Two Brands Dangle Baseball Field Fix-Ups
Briggs & Stratton Corp. and Sunkist Growers, Inc. are running separate contests that will allow the winner’s youth baseball fields to be refurbished.
Small-engine maker Briggs & Stratton is sponsoring the second annual Diamonds in the Rough program, encouraging children aged 7 to 12 in 15 markets to write a short essay explaining why their youth baseball field should receive the grand prize of $20,000 toward refurbishing.
Winners in 14 markets will earn a baseball prize package, including tickets to a Major League Baseball game and $5,000 toward fixing up their fields. The $20,000 winner also gets a baseball clinic from Major League Baseball Hall of Famers, Lou Brock and Carlton Fisk.
Briggs & Stratton marketing manager Anita Fisher said the company helped to refurbish 12 youth fields last year.
“This is a great program that gives kids a chance to give something back to youth baseball and improve the quality of their fields,” Fisher said.
Children get the entry form at Briggsdiamondsintherough.com before April 30 and, in addition to the essay, answer questions about why his or her field should be refurbished, what improvements are needed and why the field has had a positive impact on his or her life. The entry is mailed to Briggs & Stratton’s Milwaukee headquarters.
The sweeps is being promoted through assorted public relations efforts, TV spots on FOX Sports Net in the 15 markets and on Briggsandstratton.com.
Citrus-grower Sunkist is leveraging its partnership with Little League Baseball and Softball for both its sweepstakes and to promote healthier snacking by children.
The coach who submits the best photograph of a Little League team showing off their “Sunkist Smile” will bring home up to $5,000 in valuable field improvements, such as new bleachers, lawn reseeding or backstop repair. The winning team will also receive a three-month supply of Sunkist oranges
Three first-place teams will win $500 worth of sporting equipment plus a three-month supply of Sunkist oranges.
Team coaches, parents and kids can visit Teamsunkist.com for downloads on why Sunkist oranges are great snacks, as well as the chance to enter the contest.
Sunkist is handling the promotion in-house, and is promoting it through public relations efforts with hometown newspapers, e-mail blasts to Little League coaches and on the Littleleaguebaseball.org, Sunkist.com and Teamsunkist.com Web sites.
