Cardinals Care sponsors run

“CARDINALS CARE-6K RUN HOME FOR KIDS” SCHEDULED FOR SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18^TH

2^nd Annual 6K Run to Promote Fitness, Raise Money for Cardinals Care &  honor Stan Musial

ST. LOUIS (March 23, 2011)-  Cardinals Care, the charitable foundation of the St. Louis Cardinals, announced today that the second annual “Cardinals Care-6K Run Home for Kids” event will take place on Sunday, September 18, 2011. The run, which will start at 8:06 a.m. at the Stan Musial statue outside Busch Stadium’s Gate 3, will wind around the city and finish on the field with every participant having the opportunity to cross home.

There will be a limited number of participants, so those interested are encouraged to register now and find out more information at www.cardinals.com/runhome. All participants have until September 11, 2011 to raise $150, inclusive of a $28 registration fee.

The event is scheduled to take place on the weekend of the 70^th anniversary of Stan Musial’s first major league game with the Cardinals. Musial, who had been called up from the Rochester Red Wings, started the second game of a double header against the Boston Braves on September 17, 1941.  Musial was two for four with 2 RBIs in his first game and went on to bat .426 in 12 games with the Cardinals that season. The 6K designation is a tribute to Stan Musial and the number six that was worn by the legendary Cardinals slugger.

“The timing of the event is perfect because we want to honor Stan Musial and pay tribute to his commitment to help others as we raise money for Cardinals Care,” said Michael Hall, Vice President for Cardinals Care and Community Relations.

Family and friends of those participating are encouraged to come show there support as there will be various vendors set up around the stadium and entrance to the stadium to watch the completion of the event is free. Every runner who participates in the race will receive a commemorative medal and have an opportunity to have their picture taken on the field.

All proceeds from the event will go to Cardinals Care to fund the foundation’s Redbird Rookies program and support other area non-profit groups that benefit local youth. In 2010 the first annual Cardinals Care-6K Run Home for Kids raised over $150,000 for Cardinals Care and the organization distributed over $385,000 between their two grant cycles during the season. The Redbird Rookies program provides area kids with uniforms, gloves, bats, balls, and other equipment, as well as extensive off-field support in the areas of health, education, mentoring, and cultural arts.

        Cardinals Care’s annual Winter Warm-Up, which takes place every January, has been the foundation’s main fundraising event for the last fifteen years. Thanks in large part to fan and sponsor support of the Winter Warm-Up, Cardinals Care has distributed more than $16 million to area children’s organizations since its inception in 1997.

Many of the non-profit organizations who are recipients of Cardinals Care charitable grants are based in Missouri, Illinois and Iowa. The funds are intended to support the purchase of computers and software, books for literacy programs, cameras, printers and youth summer camps.  

Cardinals Care also raises funds through memorabilia auctions online and throughout Busch Stadium during the season. Cardinals’ fans donated over $100,000 to Cardinals Care through auctions in 2010. Fans may now make a tax-deductible donation to Cardinals Care on-line at cardinals.com/community.