Nashville Sounds Community Report

2018

The game of baseball allows us to bring the community together to make Nashville a better place. Being a part of something bigger than our team has been the Nashville Sounds Foundation’s inspiration since it was first founded in 2004.

The Nashville Sounds Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization that strives to utilize baseball to positively impact communities throughout Middle Tennessee by emphasizing the importance of social responsibility, education, and the power of sport to transform lives.

Nashville Sounds Foundation

Charity of the GamePresented by Paycor

The Sounds recognize one Nashville area non-profit at all Thursday through Sunday home games each season with their Charity of the Game presented byPacyor program.

In 2018, the Sounds hosted 40 local non-profits as the Charity of the Game presented by Paycor.

Groups received 4 tickets to a game, tabling space on the concourse, 2 public announcements on the guitar scoreboard, and the opportunity to inform fans about their cause.

40Local non-profits recognized

Hometown HeroPresented by Puckett’s

The Nashville Sounds are proud to honor active members of our armed forces, veterans and first responders through the Hometown Hero program presented by Puckett’s.

The Hometown Hero program is dedicated to honoring the brave Americans who serve our county and community, and keep us safe. Fans are encouraged to nominate their loved ones for their commitment to serve.

Those selected receive 4 tickets to a game, a $50 Puckett’s gift card, a Puckett’s T-shirt, and are recognized on field during the game.

32Heroes recognized

Ticket grant Program

The Nashville Sounds Foundation believes that every Nashvillian deserves a chance to attend a Sounds game. The Ticket Grant program provides local non-profit organizations with tickets free of charge to a attend a Tuesday game at First Tennessee Park.

During the 2018 season the Nashville Sounds foundation donated over 585 tickets to Youth Villages, Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities, Operation Stand Down TN, and many more!

585Tickets donated to local nonprofits

Scoreboard Messages

For a $50 donation, Sounds fans have the opportunity to display a message on First Tennessee’s big guitar scoreboard during a game. Messages range from birthday to anniversary wishes, and even marriage proposals!

Throughout the 2018 season, the Nashville Sounds Foundation raised more than $6,000 through in-game messages!

$6,000Raised for the Nashville Sounds Foundation

More than

Fun Zone

At every home game, children are able to enjoy themselves at the Fun Zone!

For $1, they could take a ride down the inflatable slide, try their hand at speed pitch, or jump in the Booster bounce house! All proceeds benefit the Nashville Sounds Foundation.

This season, the Fun Zone raised over $19,000 for the Nashville Sounds Foundation.

$19,000Raised for the Nashville Sounds Foundation

More than

Booster’s Book CluB

Booster's Book Club is a collective effort between the Nashville Sounds Foundation and area schools to showcase the importance of reading!

Students are encouraged to read a book of their choice and complete a book report. Each child who submitted a book report received one free ticket to a Tuesday Sounds game!

This season we received over 135 essays!

135Essays turned in in exchange for a ticket to a game

More than

Silent Auctions

Throughout the season, the Nashville Sounds Foundation held several silent auctions that featured autographed items from Nashville Sounds players, both past and present.

This season, memorabilia and jersey auctions raised more than $22,500 for the Foundation.

$22,500Raised for the Nashville Sounds Foundation

More than

Donations

The Nashville Sounds take pride in supporting our community through donation requests

In 2018, the Sounds donated 480 tickets totaling over $10,800 to local groups.

The Sounds also donated over $24,300 worth of baseball equipment and autographed memorabilia.

$24,300Worth of equipment & memorabilia donated

More than

Bark in the ParkPresented by Tito’s Handmade Vodka

The Nashville Sounds teamed up with Tito’s Handmade Vodka for Bark in the Park!

On May 8th and August 15th, the Sounds invited fans to bring their furry friends to the game. Fans were given a t-shirt and a dog toy.

Proceeds from each dog ticket, totaling over $7,600, were donated to Agape Animal Rescue and New Leash on Life.

$7,600Donated to Agape Animal Rescue and

New Leash on Life

More than

Star Wars Jersey AuctionBenefitting Miracle League of Music City

On May 5th, Sounds players sported Star Wars jerseys featuring BB-8, as a part of Star Wars Weekend.

The players’ jerseys were auctioned online during the game, and winning bidders got to go on field to meet the player whose jersey they purchased.

Through the auction $1,700 was raised for Miracle League of Music City, a local non-profit whose goal is to provide a safe and fun environment where children with special needs can play baseball in a stadium of their own!

$1,700Raised for Miracle League of Music City

James Shaw Jr.

On May 5th, the Sounds hosted the hero from Waffle House shooting James Shaw Jr. He threw out the first pitch and stayed to watch the game. The Nashville Sounds Foundation donated $4,000 to his foundation, $1,000 per victim.

$4,000Donated to the James Shaw Jr.

Foundation

On May 26th, the Nashville Sounds hosted a softball clinic at First Tennessee Park, featuring Sounds players, Jake Sanchez and Kyle Finnegan, and National Pro Fastpitch Softball player AJ Andrews. AJ Andrews is the first woman to ever win the Rawlings Gold Glove Award and was featured in the 2017 ESPN Body Issue.

Later that night, AJ Andrews threw out the first pitch, and Sounds players sported “A League of Their Own” inspired jerseys, which were auctioned during the game to benefit Play Like a Girl, a local non-profit whose goal is to ensure that every girl reaches her full potential by providing girls ages 9-13 the opportunity to participate in sport and physical activity.

“A League of their own” Jersey AuCtionBenefitting Play Like a Girl

$2,200Donated to Play Like s Girl

Honky Tonks Jersey AuctionBenefitting Notes for Notes

The Sounds changed their name to the Nashville Honky Tonks as a part of a rivalry series with the Round Rock Express.

Players’ Honky Tonks jerseys were auctioned during the night with the proceeds benefiting local non-profit, Notes for Notes that designs, equips, and staffs after-school recording studios inside Boys & Girls Clubs offering youth the opportunity to record music for FREE.

Superhero Jersey AuctionBenefitting Gilda’s Club of Nashville

July 6-8 was Superhero Weekend at First Tennessee Park. On July 7th the Sounds players sported Superhero Jerseys.

Players’ jerseys were auctioned during the night with the proceeds benefiting Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee, a local non-profit that is dedicated to providing support, education and hope to all people impacted by cancer, including family members and friends of those diagnosed, FREE of charge to everyone.

$1,500Donated to Gilda’s Club Middle TN

Camo Jersey AuctionBenefitting Operation Homefront

This year, Sounds players sported Camo Jerseys every Sunday at First Tennessee Park in honor of our nation’s military. The jerseys were auctioned off during Labor Day, and ended on September 2 with a player and fan meet & greet on field post-game.

Proceeds from the jerseys benefit Operation Homefront, an organization whose mission is to build strong, stable, and secure military families so they can thrive — not simply struggle to get by — in the communities they have worked so hard to protect.

Baseball Clinics

Sertoma Club Play Ball

For nearly 20 years the Sounds have partnered with Sertoma Club of Nashville to host an annual fantasy baseball camp!

This year’s clinic was attended by over 30 hearing impaired children who had the opportunity to learn baseball skills from Sounds players.

The Sounds partnered with Mayor Briley to participate in MLB’s “Play Ball” initiative that inspires everyone to play ball. Sounds staff and the Mayor’s office hosted a game of baseball with kids at Hadley Park Community Center.

ALS Association TNALS Association of Tennessee served as Charity of the game and First Tennessee donated their suite for the night to ALS patients and their families. Players sported ALS batting practice shirts and all proceeds from a mystery ball auction were donated to ALS Association of TN. The Sounds recognized an ALS patient and veteran as the Hometown Hero. There was even a pregame ice bucket challenge featuring Sounds and ALS staff!

Second Harvest Food BankThe Sounds teamed up with Second Harvest Food Bank and hosted a food drive at First Tennessee Park to “Strike out Hunger.” The Nashville Sounds Foundation donated $1 for every order of nachos sold from the Band Box that night!

$542 Donated

$1 = 4 Meals

2,168 Meals Provided

542 Nachos Sold

$7,600More than

Donated to ALS Association of TN

Cover Your BasesSun Safety

The Sounds teamed up with Minor League Baseball and American Cancer Society to promote awareness and prevention of skin cancer through the MiLB Cover your Bases initiative. American Cancer Society Nashville served as Charity of the Game and passed out Blue Lizard Sunscreen. The Sounds also recognized 2 cancer survivors involved with American Cancer Society as Hometown Heroes.

Hope to DreamPresented by Ashley HomeStore

The Sounds partnered with Ashley HomeStore to host our 3rd annual Hope to Dream event where children from the Boys and Girls Club of Middle Tennessee were invited to First Tennessee Park. They took a tour of the ballpark, ate pizza provided by Hunt Brothers, ran the bases with Sounds players Melvin Mercedes, Boog Powell, Jesus Luzardo and BJ Boyd. The event ended with a big surprise, each child got to take home a brand new bed to call their own!

50Beds donated to members of the

Boys & Girls Club

City of HopeCharity Softball Game

The Nashville Sounds hosted the 28th annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball Game at First Tennessee Park.

36 Celebrities participated in the game, including Lauren Alaina, Jay Cutler, Brandi Cyrus, Si Robertson and Drew & Jonathan Scott.

Money raised at the game was donated to City of Hope, a research treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Over the years the game has raised over 2 million dollars to support research.

$ 2 MillionRaised for City of Hope

over the years

More than

Nashville Sounds Foundation Scholarship

This season the Nashville Sounds Foundation awarded $10,000 in scholarships to 4 deserving Middle Tennessee High School seniors.

Each student won $2,500 towards their college education.

2018 Winners

Garbiel Hutchinson, Fisk UniversityIan Kane, University of Tennessee Knoxville

Yarelis Martin, Middle Tennessee State UniversityMariah Washington, Georgia Institute of Technology

Player VisitsAt Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s

Hospital at Vanderbilt

Throughout the season, Sounds players made monthly visits to children and their families at Monroe Carrol JR. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

In addition to the room to room visits, they were able to broadcast live and interact with fans from the Seacrest Studios. 4

Visits to children & families

Pop Up Baseballwith Buena Vista Elementary

Sounds front office staff and mascot, Booster, made a surprise visit to Buena Vista Elementary to host our second annual Pop Up Baseball. Staff, teachers and 3rd

graders were divided into two teams, red and black, and competed in a game of backyard baseball.

Sounds staff served as coaches, pitchers, umpires and scorekeepers during the event.

Red Team vs. Black Team

Pop

up

baseball

Paint NightThe Nashville Sounds hosted their 2nd paint night at Sips ’N Strokes on April 6 to kick off the season!

The Nashville Sounds Foundation provided wine, snacks and goodie bags for each guest, hosted a silent auction, and received a portion of the proceeds from the class.

Over $1,000 was raised on behalf of the Nashville Sounds Foundation.

$1,000Raised for the Nashville

Sounds Foundation

More than

Suites-N-Treats

Suites-N-Treats is the Foundations signature event designed as a way for youth in the Nashville area to trick-or-treat in a safe and fun environment.

Suite holders and Sounds staff decorate each suite in the Club-Level of First Tennessee Park, and children are able to visit each uniquely decorate suite to trick-or-treat.

This year the Sounds invited over 480 children and their families to the ballpark for the 4th annual Suites-N-Treats!

480Children & their families invited

More than

Suites-N-Treats

Boosterin the communityBooster can always be spotted out in the community putting smiles on the faces of Sounds fans everywhere!

This season, Booster has made over 215 community appearances dedicating more than 250 hours to serving Nashville!

215Community appearances

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Front OfficeCommunity Involvement

The Nashville Sounds front office is committed to giving back to our community. To date, the front office has volunteered over 3,000 hours!

It means so much to us to continue to support the community who has supported is over the years, thank you Nashville!

3,000Hours volunteered

More than

Thank you!To all of the people that support the Nashville Sounds and the Nashville Sounds Foundation, it is because of you that are are able to positively

impact the Middle Tennessee community!