The Orioles pledged Wednesday to donate $250,000 and match up to another $250,000 in support of Hurricane Milton relief efforts, benefiting the Community Foundation of Sarasota County through its Season of Sharing initiative to help provide financial support for affected people struggling with essential living expenses following the storm.
“In times of crisis, it’s essential for us to stand together as a community,” Orioles owner David Rubenstein said in a statement. “We hope that this match challenge inspires our fans and community members to give generously and help provide immediate relief for those affected by Hurricane Milton.”
Baltimore has called Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Florida, its spring training home since 2010. Hurricane Milton made landfall at the gulf-coast county Oct. 9, causing severe flash floods and knocking out power grids across the state. Ed Smith Stadium, which sustained no major damages from the storm, served as a staging area for the electric utility company Florida Power & Light to help local residents regain power.
Should the Orioles reach their $500,000 total donation goal, the Patterson Foundation — a philanthropic organization that has already donated or pledged up to $3 million to relief efforts — will also contribute an additional $100,000.
The Orioles also announced that the beneficiary for their 50/50 raffle at all Grapefruit League home games this spring will be All Faiths Food Bank, which works in the Sarasota region to distribute meals to those in need.
“By supporting both Season of Sharing and All Faiths Food Bank, we hope to alleviate some of the financial and food insecurity burdens faced by families affected by the hurricane,” Orioles minority owner Mike Arougheti said in a statement. “Our hope is that these efforts will provide a pathway for families to regain stability and peace of mind as they recover.”
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