MADISON – It took a couple seasons to warm up, but the Rocket City Trash Pandas Foundation is hitting its stride this year.
The foundation, a 501c3 organization, has raised nearly $60,000 for worthy causes while expanding its footprint in the North Alabama community. The organization is dedicated to educating and promoting healthy lifestyles through sport and to positively impact communities in the North Alabama region.
“2023 has been an incredible year for the Rocket City Trash Pandas Foundation,” said Maddison Kendrick, the team’s Community Relations director. “We are very grateful to have the support of our partners, fans, and the community as a whole and we look forward to continuing our work in in the future.”
The Trash Pandas’ biggest fundraisers this season have been jersey auctions. The players have worn four specialty jerseys for theme nights, netting more than $50,000 for charity. The autographed, game-worn jerseys were auctioned online, with the proceeds being split between the Trash Pandas Foundation and a local non-profit.
The Trash Pandas wore specialty jerseys May 4 to commemorate “Star Wars” (May the Fourth be with you), benefitting The Miracle League of Madison.
“The Miracle League of Madison has received a ton of interest from local businesses after the Trash Pandas jersey auction,” The Miracle League of Madison said. “Not only did we benefit monetarily in the thousands of dollars towards our project, which is to build a baseball field and complex for children with disabilities at Palmer Park in Madison, but we have benefitted tremendously from the recognition we received that night and ever since.
“We are so grateful that Trash Pandas chose us and helped us right off the bat and we hope to be playing ball not too long from now.”
On May 20, the Trash Pandas defeated the Birmingham Barons 5-1 while wearing Armed Forces jerseys, with proceeds going to First Stop.
“First Stop is honored to have been chosen as a beneficiary of the Trash Pandas jersey auction,” said Jessica Brown, development director for First Stop. “With these funds, we will continue to care for Huntsville’s homeless community through our Outreach Team, Day Center, and Case Management Program.”
Then the Trash Pandas “defended the diamond” in a 5-4 win June 24 over Montgomery in Marvel Defenders of the Diamond jerseys. The proceeds benefitted the Madison County Special Olympics.
“Madison County Special Olympics is so honored to have been selected as a beneficiary of the Trash Pandas Marvel Jersey auction,” the organization said. “These proceeds will help enhance the quality of life for our community members living with Intellectual and Physical disabilities by providing the necessary equipment and materials to help them thrive, live, learn and love.”
In what could be called a spacewalk-off win Aug. 10, the Trash Pandas defeated the Mississippi Braves while wearing Space Night jerseys. The proceeds will benefit the U.S. Space & Rocket Center Education Foundation.
“The U.S. Space & Rocket Center Education Foundation will use the funds from the Space Night Jersey Auction for two areas,” the foundation said in a statement. “We will send one child to Space Camp under a Trash Pandas Space Camp Scholarship.
“The remaining funds will be designated as ‘use where most needed’ to support the overall mission of Space Camp and the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.”
The Stars will be out Sept. 8 for the final jersey auction of the season. As part of Huntsville Stars throwback night, the Trash Pandas will wear vintage uniforms of the former Minor League team. The proceeds will benefit Friends of Rescue, an all-volunteer non-breed specific dog and cat rescue.
In addition to the jersey auctions, the Trash Pandas hosted a Community Clubhouse sale July 4. Fans purchased memorabilia including game-worn jerseys, game-used caps, broken bats, autographed baseballs, and more. The sale raised $7,800 for the foundation.
The Trash Pandas will host another Community Clubhouse Sale on Sept. 7 in the game with Pensacola.
For information about the foundation, click here. To learn about about Trash Pandas community events, click here.
Don’t miss out! Subscribe to our email newsletter to have all our smart stories delivered to your inbox.
