San Manuel Stadium to Host “Cops & Kids” Event

San Manuel Stadium and the Inland Empire 66ers have announced that they will host a “Cops & Kids” softball event on Saturday Aug. 22, made possible by Toyota and Scion of Redlands. The ballpark will welcome youngsters from the Redlands Community Center and the Redlands Boys and Girls Club as they take part in a friendly softball game against local area police from the Redlands Police Department. The kids are the guests of honor at a cook-out and then will be recognized by taking the field with the 66ers when the ball club hosts the High Desert Mavericks that night at 7:05 p.m. “Toyota of Redlands is proud to be part of this event,” said Toyota of Redlands General Manager Paul Smith. “We believe in promoting strong relationships between Police and our youth. Every year Toyota of Redlands donates thousands to events such as the “Shop with a Cop” as well as Toy Drives and the Back to School Jam to help with community youth outreach.” The Redlands Police Department is donating their time in this community outreach effort. While the game is being played, members of the Redlands Community Center and Boys and Girls Club, Redlands PD and the Inland Empire 66ers will have a chance to mingle and meet. The kids will each receive a 66ers hat and an authentic jersey courtesy of Toyota of Redlands. Following the game, the boys and girls will be invited to listen to members of the Redlands PD and the 66ers discuss what it means to work hard, be a good student and citizen as well as ask questions about what it is like to be a police officer or professional baseball player. After the Q and A session, everyone involved, including the families of the youth team, will be welcomed for a post-game barbecue dinner provided by the 66ers. “This is the first time these organizations have partnered to do this type of event and it is very exciting,” said Redlands Police Officer Chris Mead. “Our goal is to reach out to these young students and help them to realize that the decisions they make today can affect the rest of their lives in either a positive or negative way. This event also gives these young students an opportunity to see the positive side to law enforcement and our compassion to be a part of the community we are serving.” “We could not be happier about hosting this event,” 66ers General Manager Joe Hudson said. “This is an amazing project that Toyota of Redlands has put together and tells you what great community partners they are. We can’t thank the Redlands Police Department enough. These folks are volunteering their valuable and infrequent free-time to provide a group of kids a memorable experience and an opportunity they would not have otherwise had. Lastly, we’re excited to show the kids, their families, the Redlands Community Center and Boys and Girls Club how much they mean to our community.” The evening is just getting started for the kids after the cookout. Each member of the team will get to take the field in that night’s professional baseball game and stand with an Inland Empire 66ers player during the national anthem before sprinting off the field to the roar of the crowd. To purchase tickets to the 66ers game on Aug. 22, please visit 66ers.com.