Fundraising

On March 2, Rays players took a break during their busy schedule in spring training for the Rays Charity Golf Classic at the Ritz-Carlton members Golf Club in Bradenton. Rays players and coaches were matched with foursomes of Rays corporate partners and competed in a scramble tournament. B.J. Upton's Advantica team won for the second year in a row while David Price's team came in second and Jim Hickey's team placed third. The 2012 Rays Charity Golf Classic helped raise close to $200,000 for the Rays Baseball Foundation.

Each season the Rays convert a TV and radio broadcast into a unique fundraising opportunity for the Rays Baseball Foundation. The Rays Broadcast Auction helps raise money for RBF and effectively communicates the Rays community investments to fans. The 2012 Broadcast Auction featured one-of-a-kind baseball experiences including an invite to Maddon's Summer Social (a meet-and-greet hosted by the Rays skipper), Hitting Lessons with Carlos Peña, Pitching Lessons with David Price, a trip to the 83rd Annual MLB All-Star Game in Kansas City, a chance to be a Rays Executive for a Day and the opportunity to throw a Party at Tropicana Field. The Broadcast Auction and Summer Social raised $80,000 for the Rays Baseball Foundation and Tampa General Hospital's Children's Medical Center in 2012.

The Rays Baseball Foundation and the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association's Educational Foundation (FRLA) teamed up for the annual "Shirts Off Our Backs" fundraiser during the final Rays home games of the regular season (September 21- October 3). Proceeds benefited both foundations supporting youth and education programs.

An estimated 300 volunteers were on hand, wearing blue "Shirts Off Our Backs" T-shirts, at Tropicana Field throughout the six-day fundraiser. All fans who donated received scratch-off cards giving them the opportunity to win a wide variety of prizes donated by numerous sponsors totaling more than $250,000 in value. Included in the prizes were 2013 Rays game tickets, Rays game-worn jerseys and more. As an added bonus, winners of game worn jerseys were invited onto the field after the final game of the season to receive the jersey off of a players' back. More than $40,000 was raised during the six-day fundraiser to support the Rays Baseball Foundation and the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association's Educational Foundation.

Late in the 2012 season, the Rays Baseball Foundation launched the 50/50 Raffle. The popular fundraiser provided the chance for one lucky fan at each Rays' home game to walk away the winner of a cash prize. Uniformed raffle ticket vendors roamed the ballpark offering tickets to fans in exchange for a donation to the Rays Baseball Foundation. The winning ticket was announced during the 8th inning of each game on RaysVision. Each winner received 50 percent of the gross proceeds from the game's raffle ticket donations; remaining proceeds benefitted the Rays Baseball Foundation. In the 22 games the raffle was offered to fans, the Foundation raised close to $40,000.

Since 2011, the Rays have collected valuable team memorabilia throughout the season to be auctioned off on raysbaseball.com. Items include authenticated new and game-used jerseys, baseballs, batting helmets, hats, gloves, bases, line-up cards and more. Proceeds Rays Online Charity Auctions have raised more than $100,000 to benefit the Rays Baseball Foundation.

CLICK HERE for more information.

For the third year in a row, the Rays front office staff cleaned out their closets for a good cause. The Rays Charity Yard Sale was once again a highlight of Rays Fan Fest. The second annual event gave fans a chance to pick up giveaway items, memorabilia from former players and unique finds at drastic discounts. All proceeds benefitted the Rays Baseball Foundation. Fan Fest also offered autograph wristbands for a donation to the Foundation. Those proceeds are shared with the ALS Association Florida Chapter. In 2012, the Rays Charity Yard Sale and wristband sales combined raised over $100,000.

2012 marked the tenth anniversary of the Rays Turn Back the Clock Game and jersey auction. On June 30, the Rays turned back the clock to 1979 when the Detroit Tigers visited Tropicana Field. This season, the Rays designed a hypothetical uniform from 1979 that is intended to be a lasting fixture for Rays fans, fully embracing the style of the era while keeping the Rays modern colors. A patch on the left sleeve of the jersey features a City of St. Petersburg seal that was used in 1979. The Tigers wore a uniform based on their actual 1979 road grey jersey. The Rays and Tigers retro jerseys were auctioned off during a special Rays Charity Auction on raysbaseball.com following the game raising over $50,000 to benefit Moffitt Cancer Center and the Rays Baseball Foundation.

Select fan experiences at the ballpark such as Rays alcove activities, purchasing food to feed the rays at the Ray Tank and posting a Scoreboard Message all support the Rays Baseball Foundation. Proceeds from these experiences totaled more than $50,000 in revenue for the Foundation in 2012.

CLICK HERE for more information.