Rays Announce New Promotion With "Remember the Miners" - Beckley, Bluefield & Lewisburg News, Weather, Sports

The following is a press release from the Princeton Rays:

The Princeton Rays home game at Hunnicutt Field on July 14 versus the Burlington Royals has been designated as the team's "2012 Coal Heritage Game."  It goes far beyond that as the game will serve as a fundraiser for the "Remember The Miners" organization.

Specially designed black and gray coal-colored Princeton Rays' ballcaps to be worn by the entire team for this game only will be silent-auctioned during the game with the players themselves awarding the game-worn caps to (and autographing them for) winning bidders on the field following the game's conclusion.  All proceeds from the cap auction sale will be donated to "Remember The Miners."

"We are very excited for this game to get here and proud to be partnering with Remember The Miners.  They are doing such good work for our state as well as the entire coal mining industry," said P-Rays' General Manager Jim Holland while announcing the details on May 15. He added a thank you to The Shoppes of Willow Crossing of Princeton for providing the game caps to make this event happen and also to Fairchild International, who will be the primary corporate sponsor at the game.

"We're honored to be part of the 2012 Coal Heritage Game and are very grateful to the Princeton Rays for their partnership as we work together to pay tribute to the men and women of West Virginia's coal industry," said Jason Parsons, President of Remember The Miners.

Remember The Miners was created nearly two years ago with the goal of creating public awareness for the men and women of our nation's coal mining industry.  In the beginning, the organization's focus centered around the support of the families of the 29 miners that perished in the Upper Big Branch mine explosion in Montcoal, WV in April, 2010.

Along with their Honorary Chairman, West Virginia University head basketball coach Bob Huggins, Remember The Miners initially raised $100,000 to assist the surviving family members of those lost at Upper Big Branch.

Since then, Remember The Miners has grown into an industry-wide campaign to remind people across the coalfields, as well as across the country to always remember the miners for the important and essential work they do for America.  The organization also is building an ongoing "Scholars Program" to award scholarships to children of coal miners that want to pursue a college education.

As part of the July 14 game, a procedure is being designed for those who cannot attend to be able to place bids through the end of the seventh inning, when all bidding will be declared as over.  It is recommended that persons interested in these types of bids contact the Princeton Rays in the days just prior to the event for more details either by e-mail at princetonrays@frontier.com or by telephone at (304) 487-2000.

Those interested in learning more about Remember The Miners are encouraged to visit the organization's website at www.remembertheminers.org.  Remember The Miners updates are also available on both Facebook and Twitter.