January 10, 2005

 

HERSHEY’S AND BABE RUTH LEAGUE, INC.
NATURAL TEAMMATES!

I am pleased to announce that Hershey has been named the “Official Candy and Fund Raising Product” of Babe Ruth League, Inc. for the second consecutive year.

Babe Ruth League, Inc. realizes that it takes considerable funds to operate a successful local league program. Money is needed for equipment, field costs, umpires, insurance, and uniforms, just to name a few of the expenses. We also realize that most fundraising campaigns are run because of necessity rather than desire. This is one of the main reasons Babe Ruth League, Inc. has partnered with Hershey’s.

Candy, especially chocolate, is one of America’s favorite treats. Therefore, it has become one of the #1 fundraising programs today. We at Babe Ruth League, Inc. feel there is not a better-tasting chocolate or candy product on the market than those made by Hershey’s. Each of our leagues will be able to purchase Hershey’s Fund Raising assortment carriers featuring America’s favorite brands including REESE’S® PEANUT BUTTER CUPS, TWIZZLERS®, KIT KAT®, REESE’S FASTBREAK®, S’MORES, ®HERSHEY’S® AND HERSHEY’S® WITH ALMONDS.

With Hershey’s, your league is able to purchase a quality product at a very competitive price. The program is fun and exciting while allowing you to raise the much needed revenue for your league! Just like last season, to best service your league, Babe Ruth has put together a national network of distributors (list of distributors at end of message) which allows representatives to personally meet with your league and explain the program benefits.

In furthering the relationship between Hershey’s Fund Raising and Babe Ruth League, Inc., we have given careful consideration to the elements of the 2004 program, as well as upgraded the custom fundraising program with different elements for a successful fundraising campaign in 2005. New items to the 2005 program include:

  • Exclusive deals on merchandise from Anaconda Sports. All leagues that run a Hershey’s Fund Raising program may take advantage of special pricing on bats, batting tees, helmets, catcher’s masks and other designated sports equipment.
  • Higher level team award. Teams that sell 24 or more Hershey’s assortment carriers will receive one dozen Rawlings Babe Ruth Game Play baseballs.

In addition to the new items, the 2005 program will offer the team awards, prizes and honors introduced last year:

  • Teams in a Babe Ruth league that sell a minimum of 16 individual carriers (4 cases of either 40 or 52 bars) of Hershey’s products will be given the choice of receiving either a “Ripken Way” CD-ROM, a Margie Wright Softball Coaches’ Series Video, or a Hershey’s bat bag.
  • Every league which participates in or inquires about the Hershey’s Fund Raising program will be entered into a sweepstakes drawing for a Grand Prize of $5,000 toward the purchase of league equipment from Anaconda Sports.
  • Eight Jugs Junior pitching machines will be given away. One will be awarded in each Babe Ruth region. (No purchase necessary.)

For 2005’s grand finale, a Hershey’s “all-star” team will be selected. Nine players between the ages of 5 and 12 from throughout the USA, along with 2 guests each, will attend the opening weekend of the 2005 Cal Ripken World Series in Aberdeen, Maryland as fans. These players will be recognized at the Cal Ripken World Series as the 2005 Hershey’s “all star” team. These players, along with their guests, will also be treated to a trip to Hershey Park.

The preferred distributor in your area, as selected by Babe Ruth League, Inc., will be in contact with your league in the near future to discuss the options available to for generating funds through sales of the Official Candy and Fundraising product of Babe Ruth League, Inc. – Hershey’s.

In closing, fundraising is a vital part of your league’s operation. However, please remember to promote the sales and safety tips listed below to your participants to ensure a successful and SAFE fundraising campaign:

  • Sell candy to family members and friends first;
  • Ask family members to take the product to their place of employment;
  • Use the Buddy System – Never sell alone;
  • Do not enter homes;
  • Do not carry large amounts of cash;
  • Always be courteous and say THANK YOU (whether they buy or not)!

For further details, contact the Hershey Distributor in your area or call Joe Smiegocki at Babe Ruth Headquarters toll-free at 1-800-880-3142.

Please note the Official Candy Distributor Network listed below:

BABE RUTH LEAGUE, INC.
OFFICIAL CANDY DISTRIBUTOR NETWORK

Please note the Official Candy Distributor Network listed below:

 

Company Name Contact & Phone Territory
A To Z Fundraising Daniel Shingai
(800) 700-7611		 NORTHERN CA
Award Fundraising John Lile
(800) 221-8889		 OH & WESTERN PA
Darnall Fundraising Bill Darnall
(407) 649-8011		 FL
DMI Fundraising Bonnie Girton
(800) 628-5905		 IL, IN, MI & WI
Express Industries Joe Camerieri
(713) 946-3200		 LA & TX
Falter Fundraising Michelle Parsons
(800) 322-3491 Ext. 109		 DC, MD & WV
Great American Rob Corley
(770) 736-0801		 AL, AR, GA, KS, KY, MO,
MS, NC, OK, SC, TN & VA
Jones Chocolate Fundraising Mark Jones
(800) 273-5445		 AZ, NV, CENTRAL & SOUTHERN CA
QSP/Reader’s Digest Stacey Allen
(914) 244-4930		 CO, CT, IA, ID, MA, ME, MN, MT,
ND, NE, NH, OR, RI, SD,
UPSTATE NY, UT, VT, WA & WY
3-J Fundraising Jesse Pike
(800) 352-2643		 DE, EASTERN PA, METRO NY & NJ
Tomorrow Fundraising Jeff Solomon
(800) 777-1189
Ext. 21		 MIDDLESEX & HUNTERDON COUNTIES, NJ

Wishing you all the best for a successful fundraising season!

Ron Tellefsen
President/CEO
Babe Ruth League, Inc.