Pictured: (From Left to Right) John Fanta (Rafters General Manager), Brett Salscheider (SWCYMCA Director), Tim Birkhauser (Spectrum Insurance Group), Ryan Severson (West Bend Mutual Insurance), Joe Treml (Spectrum Insurance Group)

Rafters, West Bend Mutual Insurance, and Lester & Smart-Spectrum Insurance Group Partner To Benefit South Wood County YMCA
Donation of $1,125 Made To Non-Profit Organization

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.- The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are proud to announce that in partnership with West Bend and Lester & Smart/Spectrum Insurance Group the organizations have helped raise $1,125 for the South Wood County YMCA. The partnership centered around the number of home runs hit by the Rafters at Witter Field during the 2014 season. For each home run hit, a donation of $75 was made to the South Wood County YMCA by West Bend and Spectrum Insurance.

“We would like to thank both West Bend and Lester & Smart-Spectrum Insurance for their contribution to the South Wood County YMCA for each home run hit at home by the Rafters this season,” Rafters general manager John Fanta said. “By working with great partners like these we are able to utilize the game of baseball to assist organizations that provide outstanding services to our community.”

The YMCA has been serving South Wood County since 1957. The “Y” is the place to go for family events, activities, and fun! Annually, over 15,000 individuals participate in YMCA programs and no one is ever turned away for an inability to pay. The Y offers over 100 programs for anyone from toddlers to active older adults. In addition, the YMCA runs 7 before and after school programs that serve nearly 200 families in the community. During the summer, YMCA Camp Alexander offers the opportunity for over 500 youth to experience the joys of day and resident camp.

“We are happy to support the South Wood County YMCA through this endeavor and look forward to partnering again with the Rafters next summer,” said Tim Birkhauser from the Lester & Smart-Spectrum Insurance Agency.

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The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 22nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2015, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 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 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (BOS) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website. For more information, visit www.raftersbaseball.com.