FOX Sports Arizona Girls Help Spread Holiday Cheer

The FOX Sports Arizona Girls have been busy helping spread Holiday cheer around Phoenix during the past couple of weeks by making various appearances that have helped brighten the season for those who need it most.

Highlighting the schedule was their participation in the Arizona Diamondbacks “Winter Classic” on Dec. 13. The annual event at Chase Field is conducted by D-backs players, staff and volunteers such as the FOX Sports Arizona Girls to benefit over 600 low income children by giving them new shoes, back packs, books and other much-needed gifts. To see Mallory and Danielle’s report on it, check out this link on FOXSportsArizona.com.

Mallory and Danielle also lent their support for Operation Santa Claus. Along with D-backs legend and current third base coach Matt Williams, the trio appeared at The UPS Store for a toy drive and autograph session with all proceeds from Williams’ autographs going to Operation Santa Claus and everything the organization does to help children around the Valley of the Sun. Mallory & Danielle also did a piece about the event and it can be seen by clicking on this link.

In addition, the girls were also showcased for an appearance they made at the Valley of the Sun Kiwanis Club Home Run 4 Kids at Chase Field.  This month’s Hacienda Healthcare newsletter thanked them for their participation with the event that raised money for Los Ninos Hospital.

And finally, the Girls are also appearing on a special Happy Holidays promo that is airing throughout the month and accompanied two lucky Twitter followers to a Suns/Grizzlies game for a night in the FOX Sports Arizona suite.

FOX Sports Arizona & Arizona Diamondbacks Fundraising Broadcast Raises $96,250

On Aug. 28, FOX Sports Arizona and the Arizona Diamondbacks partnered on their annual fundraising broadcast to support local youth charities. And just as the case has been in each of the past two years, the results and collaboration were amazing.

Viewers purchased 1,925 “Mystery Balls” to raise $96,250 for local youth charities

Beginning with FOX Sports Arizona’s “Diamondbacks Live” pre-game show, then throughout the D-backs/Reds game telecast and continuing even after the post-game show signed off, D-backs fans were encouraged to purchase a “Mystery Ball” for $50. What is a “Mystery Ball” you ask?

It’s the D-backs in-stadium fundraiser that lets fans purchase an autographed baseball from a current or past D-back player, but they do not know who they are getting in return. The D-backs and FOX Sports Arizona decided to bring this popular stadium initiative to the television and serve as this season’s broadcast fundraiser with all proceeds going to the team’s “Going Gonzo For Kids” foundation. Named for D-backs legend Luis Gonzalez, it supports Arizona youth charities.

In addition to autographed baseballs from current D-backs, there were also balls signed by Randy Johnson, Luis Gonzalez, Matt Williams and other former D-back stars. There were also 25 “Golden Ticket” items randomly selected fans could win – prizes that included first pitch opportunities, watching batting practice on the field, a suite for a 2013 game, autographed bats and more!

Via the television broadcast and social media, fans were constantly encouraged to purchase a ball and when the night was over (and in just 4 ½ hours), 1,925 baseballs were sold to raise $96,250! This year marked the third consecutive year the broadcast fundraiser supported “Going Gonzo For Kids” and those three telecasts have combined to raise $281,000.

The D-backs established 15 phone lines to answer calls from viewers and they were constantly bombarded during the night. In fact, many fans reported waiting over two hours before they could get through to order. Social media played a big part in the telling the story as well, with constant updates on how much was being raised, how many balls were being sold and when the phone lines would be shut down for the evening.

Facebook, as well as Twitter, helped spread the word about the broadcast

FOX Sports Arizona started promotion for the show two weeks in advance to create awareness and also received great cooperation from D-backs closer J.J. Putz to produce this spoof of an “infomercial” that aired on television, FOXSportsArizona.com, dbacks.com and the jumbotron at Chase Field.

At the end of the telecast, FOX Sports Arizona received an email from D-backs President/CEO Derrick Hall that said “Great job all… and thanks to our friends at Fox Sports Arizona for taking this worthwhile challenge on. The power of the two brands collaborating is immense.”

Past Two Years, We Helped Raise $185,000. How Much Tomorrow?

Just like the teams it televises, FOX Sports Arizona  takes great pride in making a difference in the community and helping improve the lives of those who need it most.

We have been a big supporter of the D-backs charitable efforts through the years and this season is no different. Tomorrow, FOX Sports Arizona is partnering with them on our annual telecast that helps raise money for the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation – and more specifically – “Going Gonzo For Kids.”

During the Aug. 28 D-backs & Reds game, viewers will get the opportunity to participate in the popular “Mystery Ball” fundraiser.  Up until now, the only way to purchase a mystery ball was to be at Chase Field, but via this unique telecast, fans can purchase one for $50 each by calling the Mystery Ball hotline at 602-462-3899 during the broadcast. More than 2,000 autographed baseballs will be available featuring signatures from numerous D-backs legends and current players.  Phone lines open during the pregame show starting at 6 p.m. and will remain open until all of the baseballs are sold or the end of the post-game show. Fans will receive their autographed baseball via mail and 25 lucky fans will be awarded a golden ticket to redeem for special prizes, such as throwing out a first pitch, watching batting practice on the field, a suite for a 2013 D-backs home game and much more!

Funds from this year’s broadcast support a variety of Arizona-based children’s charities. In the past two years alone, FOX Sports Arizona and the D-backs have teamed to raise $185,000 for the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation through a fundraising telecast like this. In 2011, the World Series Ring Raffle broadcast raised more than $85,000  and in 2010,  2,000 autographed Luis Gonzalez Bobbleheads were sold during the telecast to raise $100,000 for “Going Gonzo for Kids.”