BOSTON, MA – The Red Sox Foundation today announced eleven auction items for the 2011 Picnic in the Park fundraiser presented by Ace 
Ticket, and have opened the auction to proxy bids from fans unable to attend the event in person. Picnic in the Park is the annual charitable fundraiser hosted by the Red Sox Players and their wives benefiting two of the Red Sox Foundation’s charitable programs, the Red Sox Scholars and Red Sox RBI and Rookie League inner city youth baseball programs.
Fans who submit a bid by proxy can still win the items they bid on, even if they are not able to attend the live auction in person. A bid by proxy is possible on any of the donated items, including three that are available for online bidding on redsox.com/picnic, including:
- A VIP set visit to the hit TV show Mad Men
- Hitting Lesson with Red Sox First Baseman Adrian Gonzalez
- A lounger autographed by the Red Sox 2007 World Series team
The online auction for the above three items will close at noon (EDT) on Friday, July 22. At that time, the top three online bidders for each item will be contacted by phone and email by the Red Sox Foundation and offered an opportunity to participate by phone in the final live portion of the auction on Sunday, July 24.
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Additional Red Sox player experiences are also available for proxy bidding through the Red Sox Foundation by sending an email to picnic@redsox.com or over the phone by calling 617-226-6440. Proxy bidders submitting bids by email or by phone will be asked to submit their highest bid and will be represented at the live auction by a member of the Red Sox Foundation who will bid on their behalf up to their maximum limit. Specific instructions on submitting a bid via email or phone are available on redsox.com/picnic. Additional auction items include:
- Pitching Lesson with Red Sox Pitcher Clay Buchholz
- A lounger autographed by the Red Sox 2007 World Series team
- Batting lessons with Red Sox outfielder Darnell McDonald and an opportunity to be part of the Fenway Park grounds crew before a game
- A 90-minute massage by the Red Sox players massage therapist Russell Nua at Fenway Park and tickets to a regular season Red Sox game in 2011-2012.
- Meet and greet with Red Sox outfielder Carl Crawford, including 4 Grandstand tickets to the game
- An opportunity to play video games with Red Sox Closer Jonathan Papelbon
- Meet and greet with All-Star first baseman Kevin Youkilis, including 4 Grandstand tickets plus one autographed Red Sox Youkilis jersey
- A personal voicemail recording for your phone by Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek
- A 30 minute personal fielding lesson with Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia
Picnic in the Park will be held one hour after the conclusion of the Sunday, July 24th Red Sox-Mariners game. Fans enjoy a BBQ picnic on the field at Fenway Park, a chance to get autographs from current Red Sox players, as well as the opportunity to bid on the unique items and experiences during the live auction. Tickets are still available on redsox.com/picnic.
About the Red Sox Foundation:
The official team charity of the Boston Red Sox, the Red Sox Foundation harnesses the power of Red Sox Nation to support select programs serving at risk children and families across New England. The Foundation’s efforts are primarily focused on our cornerstone programs including the Red Sox Scholars Program, which provides tutoring, mentoring, enrichment programs and a college scholarship to academically talented but economically disadvantaged Boston public school students and the Red Sox Foundation’s RBI and Rookie League youth baseball program serving more than 2,000 inner city teens each summer. The team charity also supports the new Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Home Base Program for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with combat stress disorders and traumatic brain injury, The Dimock Community Center in Roxbury and The Jimmy Fund.
A 501c3 nonprofit, the Red Sox Foundation raises most of its funds through special events and charitable donations. Founded and initially funded by Red Sox Principal Owner John Henry, Chairman Tom Werner, President/CEO Larry Lucchino and their partners, the Red Sox Foundation has won numerous awards for the impact of its innovative programs. Last year, the Red Sox Scholars program was recognized by Major League Baseball with the first-ever “MLB Commissioner’s Award for Philanthropic Excellence.” In 2009, the Red Sox Foundation was also honored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Sports Philanthropy Project with the Patterson Award as the nation’s “Best Team Charity in Sports.” The Executive Director of the Red Sox Foundation is the team’s Vice President for Corporate Affairs, Meg Vaillancourt. For more information about the Red Sox Foundation, please visit www.redsoxfoundation.org.
