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12-03-2004, 02:04 AM
MILWAUKEE -- Mark Attanasio insists that he is not just buying a baseball team. He is gobbling up stock in a community.
"I am here because of this community," said Attanasio, the Milwaukee Brewers' incoming owner. "Because of the tradition here, because of this ballpark, I don't think there is any question about the viability of baseball in Milwaukee."
Attanasio, a Los Angeles-based investor, made that statement during a meeting last week of the Southeast Wisconsin Professional Park District, which approved his bid to buy the team. He made similar statements on Oct. 4, when the Brewers' board of directors announced that it had accepted his bid to buy, and he echoed his commitment to the community during a separate meeting with Brewers employees.
"That was music to my ears," said Lynn Sprangers, president of Brewers Charities. "It seems to be a priority of his to be active in the community and support the community in a charitable way.
"He even mentioned Brewers Charities by name, and that was wonderful to me. Everybody is focused on the baseball side because we all want a winning team. But the fact that this guy is not going to be an elusive figure -- that he plans to be active around the community -- is a bonus for us. I can tell you that there is already a buzz in the community."
Sprangers will do everything she can in 2005 to keep the community buzzing.
A veteran television reporter who was brought into the Brewers front office to coordinate the 2002 Major League All-Star Game at Miller Park, Sprangers is now president of <a href=http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mil/community/brewers_charities.jsp target=_blank>Brewers Charities,</a> which pumped $350,000-$400,000 into various groups and events throughout Wisconsin in 2004.
She works alongside Leonard Peace and Patricia Ramirez, from the club's <a href=http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mil/community/brewers_in_the_community.jsp target=_blank>community relations department,</a> which coordinates donations, school and children's hospital visits and other player speaking engagements. In 2004, the team donated items to more than 2,000 organizations.
"That's one of the ways we give back, by supporting benefit auctions and other events throughout the year," Peace said. "It's literally non-stop. We're working on it every day, and people have no idea how many donations we make."
"In a way, we get to play Santa Claus," Sprangers said. "I get to give money to people, and I get to make phone calls and say, 'Guess what? We've selected your event for some funding from Brewers Charities.' It's a wonderful thing to be able to do."
Sprangers, Peace and Ramirez did lots of wonderful things in 2004.
Brewers Charities, with contributions from Klement's, Pepsi, Potowatomi Bingo Casino, St. Michael Hospital and other local businesses, continued to oversee a wide variety of programs including the Selig Scholarship Fund and other academic recognition programs, donations to youth baseball and softball leagues, the annual 5K Sausage Race Run/Walk and other events at Miller Park. The big new event was the Picnic at Miller Park, a revival of an annual event at County Stadium which raised about $60,000 in 2004.
The largest initiates included the Student Achievers Program, which awards nearly 30,000 students with a mention in the newspaper and tickets to a Brewers game, and "Brewers Buddies," a program that allows season ticket holders to turn in unused tickets to the team, which then donates tickets of equal value to various groups.
Even during the winter months, the club remains active. Students from area schools submitted artwork for the team's annual holiday card, and just this week, Brewers manager Ned Yost and former Brewer Larry Hisle teamed with WMCS Radio and delivered Thanksgiving turkeys to area families.
"It really underscores the old adage that it is better to give than to receive," Yost said.
Each January, the community relations arm of the ballclub coordinates the Brewers Winter Tour, a multi-city trek around the state by players and coaches. In a twist from last season, the 2005 Winter Tour will begin with Brewers On Deck, a public event at the Brookfield Square Mall at which Brewers Charities will again host a huge rummage sale.
Sprangers said that she hopes Brewers Charities can up its output to $400,000-$500,000 in 2005, partly with Attanasio's help.
"We want to meet with him and find out what he is really passionate about," Sprangers said. "Then we can create some mechanisms to let people know that our owner is really behind this. Instead of thrusting some things at him, we want to know what he and his family really care about."
Fans involved in organizations that would like to request auction items should fax their request on organization letterhead to (414) 902-4058, or mail it to: Community Relations, Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club, One Brewers Way, Milwaukee, WI 53214. Please send requests at least 30 to 45 days in advance.
"I am here because of this community," said Attanasio, the Milwaukee Brewers' incoming owner. "Because of the tradition here, because of this ballpark, I don't think there is any question about the viability of baseball in Milwaukee."
Attanasio, a Los Angeles-based investor, made that statement during a meeting last week of the Southeast Wisconsin Professional Park District, which approved his bid to buy the team. He made similar statements on Oct. 4, when the Brewers' board of directors announced that it had accepted his bid to buy, and he echoed his commitment to the community during a separate meeting with Brewers employees.
"That was music to my ears," said Lynn Sprangers, president of Brewers Charities. "It seems to be a priority of his to be active in the community and support the community in a charitable way.
"He even mentioned Brewers Charities by name, and that was wonderful to me. Everybody is focused on the baseball side because we all want a winning team. But the fact that this guy is not going to be an elusive figure -- that he plans to be active around the community -- is a bonus for us. I can tell you that there is already a buzz in the community."
Sprangers will do everything she can in 2005 to keep the community buzzing.
A veteran television reporter who was brought into the Brewers front office to coordinate the 2002 Major League All-Star Game at Miller Park, Sprangers is now president of <a href=http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mil/community/brewers_charities.jsp target=_blank>Brewers Charities,</a> which pumped $350,000-$400,000 into various groups and events throughout Wisconsin in 2004.
She works alongside Leonard Peace and Patricia Ramirez, from the club's <a href=http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mil/community/brewers_in_the_community.jsp target=_blank>community relations department,</a> which coordinates donations, school and children's hospital visits and other player speaking engagements. In 2004, the team donated items to more than 2,000 organizations.
"That's one of the ways we give back, by supporting benefit auctions and other events throughout the year," Peace said. "It's literally non-stop. We're working on it every day, and people have no idea how many donations we make."
"In a way, we get to play Santa Claus," Sprangers said. "I get to give money to people, and I get to make phone calls and say, 'Guess what? We've selected your event for some funding from Brewers Charities.' It's a wonderful thing to be able to do."
Sprangers, Peace and Ramirez did lots of wonderful things in 2004.
Brewers Charities, with contributions from Klement's, Pepsi, Potowatomi Bingo Casino, St. Michael Hospital and other local businesses, continued to oversee a wide variety of programs including the Selig Scholarship Fund and other academic recognition programs, donations to youth baseball and softball leagues, the annual 5K Sausage Race Run/Walk and other events at Miller Park. The big new event was the Picnic at Miller Park, a revival of an annual event at County Stadium which raised about $60,000 in 2004.
The largest initiates included the Student Achievers Program, which awards nearly 30,000 students with a mention in the newspaper and tickets to a Brewers game, and "Brewers Buddies," a program that allows season ticket holders to turn in unused tickets to the team, which then donates tickets of equal value to various groups.
Even during the winter months, the club remains active. Students from area schools submitted artwork for the team's annual holiday card, and just this week, Brewers manager Ned Yost and former Brewer Larry Hisle teamed with WMCS Radio and delivered Thanksgiving turkeys to area families.
"It really underscores the old adage that it is better to give than to receive," Yost said.
Each January, the community relations arm of the ballclub coordinates the Brewers Winter Tour, a multi-city trek around the state by players and coaches. In a twist from last season, the 2005 Winter Tour will begin with Brewers On Deck, a public event at the Brookfield Square Mall at which Brewers Charities will again host a huge rummage sale.
Sprangers said that she hopes Brewers Charities can up its output to $400,000-$500,000 in 2005, partly with Attanasio's help.
"We want to meet with him and find out what he is really passionate about," Sprangers said. "Then we can create some mechanisms to let people know that our owner is really behind this. Instead of thrusting some things at him, we want to know what he and his family really care about."
Fans involved in organizations that would like to request auction items should fax their request on organization letterhead to (414) 902-4058, or mail it to: Community Relations, Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club, One Brewers Way, Milwaukee, WI 53214. Please send requests at least 30 to 45 days in advance.