ATLANTA (June 20, 2019) — PBATS today announced the 2019 One-Day Charity fundraiser has officially raised $44,654 to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC). For the seventh consecutive year, One-Day Charity donations surpassed the previous year’s donation total.
PBATS One-Day Charity is an annual fundraiser, coordinated and executed by minor league medical coordinators. Each off-season, minor league medical coordinators vote on a charitable organization for which they would like to raise money. Once the organization has been selected, minor league athletic trainers contribute the equivalent of one day’s meal money during spring training to help support the chosen cause.
In 2019, the charity was again led by committee chair Joe Rauch of the Philadelphia Phillies. Rauch worked alongside committee members Mark Stubblefield (Umpires), Jon Kotredes (Washington Nationals), Nate Brooks (Oakland Athletics) and Patrick Serbus (Cincinnati Reds).
Unique to this year’s fundraiser, was the ability to impact the lives of the baseball family. After a tragic car accident involving Cincinnati Reds minor league players in the Dominican Republic, the aforementioned Patrick Serbus nominated RMHC for their efforts to help the families impacted by the tragedy. In 64 countries and regions around the world, RMHC helps families with ill or injured children stay together, and close to the medical care their child needs at leading hospitals worldwide.
“The Ronald McDonald House was instrumental in allowing the family of our critically injured player to have a place to sleep while away from their home in the Dominican Republic. Without the timely availability and their gracious hospitality I don’t know what we would have done in those critical times,” Serbus said. “The RMHC helps families in some of the hardest times in their lives by providing a means to get through those difficulties and allow their loved ones to receive the care they need and have family nearby.”
This year’s all-time high donation amount would not have been possible without the help of many organizations outside of the athletic training room. PBATS would like to specifically recognize Team Scotti for the generous donation, as well as other many other friends of PBATS who wish to remain anonymous.
Since 2012, the One-Day Charity donations have totaled upwards of $180,000 for multiple charitable organizations. In 2018, funds were raised for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. In 2017, the charity resulted in donations for the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation. In 2016, funds were raised for the Miracle League. In 2015, the group raised funds to benefit Major League Baseball’s Baseball Assistance Team (B.A.T.). And in previous years, funds have also been raised for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital (2013) and the Wounded Warrior Project (2014).
PBATS would also like to thank Joanna Sabato, Director of Marketing at RMHC, for her work and coordination of this year’s fundraising. With more than half of the donations in 2019 coming from the online platform, Joanna and her team were a tremendous help in promoting the fundraiser.
“On behalf of the entire RMHC system, we express our thanks and gratitude to PBATS for your support,” said Sheila Musolino, president and CEO, of RMHC. “Your donations from the One-Day Charity fundraiser help RMHC provide a supportive environment so families can focus on the care of their child and give them what they need most – each other.”
The PBATS One-Day Charity — initially started as a way for minor league medical coordinators to fundraise for organizations in need — is not limited to minor league athletic trainers.
PBATS hopes that contributions will increasingly come from all those interested in raising money for organizations in need, potentially including front office personnel, clubhouse staff members, coaches, players and corporate partnerships as well.
About PBATS
The mission of the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) is to serve as an educational resource for the Major League and Minor League Baseball athletic trainers. PBATS serves its members by providing for the continued education of the athletic trainer as it relates to the profession, helping to improve their understanding of sports medicine so as to better promote the health of the constituency— professional baseball players.
About Ronald McDonald House Charities
Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), is a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) corporation that creates, finds, and supports programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children and their families. Through its global network of over 275 Chapters in more than 64 countries and regions, and its three core programs: the Ronald McDonald House, the Ronald McDonald Family Room and the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, RMHC helps families with ill or injured children stay together, and close to the medical care their child needs at leading hospitals worldwide. RMHC programs not only provide access to quality health care, they enable family-centered care ensuring families are fully supported and actively involved in their children’s care. For more information, visit rmhc.org. Follow RMHC on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.