This Year's All-Star Game Will Be A Huge Win For Charities
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The start of All Star balloting for baseball's 2014 midsummer classic shared the stage with the largest legacy giving program in All-Star game history.
Major League Baseball, The Minnesota Twins, and the Pohlad Foundation will give $8 million to local and national charities, reaching out from Target Field to impact all of Twins territory.
"It really is about the Pohlad family," said Tim Brosnan of MLB. "They are the one that came up with the idea to do this the best ever. Not only is it the most giving, it's the most extensive in the outreach of projects. It's going well beyond the Twin Cities."
The $8 million gift will support several youth baseball field renovations, impact the lives of underserved youth and local veterans, as well as improve the health and well-being of people in Twins territory.
"The Boys and Girls Club in my neighborhood of North Minneapolis is going to be one of those charities," said Minneapolis City Council President Barbara Johnson. "I can't say enough."
The biggest winner will be the young people who live in the shadows of Target Field -- the 3,000 kids that use the Jerry Gamble Boys and Girls Club.
"We had a half of a building, more than 20,000 square feet, we could not use," said Erin Carlin, the Boys and Girls Club president and CEO. "It was vacant and locked up in an area of the city were kids don't have enough recreational space."
She says the space below the club has been vacant for 10 years. This gift will turn the space into something everyone in the community can enjoy.
"Performing arts, sports activities, we're very excited about it," Carlin said.
For the first time ever, fans will get to decide what charity gets a $500,000 grant.
Nonprofits in Minnesota, Iowa, western Wisconsin and the Dakotas can apply, and fans will decide what capitol project they want to see funded.
Here is a list with all the activities planned for the All-Star Game:
Friday, July 11
-- T-Mobile All-Star FanFest – Minneapolis Convention Center (9 a.m. – 8 p.m.)
-- Jr. RBI Classic Games – St. Paul
Saturday, July 12
-- T-Mobile All-Star FanFest – Minneapolis Convention Center (9 a.m. – 8 p.m.)
-- Jr. RBI Classic Games – St. Paul
Sunday, July 13
-- The Color Run MLB All-Star Game 5k – State Fair Grounds (8:30 a.m.)
-- T-Mobile All-Star FanFest – Minneapolis Convention Center (9 a.m. – 8 p.m.)
-- Jr. RBI Classic Games – St. Paul
-- Taco Bell All-Star Sunday featuring:
-- SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game – Target Field (4 p.m.)
-- Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game – Target Field
Monday, July 14
-- T-Mobile All-Star FanFest – Minneapolis Convention Center (9 a.m. – 8 p.m.)
-- Jr. RBI Classic Games – St. Paul
-- Gatorade All-Star Workout Day Featuring: Home Run Derby – Target Field (7 p.m.)
Tuesday, July 15
--T-Mobile All-Star FanFest – Minneapolis Convention Center (9 a.m. – 8 p.m.)
-- MLB All-Star Red Carpet Show
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