Minnesota Twins Distributed $3.3 Million During 2005 Season

The Minnesota Twins and the Twins Community Fund collectively gave $3.3 million in support to Upper Midwest, Southwest Florida and Latin America during the 2005 Twins season. Support includes cash grants, community program expenses and donations of Twins tickets and memorabilia. In addition, current and former Twins players helped raise more than $850,000 for nonprofit organizations through their involvement in charity fundraising events.

More than $2.15 million in Twins tickets were donated to Upper Midwest nonprofit organizations serving economically disadvantaged youth. The Minneapolis and St. Paul Parks and Recreation departments and the Duluth, Rochester and Winnipeg (Manitoba) Boys & Girls Clubs received grants totaling more than $139,000 to operate Twins Rookie League and R.B.I., inner-city youth baseball and softball leagues.

The Fields for Kids program granted $217,000 to renovate 37 Upper Midwest, Southwest Florida and Latin American ballfields. Since 1999, more than $1 million has been granted to 250 ballfields. The Twins Community Fund and the Carl and Eloise Pohlad Family Foundation, in partnership with Minnesota Utility Contractors Association (MUCA) and the City of Blaine, contributed $150,000 to construct a new synthetic turf baseball field in Blaine serving youth with physical and mental disabilities.

Other notable contributions:

• The Twins Youth Clinic program visited more than 35 Upper Midwest and 15 Southwest Florida communities, providing free baseball and softball instruction to more than 12,000 youth.

• The Twins helped raise more than $230,000 for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts through auctions at home games and on television and radio broadcasts.

• The Twins Wives organization directed $45,000 in grants to Care partners Division of Children's Cancer Research Fund, Human Services Inc., Camp Heartland and Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare.

• In its inaugural year, 19 Upper Midwest high school seniors each received $1,000 scholarships for postsecondary education via the Diamonds & Dreams Scholarship Program.

• A collaboration of Minnesota youth baseball and softball organizations, called Play Ball Minnesota!, created a website, www.playballmn.com, to foster and promote youth baseball and softball.

• The ALS Association, Minnesota Chapter received $20,000 as part of the Carrier Strike Out ALS "K" Counter.

• More than $70,000 in corporate grants were made to Upper Midwest charities.

• Twins players and the team's mascot, T.C., made more than 250 community appearances during the season.

• 27,000 free books, courtesy of Lerner Publications, were distributed before Sunday home games.

For a complete list of contributions, visit the Twins' Web site.

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