Royals Charities Honors Buck O’Neil

ROYALS CHARITIES DONATES $10,000 TO NEGRO LEAGUES BASEBALL MUSEUM’S
$100-FOR-100 CAMPAIGN
Royals Charities Grants Total More Than $100,000 to Area Organizations in Fall Grant Cycle

KANSAS CITY, MO (November 10, 2011) — Royals Charities, the charitable arm of the Kansas City Royals, is pleased to announce a donation of $10,000 to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in support of the $100-for-100 campaign as part of the Buck O’Neil Centennial Celebration. The NLBM launched the $100-for-100 campaign, which encourages fans to make a donation of $100, with the goal of raising $100,000 for the NLBM and the future Buck O’Neil Education & Research Center.

The late Buck O’Neil, a Kansas City and baseball legend, would be celebrating his 100th birthday on November 13. His stellar baseball career, from the Negro Leagues to the Majors, spanned seven decades and covered the full spectrum— player, manager, scout and barrier-breaking coach — to make him one of the leading authorities on the sport. But it was his tireless and passionate work to build the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM) – along with a charismatic personality and compassionate spirit – that endeared him, to not only Kansas Citians, but a legion of fans worldwide.

In addition to the $100-for-100 campaign, the Buck O’Neil Centennial Celebration is set to include a number of special events as well as community and educational programming, including the special First Watch Proceeds Day and Buck’s Bash. The Royals encourage our fans to support the following events.

• First Watch Proceeds Day: First Watch restaurants have designated Friday, November 11 as “Buck O’Neil Day” and will again donate profits that day from all 10-area locations in memory of Buck O’Neil and support of the NLBM.
• Buck’s Bash: The Centennial Celebration concludes with the annual birthday bash planned for Saturday, November 12 at the NLBM and Gem Theater. The event, which begins at 6:30 p.m., will feature a cocktail party, tribute and concert.

For support the $100-for-100 campaign or to learn more information on the Centennial Celebration, please visit www.royals.com/buck100 orwww.nlbm.com.

Including the $10,000 donation to the NLBM, Royals Charities granted more than $100,000 to 18 area organizations through its fall grant cycle and has donated more than $600,000 to Kansas City area charities in 2011. In total, Royals Charities has donated over $5.2 million to Kansas City area charities since 2001.

Other agencies receiving grants in the 2011 fall cycle include:

The Ali Kemp Educational Foundation
Angel Flight Central
Assistance League of Kansas City
Child Protection Center
Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired
Connections to Success
DeLaSalle Education Center
Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City
Dream Factory
El Centro
Guadalupe Center (Family Support Center)
Immacolata Manor
Kids with Courage
Northland Early Education Center
Ronald McDonald House
Sheffield Place
Sunflower House