For Immediate Release
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
STATE FARM AND MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL “GO TO BAT” FOR AMERICA’S PROMISE ALLIANCE TO CELEBRATE COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING COMMUNITIES
Chosen to participate in the State Farm and Major League Baseball’s Go To Bat program, America’s Promise Alliance Is Eligible To Win a Grand Prize of $25,000
WASHINGTON, DC – America’s Promise Alliance (the Alliance) today announced they have been named one of several featured charities by State Farm ® and Major League Baseball (MLB) ® as part of their Go To Bat program. State Farm and MLB unveiled the initiative and organizations it will benefit at yesterday’s annual State Farm Home Run Derby in Anaheim, CA. This new 10-week program will allow baseball fans and other individuals to raise money for select charities through their participation in an online home run derby game. State Farm and MLB selected the eligible charities based on their efforts to address four main pillars of focus: education, health, human services and community service. A sampling of the other charities participating include: Susan G. Komen for the Cure ®, American Heart Association, Teach for America, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and American Red Cross.
Go To Bat will not only honor those organizations that work to improve American communities, but also engage MLB fans and reward their initiative. Each week, State Farm will randomly select an online winner of the Home Run Derby game to receive a trip for two to the 2010 World Series. State Farm will also donate $100 to the winner’s selected charity for each homerun hit at any MLB game during that week. The charity with the greatest number of entries at the conclusion of the program will receive a grand prize of $25,000.
“America’s Promise Alliance is excited to be participating in this great initiative and we are grateful to State Farm and Major League Baseball for selecting us,” said Marguerite Kondracke, president and CEO, America’s Promise Alliance. “The Go To Bat program is a unique cross-sector initiative that provides America’s favorite past-time with an opportunity to help address the critical challenges facing our nation, which is yet another way we are striving to mobilize this country to help end the dropout crisis.”
State Farm’s dedication to strengthening education and helping increase the nation’s graduation rate has made them an essential partner in the Alliance’s Dropout Prevention summit work and presenting sponsor of the new Grad Nation campaign. Launched in March, with the support of President Obama and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Grad Nation is a ten-year campaign to mobilize all Americans to take action in their communities to end the high school dropout crisis and ultimately prepare young people for the 21st century workforce.
To learn more about or participate in the Go To Bat program visit: www.statefarm.com/gotobat. For more information on the Alliance and Grad Nation, visit: www.americaspromise.org.
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About America’s Promise Alliance
America’s Promise Alliance is the nation’s largest partnership organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth. Through the collective power of our partner network, we raise awareness, support communities and engage in nonpartisan advocacy to ensure that young people receive more of the fundamental resources they need to graduate high school prepared for college, work and life. Building on the legacy of our Founding Chairman General Colin Powell, the Alliance believes the success of our young people is grounded in the Five Promises—caring adults; safe places; a healthy start; an effective education; and opportunities to help others. For more information about America’s Promise Alliance, visit www.americaspromise.org.