes were built in Southwest Florida including one by Twins players and staff on February 27. That home was presented to the new homeowner on April 1. In addition, the Twins held two fundraising events during spring training. The 8th Annual Minnesota Twins Golf Tournament raised $60,000 for Lee Cancer Care. And, the first-ever Twins, Fins and Pins Bowlings The MTCF also held daily memorabilia raffles at Twins home games raising $15,000 for five Southwest Florida charities. Meanwhile the MTCF, in partnership with Lee County Parks and Recreation Department, conducted 13 free Twins Youth Clinics for Southwest Florida youth. More than 3,500 boys and girls participated in Twins Youth Clinics in 2006. The Twins set a spring training attendance record in 2006 drawing a total of 128,264 fans to the Lee County Sports Complex. The new record surpassed the single-season attendance mark of 123,753 established in 1991, the team's inaugural season at the Lee County Sports Complex. A complete list of charities and community organizations receiving support from the Twins in 2006 can be found below. Southwest Florida Community Organizations Receiving Support from the Minnesota Twins and the Minnesota Twins Community Fund in 2006 Abuse Counseling and Treatment, Inc. – Fort Myers, FL American Red Cross of Lee County Bishop Verot High School – Fort Myers, FL Boys & Girls Club of Lee County Brightest Horizons – Fort Myers, FL Buckingham Little League – Fort Myers, FL Candlelighters of Southwest Florida, Inc. Cape Coral Elks Lodge #2596 Cape Coral Ladies of the Elks Cape Coral Little League Cape Coral Youth Crime Intervention Program Tri-County Challenger Little League Children's Diabetic Association – Fort Myers, FL Christian Soccer Association - Fort Myers, FL Collier County Junior Baseball Communities Reaching Out, Inc. – Fort Myers, FL Deaf Service Center of Southwest Florida, Inc. DeSoto County Little League First Christian Church of Cape Coral Fort Myers Little League Golden Gate Youth Baseball Clubs, Inc. - Naples, FL Gulf Middle School – Cape Coral, FL Habitat for Humanity of Lee County Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida International College Lee Cancer Care – Fort Myers, FL Lee County First Tee Lee County Special Olympics Lehigh Acres Little League Make-A-Wish Foundation of South Florida Nami Lee County, Inc. Naples Little League Our Mother's Home - Estero, FL Pine Island Little League Port Charlotte National Little League Ruth Cooper Center for Behavioral Health Care - Fort Myers, FL San Carlos Little League Sensitivity Awareness Workshop of Southwest Florida, Inc. Shady Rest Foundation, Inc. – Fort Myers, FL Six Mile Charter Academy – Fort Myers, FL South Fort Myers High School - Fort Myers, FL Southwest Florida Community Foundation St. Michael Lutheran School – Fort Myers, FL The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Naples/Fort Myers Young Life of Lee County |