Coat collection at ballpark warming party on Saturday

The Richmond Flying Squirrels, Double-A Affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, will once again be partnering with Puritan Cleaners to aid the Coats for Kids coat drive with the 3rd Annual Ballpark Warming Party at The Diamond on Saturday, Nov. 19, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Fans will receive a raffle ticket for each coat donated at the event and will have an opportunity to win Flying Squirrels’ memorabilia and experiences. The first 50 fans to donate coats will receive two tickets to the Arena Racing USA event at the Richmond Coliseum that night.

“The Ballpark Warming Party has been established as a Flying Squirrels’ tradition,” said Vice President and COO Todd “Parney” Parnell. “After becoming the Flying Squirrels, one of the first partnerships we formed was with Puritan Cleaners and their Coats for Kids drive. We’ve seen the event grow over the first two years and we’re really excited to see the turnout this year.”

Nearly 600 coats were collected for the Inaugural Ballpark Warming Party in 2009. Last year, over 1,000 coats were donated during the four-hour event.

The first 50 fans will each win two tickets to the first of the 15-event Arena Racing USA season at the Richmond Coliseum. Up to 56 teams will race on a steel and aluminum track inside the Richmond Coliseum and are estimated to circle the track in eight seconds. Racing on Nov. 19 is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

All fans who receive one raffle ticket per coat donated will be able to enter to win memorabilia such as autograph baseballs featuring 2011 Flying Squirrels Ryan Verdugo, Daryl Maday, Johnny Monell, Skyler Stromsmoe and Dave Machemer as well as Flying Squirrels’ experiences such as a first pitch opportunity and honorary PA announcer for one half inning.

In addition to the coat drive, fans can go on the field and in the batting cages and receive instruction from members of the VCU baseball team. Inflatables and games will be available for kids as well as a “Turkey Handprint” craft station. Clowns from local VA Alley#3 will be on hand face painting and making balloon animals, and Flying Squirrels’ mascots Nutzy and Parker the Rally Pig will be available for photo opportunities. There will also be live music on the AAA Ultimate Fan Zone Main Stage.

Puritan Cleaners has collected well over 300,000 coats since the Coats for Kids’ inception 24 years ago. For more information on how to help the Coats for Kids program, please visit Puritan Cleaners online at www.puritancleaners.com.

For those unable to attend the Ballpark Warming Party, coats can be donated throughout the month of November at any Puritan Cleaners location. Home delivery route managers are also collecting coats on their runs throughout the month.

Puritan Cleaners has 13 locations throughout Greater Richmond and also has an extensive home delivery program. They offer dry cleaning, laundry and alterations, as well as other related services. They have been very active in the Richmond community, with outreach programs that include Coats for Kids, the 100,000 Meals for Kids Campaign, Thank You Patriot and Cinderella Dreams. For more information on Puritan Cleaners, visit PuritanCleaners.com.

Season tickets for the 2012 season of Flying Squirrels are currently available. For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Flying Squirrels at (804) 359-FUNN (3866), log on to SquirrelsBaseball.com or visit the Flying Squirrels’ box office at The Diamond.

Richmond Flying Squirrels