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Published On: August 3rd, 2017

KALAMAZOO, MI – On Saturday, August 5th, the Kalamazoo Growlers will don their final specialty jersey of the year, but this time it has someone else’s fingerprints all over it. The uniforms feature colorful handprints from patients and staff from Bronson Children’s Hospital scanned into a mosaic pattern for one evening only.

"We tell people all of the time that yes, we are a baseball team, be we really are a FUN company,” says Kalamazoo Growlers Vice President Brian Colopy. “We want to use the power of FUN to make a difference in the community, which is why we chose Bronson Children's Hospital for one of our specialty jerseys this season.”

Growlers staff stopped into Bronson Children’s Hospital back in May with their furry mascot, Porter, to get a little messy with some of the patients and staff. From the Room of Magic, to the bedside of patients, there was no clean hand left upon leaving. Each person who contributed to the jersey was given tickets for the August 5th game for them and their families.

”Not only can we create a unique one of a kind jersey, but we can make a difference for an amazing community asset at the same time. We are thrilled to partner with Bronson Children's Hospital for this game and we are excited to show our fans and community all the amazing ways they can help support this great cause.”

Jerseys will be auctioned off during the game with all proceeds benefiting the Bronson Health Foundation’s Children’s Hospital Fund. A group of Growlers players and front office members will also pay a visit to the hospital before the game.

“We are so appreciative of the community for all the support they give to our children’s hospital,” says Terry Morrow, vice president of development and community health at Bronson Healthcare. “Our patients and families know that when they are here, they aren’t in this alone. There are many people rooting them on,” adds Morrow.

Patients and families that took part in helping to make the jersey received tickets to attend the game. The theme for the game is Youth Sports Night, and is sponsored by Bronson Sports Medicine. For more information about the game, visit the www.growlersbaseball.com.

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The Kalamazoo Growlers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The 23-year-old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 180 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champion Ben Zobrist (CHC) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM) and Lucas Duda (NYM).  All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.growlersbaseball.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Growlers as your favorite team.