Some of Our Silent Auction Items 2016

MLB Tickets

• Red Sox vs Yankee, 9/1, 2 field box tickets — $340 value
• Red Sox vs Rays, 9/23, 2 field box tickets — $340.00
• Red Sox vs Phillies, 9/4, 2 field box tickets (2 sets) — each set value $270
• Red Sox vs Yankees, 9/2, 3 field box tickets — $210 value
• Red Sox vs Tampa Bay, 9/24, 3 field box tickets — $90 value
• Red Sox vs Blue Jays, 9/8, 2 Front Row Dugout seats — $656 value

NFL Tickets

• NE Patriots vs Eagles, 12/06/15 (2 tickets; 2 sets) 

Miscellaneous Items

• Corn-Hole Boards: 4 sets (Themes include Red Sox, Green Monster, New England Patriots, Americana) — each set value is $250
• Golf package for four with lunch at Cyprian Keyes
• Autographed baseball and photo signed by Alan Trammell — $160 value
• Three month family membership to the YMCA Boroughs
• Romaine’s gift certificate — value $100
• Smokestack Urban Barbecue gift certificate — value $100
• Arturo’s Ristorante gift certificate- — value $100
• Autographed baseball signed by Peter Gammons
• PawSox vs Buffalo Bissons, 9/5, 4 tickets — Front Row
• Autographed poster Retirement of Boston Garden 1995 by NHL heroes — $250
• Red Sox Ottoman — $400 value
• 3 yards pine mulch delivered locally — Value $140
• A complete May 15, 1977 issue (number 238) of Rolling Stone magazine featuring Mark Fidrych on the cover with article inside.
• A complete August 14, 1976 issue (volume 182, number 6) of The Sporting News magazine featuring Mark Fidrych on the cover and the subject of the lead article and referenced in other articles inside.
• An original Chicago Tribune wire photo of Mark Fidrych having his curly locks cut on September 22, 1976 to be auctioned for charity. Certificate of Authenticity included.
• An original Minneapolis Star Tribune newspaper photo of Mark Fidrych as sports commentator on ABC-TV’s broadcast of the Minnesota Twins vs. Texas Rangers game on Monday, September 5, 1977 from Minnesota’s Metropolitan Stadium (now the site of the Mall of America).
• A Royal Crown Cola — Mark Fidrych metal soda can blank, ready to be formed into a cylinder and seamed (very rare).
• A reproduction 1976 Michigan vanity license plate “The Bird.”
• Reproduction of Rigetti and Fidrych photo taken in Pawtuckett 1983
• Framed 20” x 24” Tom Brady Photo receiving the Lombardi Trophy 2015 — value $500
• Framed 16” x 18” Malcom Butler Photo of winning interception Super Bowl 2015 — value $500
• Framed 34”x 22” Scoreboard Photo of final score for 2015 Super Bowl — value $500
• Framed and signed photo of Brad Marchand — value $500

Play Ball!

It’s a bright sunny Saturday morning as I look out onto the field at the Melican Middle School in Northborough.  Children and adults are whooping from the sidelines as children play ball for the final game of the Little League Challenger Division Baseball.  The smell of hamburgers and hot dogs sizzling on the grill fill the air celebrating the season’s end. 

There are smiles on the bystander’s faces as they cheer on the player and excitement in the voices of the coaches and buddies as they support their players’ success.  But the most amazing part is the pure joy on the faces of those playing ball….to see how playing baseball can make such a difference in these young lives! 

So as I sit down and plan out some of the final details of our Annual Softball Tournament and I reflect back on this morning’s game…..those faces warm my heart and make everything we do at the Mark Fidrych Foundation so gratifying.

We’ve grown to the point we need to have some new venues for our events.  Some key upcoming dates:

• Aug 15 – Fundraising Auction at the American Legion Post #234, 402 West Main Street, Northborough

• Aug 22 - Our 5^th Annual Make Your Mark Softball Tournament, at the New England Baseball Complex, 333 Southwest Cutoff, (Rt 20) in Northborough.  

Of course, you can help us make a difference by donating today.  Help us continue to bring smiles to their faces.

Play Ball!

Ann

No April Showers Today

Photo by Joe McNallyIt’s the Red Sox Home Opener, and it is a beautiful sunny spring day.  And helping our kids is on my mind! 

You can help too with a tax deductible donation to the Mark Fidrych Foundation.

With virtually no overhead expenses, each dollar donated goes right to the kids programs using it!!   $50 helps sponsor an athlete for a sport and defers the cost to their family.  Let's see how many athletes we can impact this year!  

Please click on this link and donate whatever you can.  Your support truly makes a difference!

            http://www.markfidrychfoundation.org/donate/

Go Sox!

Ann

Spring is in the air!

Busy preparing for the tournamentIt’s March 7 and as I look out the kitchen window, I see snow on the ground with a thermometer of 39 degrees.  While we’re still in winter’s grasp, softball is on my mind and certainly the work of the Mark Fidrych Foundation. Phil Collins' lyrics say it all "...Not the snow, not the rain can change my mind.  The sun will come out, wait and see..."

We had a great 2014 and were able to distribute over $48,000 in grants something we are very proud of given the difficult economic climate we’re all in.

2015 promises to be even better.  And I need to get going on the plans for this year.

There are logistical details like arranging for the field, permits, etc. for our annual softball tournament.  The date is set for August 22, 2015.

There are also sponsors to contact and teams to recruit. 

We’re planning on another sports night at Chet’s Diner.  The silent auction was a huge success so expect that to be back again this year.

Since starting the foundation five years ago, I continue to be overwhelmed by the generosity and support of my friends, family, and community.  I am meeting many unsung heros who volunteer their time and energy without reservation.  Each of these heros touches my heart and I know Mark is touched as well.

Please check back to our website for updates throughout the year.

Ann

3rd Annual Sports Raffle Night a "Hit!"

David Cooley with a little fanWhat a night! We are grateful to the awesome crowd that gathered at Chet’s Diner for the 3^rd Annual Sports Raffle Night on Sunday, August 11. It was great to see everyone and know that you join us in supporting the mission of The Mark Fidrych Foundation.

We have some love to share, so join us in thanking these good folks:

• Craig and our friends at Consolidated Beverage for sponsoring the 3rd Annual Sports Raffle Night.
• Jess, who was on top of her game behind the bar, and Selene for the backup! 
• Joey for pulling raffle tickets and door prizes. He’s the man!
• Carly for the cupcakes. They were to die for!
• Bob for the great meatballs and sausages.
• Dave and our friends at Texas BBQ for the yummy wings.
• Michele for her work selling raffle tickets and t-shirts. Honestly, she’s the saleswoman of the year. The pizza was good, too, Michele!
• Kristina for her tremendous clean up work.
• Dave and our friends at Cyprian Keyes for donating Par-3 coupons.

For those of you who were with us, you know the crowd roared about our door prizes and early raffle drawings. A big, “Congratulations!” to our early drawing winners:

• Dana and Kevin who won pre-season tickets to see the Patriots next weekend. Thanks, Gary, for donating.
• Arthur and Selene who won tickets to the Red Sox game against Detroit. Thanks, Keith, for donating.
• Bob, who is looking good in the “Make Your Mark” golf shirt!
• Brian, who won some nice grill equipment.

So now it is time for you to phone a friend and make plans to join us at the “Make Your Mark” Softball Tournament on Saturday, August 24 at Casey and Memorial Fields in Northborough. Opening ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. In addition to watching twelve area teams (including the return of the Special Olympics team!) in fun-filled softball play, the community is invited to enjoy festival events such as face painting, balloon creations, food and entertainment. Event T-shirts are on sale now.

Thank you, everyone, for your support. See you August 24!