LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — Many of Arkansas’s legislators will trade their basketball jerseys for baseball pants.
After ten games on the basketball court, members of the Arkansas House of Representatives will face off against members of the Arkansas Senate for the 11th time by hitting the diamond in the newly transformed Home Runs for Kids’ Sake. Home Runs for Kids’ Sake is an annual charity sports event that benefits the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arkansas (BBBSCA) and the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Arkansas (CAC).
Hoops for Kids’ sake was launched in 2013 as a long-standing bipartisan tradition that is debuting in a new format this year in the form of Home Runs for Kids’ sake.
The game will be a seven-inning softball game at CHI St. Vincent Field at Dickey-Stephens Park, the home of the Arkansas Travelers. Spectators can show up on Tuesday, April 28 to see their legislators compete to raise money for children.
The game will feature between-inning activities, music, food, and a chance for families to come together. The gates open to the public at 6 p.m., with an opening ceremony and first pitch slated for 6:30 p.m. General admission is $10 at the gate.
“Home Runs for Kids’ Sake is a reinvigoration of the charity event we have all come to love,” Arkansas House Speaker Brian Evans said. “While we may be rivals on the court and field, the Arkansas legislators are always working to create a better state for the next generation, whether it’s in the Capitol or through charitable activities.”
Since 2013, the collaborative, bipartisan effort has raised more than $250,000 for children across Arkansas.
“We are ready to defend our winning streak,” Arkansas Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester said. “We understand the need to level the playing field as the games have been a bit one-sided the past few years. This is a tradition that is close to the hearts of all state legislators, and we are excited to continue the competition and support the work of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arkansas and the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Arkansas.”
The legislative charity game will alternate between softball and basketball, with the basketball game – Hoops for Kids’ Sake – returning for next year’s regular legislative session and the softball game resuming during the following fiscal session.
“I am so excited to once again be a part of this and see the legislators duke it out on the diamond,” Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders said. “I will continue to support the children of Arkansas any way I can, and the Governor’s Office is proud to put kids first in our great state.”
Members from the Governor’s Office and the Attorney General’s Office will also likely participate.
“We are ready to be a part of the action and support such a great tradition,” Attorney General Tim Griffin said. “As this event grows, we are proud to know that more resources can go to helping the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arkansas and the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Arkansas. My office is here to help protect children, and this is another way we can further that mission.”
The VIP Sponsorship ($1,500) includes two VIP passes for the post-game reception and reserved seating at the game, 10 general admission passes and your logo on on-site signage.
Four VIP Scoreboard Sponsorships ($2,500) are available, and include the same benefits as the VIP Sponsorship, plus two additional post-game reception passes (four total) and your organization’s branding on the scoreboard throughout the game.
For more details, click the link here.