DAVENPORT, Iowa (November 11, 2015) - Modern Woodmen Park's amusements lineup is unprecedented, and in 2015 every ride made a difference for the Quad Cities community. The Quad Cities River Bandits give 50 cents from each ride to the Genesis Health Services Foundation to help fund local Neonatal Intensive Care Units, Camp Genesis and Flu-Free Quad Cities. In 2015, the rides helped finance a $50,000 donation for the second straight year, a campaign that gained national recognition on Wednesday from Ballpark Digest as 2015's Best Charity Event or Campaign in baseball.
During a press conference Wednesday at Modern Woodmen Park, Ballpark Digest publisher Kevin Reichard presented the River Bandits as the first-ever winner of Best Charity Event or Campaign in the publication's annual awards. River Bandits owner Dave Heller and Ken Croken, Vice President, Corporate Communications, Marketing and Advocacy for Genesis Health System, were on hand to receive the award.
"The financial contributions from the Quad Cities River Bandits ownership, both in this year and in 2014, are a model for the rest of the industry - and a clear sign of the team's commitment to the community." said Ballpark Digest publisher Kevin Reichard. "Making a difference in the community is the goal of every great pro baseball team, and the River Bandits put that into practice every day of the year."
The River Bandits' second $50,000 donation in as many years came with a portion of each this season's 84,000 rides on Modern Woodmen Park's amusements this season at Modern Woodmen Park - including the 105-foot Ferris wheel atop the berm in left field, the dual zip line that operates outside the ballpark on game days, the Mediacom Drop'N Twist, Space Camp gyroscope and the new Spin Zone Bumper Cars. In the past two seasons, a total of 152,000 amusement riders - during River Bandits games, special events and weekend Ferris wheel openings - contributed to the sum of $100,000 given by the River Bandits to the Genesis Health Services Foundation.
"The impact of the Quad Cities River Bandits as a charitable partner benefits our patients every day,'' said Ken Croken, vice president of corporate communications, Genesis Health System. "The tiniest and sickest babies we take care of in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) benefit from the great partnership with the River Bandits.
"Children in elementary schools...somewhere in the Quad Cities today actually...benefit from free seasonal influenza vaccinations partly because of the partnership with the River Bandits.
"The River Bandits are being recognized by Ballpark Digest today, but we've known about the organization's commitment to the community and to Genesis for years.''
The latest $50,000 donation is among more than 700 donations - for a total of more than $300,000 - throughout the Quad Cities this year by the River Bandits organization, which has donated more than $1.2 million over the last six years. Included in that figure is more than $60,000 each year towards funding tuition for three area young people attending college, through the Bandit Scholars Program. In addition, River Bandits staff members logged over 1,000 hours in community activities this year.
"Our charitable giving and deep-seated community involvement help define who we are as an organization," said River Bandits owner Dave Heller. "A big part of our mission is to give back to this community that we love so much, and we are tremendously grateful to work with such great partners as Genesis Health System and Augustana College to make our charitable dollars have as big an impact here in the Quad Cities as possible. For our charitable works to be so recognized by Ballpark Digest, the most well-read and most often cited publication in our industry, is extremely humbling. This is a great honor that we share with everyone across the Quad Cities!"
The award comes one year after the Ferris wheel was named by Ballpark Digest as the Best Ballpark Improvement - the fourth time in seven seasons Modern Woodmen Park has won the award. Since then, readers of Ballpark Digest voted Modern Woodmen Park as the Class-A Best of the Ballparks, The Sports Business Journal named the Quad Cities the No. 1 minor league market, SmartAsset Magazine named Davenport the No. 3 minor league town, and readers of The Quad-City Times voted the River Bandits the region's "Best Family Entertainment" and "Best Place for a Kid's Birthday Party."
"We are always thrilled for the Quad Cities to receive recognition, but when our success can make as big a positive impact as our work with the Genesis Health Services Foundation, it is that much more gratifying," said River Bandits General Manager Andrew Chesser. "Our organization remains committed to returning the amazing support of our fans by going beyond the ballpark to make a lasting impact for those in need throughout the Quad Cities community."
UP NEXT: Get the best price now on registration for the annual Bandits Race to Home 5K and Kids Fun Run, set for Saturday, April 23, 2016. Registration includes a T-shirt, and prices are $25 for the 5K and $10 for the Kids Fun Run. All proceeds benefit the Bandit Scholars Program. Visit riverbandits.com for the link to register.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: With the installation of the Ferris Wheel, the River Bandits ownership in 2014 made one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931, and in 2015 the club matched that effort by opening three new areas. A two-tiered special group deck immediately behind and overlooking the corn field opened in June. A new expanded the children's play area with additional bounce houses and the newest ride, Spin Zone Bumper Cars, opened in July. And a new 11,000-square-foot concourse expansion down the third-base line opened in late August. More improvements are planned for 2016!
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