Rock Cats Play Host To Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters

Thanks to the generosity of the New Britain Rock Cats, 88 Big Brothers and Big Sisters and the children they mentor from Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters were recently gifted with free tickets so they could enjoy nine innings of top flight baseball action at historic New Britain Stadium as the Rock Cats played against the famed Altoona Curve.

"The Rock Cats have a long history of being strong community supporters," said Katie Breslin, Manager of Events and New Media at Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters. "The special evening they created for us was called the 'Good Deed Game'. Not only did the Rock Cats provide admission, they also welcomed three other local charities. In addition, the team encouraged fans and general attendees to support all four invited charities with in-park donations of food, books, toys and school supplies. Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters ended the evening with a very large box filled with much-needed supplies that are really going to help our many site-based mentoring programs when they resume in the fall."

"I was really happy that the Rock Cats beat the Altoona Curve," said 9-year-old Little Brother Nate, who lives in New Britain. "I was even happier that I caught one of the game foul balls. It's the first time this ever happened to me and it was amazing!"

Nate's Big Sister (adult mentor) in the Nutmeg program - Carol Buckheit from Farmington - said that Nate was so excited that he couldn't sit still after he made the lucky catch, and that he's hardly allowed the ball to leave his hands since the game.

"The way the Rock Cats hosted us at the 'Good Deed Game' was terrific," said Andy Fleischmann, Nutmeg's President and CEO. "It's just the latest example of the club's desire to bring some fun and excitement into the lives of the wonderful children in our program. For years, the Rock Cats have been kind enough to open their gates to many, many 'Bigs' and 'Littles'. At this year's season opener, for example, they gave an amazing two hundred tickets to children we serve - many of whom had never seen a baseball game before. We are deeply grateful that the Rock Cats ball club has chosen to consistently support our mission of helping children in need."

The New Britain Rock Cats is the Double-A Eastern League affiliate of the American League's Minnesota Twins. Learn more about the club at: www.rockcats.com.

Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters is an affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the longest established youth mentoring organization in the world - founded in 1904. For more information, visit: www.nutmegbigbrothersbigsisters.org.