(Pictured (left to right): Sue Sipple, Exectutive Director of The Family Center, Rafters General Manager John Fanta, Duncan Disability Law S.C. owners Christine and Dana Duncan)

Partnerships With Local Businesses Benefit Local Organizations

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are proud to announce that through partnerships with local companies they have raised money to donate to local non-profit organizations. The Rafters were able to use a variety of different formats to raise money throughout the 2015 season.

Always popular nights amongst fans, alternate jerseys worn by the Rafters in five games during the 2015 season were included in silent auctions with the proceeds benefitting local organizations and the Witter Field history mural fund. Advanced Disposal provided some luck of the Irish with a leprechaun themed jersey worn by the Rafters on June 2nd. The following night, Fey Printing turned back the clock to the Wisconsin Rapids White Sox days on June 3rd. Ho-Chunk Gaming Nekoosa partnered with the Rafters for a casino themed jersey worn by the Rafters on June 11th. Proceeds from the leprechaun, White Sox, and casino themed jerseys went towards the Witter Field Mural project. June 19th was a very special night at Witter Field as the Rafters donned superhero themed jerseys to benefit the Jockey Being Family organization, a group that assists in placing children with adoptive families.

The final silent jersey auction came on August 3rd when the Rafters wore special cancer awareness themed jerseys, sponsored by Marshfield Clinic. What made these noteworthy was the ability for fans to submit signatures to be sublimated onto the jersey in tribute to friends and family member diagnosed with cancer. Adding to uniqueness of the jersey was the fact the Rafters received submissions that included Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Kelly, figure skating legend Scott Hamilton, and ESPN reporter Shelly Smith. Proceeds from the silent auction went to aid cancer research with Marshfield Clinic.

The Rafters play on the field also helped contribute to the tremendous amount of money donated this season as well. Through a partnership with Duncan Disability Law, each time the Rafters stole a base during a home game at Witter Field, a donation of $20 was made to the Family Center of Wisconsin Rapids. For the 2015 season, the Rafters finished with 32 stolen bases in games played at historic Witter Field.

For each home run hit by the Rafters at home Spectrum Insurance Group and West Bend Mutual Insurance made a donation of $75 to the South Wood County YMCA. The Rafters finished the season with 20 home runs hit at Witter Field.

Incourage Community Foundation and the Rafters partnered together to provide funds for the annual 4th of July fireworks show in Wisconsin Rapids. One dollar from each bag of cotton candy sold at Witter Field went to the fireworks fund. The Rafters and Incourage Community Foundation also partner together to provide the Lil’ Rafters Reading Program. Elementary school students in the Wisconsin Rapids area are given two free tickets to a Rafters game if there are able to complete a predetermined reading requirement set by their teacher. For the 2015 season, 518 students in the district completed the program.

On top of the cancer awareness themed alternate jersey, Marshfield Clinic also partnered with the Rafters to provide donations to local Little League programs in the Wisconsin Rapids area such as WRYSA, Nekoosa, Pittsville, Vesper, Rudolph, and Marshfield Little Leagues. For each extra base hit (home run, double, triple) the Rafters tallied this season at Witter Field, a donation went into a pool to be divided evenly amongst the Little League programs following the conclusion of the season. During the season, Marshfield Clinic partnered with the Rafters to provide a free skills clinic for kids in the Wisconsin Rapids area, in which the participants were able to learn and work on their baseball skills with members of the Rafters team and coaching staff.

The Rafters and the Team Schierl Companies partnered together to create t-shirts which were sold to fans to benefit the Boys and Girls Club as well as proceeds from raffle ticket sales corresponding the race featuring the world famous Klements Racing Sausages that took place at the game on July 31.

The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters also take great pride in working with local non-profit organizations by providing donation bags filled with Rafters merchandise. In 2015, over 150 charitable donations were made by the Rafters. In addition, the team made over 75 free appearances in the community featuring members of the Rafters’ Cranberry Crew, Rafters players, and team mascot Rosco P. Rafter.

The Rafters would like to thank all corporate sponsors and the community as a whole for all of your continued support, which assists our organization in its charitable works.

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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 23rd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2016, 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 (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website.  For more information, visit www.raftersbaseball.com.