MANKATO, Minn. –The Mankato MoonDogs Baseball Club, a member of the Northwoods League, along with Minnesota Valley Federal Credit Union and ACES are just over halfway through their new program, MoonDogs Fit.
MoonDogs Fit is a brand new program sponsored by the MoonDogs and Minnesota Valley Federal Credit Union that promotes healthy living and eating at the ACES sites this summer. The program has allowed over 17 players to put down their baseball gloves for a couple hours and put on a teaching cap. They have spent the last two weeks, a total of four sessions, at four of the ACES sites teaching students about making healthy choices through active lesson plans.
“It feels good to be able to give back to the community and kids who look up to us day in and day out. I believe it has made a lasting impact on the kids,” said MoonDogs Pitcher Zach Hobbs.
For ACES this has been the first of its kind to be able to create a bond between the MoonDogs players and the students through activities provided on-site.
“The MoonDogs Fit program has been very well received by the youth in the ACES program. It has been new and exciting for the children, and the players have been great role models for them,” said ACES Coordinator Andrea Stein.
The mission of the MoonDogs Fit program is to utilize MoonDog players off the field to teach overall fitness as a positive impact to our youth. Through community involvement, MoonDogs Fit is there to motivate regular physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices.
“I thought that working with the kids was a great experience. It gave us a chance to teach them about fitness and healthy eating which wasn’t really important when we were children. I’m really glad we were given the opportunity to work with the kids who come out and support us every night,” said MoonDogs outfielder Zack Zehner.
The MoonDogs appearances to the ACES sites for MoonDogs Fit are made possible through the partnership with Minnesota Valley Federal Credit Union.
“We’re proud to be part of this meaningful community effort. It’s very rewarding to see the student’s positive reactions while learning valuable life skills,” said MVFCU CEO Nick Meyer.
The three-week session will conclude on July 25th. MVFCU will provide a t-shirt and a ticket to the MoonDogs July 26th game to each ACES kid as part of the Fit wrap-up event. On July 26th, as the MoonDogs take on the Waterloo Bucks at 7:05 p.m., in conjunction with the MoonDogs Fit wrap up, fans will be treated to Sweatin’ to the Oldies night, also presented by Minnesota Valley Federal Credit Union.
The first 200 fans to stop at MVFCU’s booth dressed in 80s’ attire will receive a free headband, courtesy of Minnesota Valley. Fans will also be treated to a postgame display of fireworks.
Minnesota Valley Federal Credit Union is a financial coop that offers banking services with lower loan rates, higher savings rates and low or no fees because they’re member owned. They have been serving the Greater Mankato Area for 79 years and was recently voted the best place to bank in Mankato in the 2013 Mankato Free Press Readers Choice Awards. MVFCU has two Mankato offices and serves over 11,000 members with assets near $100 million. MVFCU is part of the Shared Branching Network which gives members access to their accounts at over 5,050 locations throughout all 50 states. Membership is available to anyone living, working or attending school in Nicollet, Blue Earth & Le Sueur County.
ACES is a school age child care program provided by the Mankato Area Public Schools Community Education & Recreation Department. ACES offers before and after school care as well as full and half day care on non school days for students in kindergarten through 5th grade. The ACES summer program offers care for children going into kindergarten through 7th grade.
Single-game and discounted season ticket seats are available to all remaining Mankato home games, on sale at the MoonDogs office located at 1221 Caledonia Street in Mankato, as well as over the phone at 507-625-7047. To stay up to date, Like the MoonDogs on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter (@MoonDogsBall), or visit the website at www.mankatomoondogs.com.