The Wisconsin Toyota Dealers, Brewers Community Foundation, the Milwaukee Brewers and local media are teaming up to swing for the fences in the "Brewers Community Foundation & Toyota Wiffle Ball Home Run Derby" at Miller Park.
On Tuesday, April 25, at 10:30 a.m., 10 Milwaukee-area media outlets will send their best home run talent to raise money for their favorite charities. A total of $20,000 will go to support local non-profits, courtesy of Wisconsin Toyota Dealers and Brewers Community Foundation.
On the day, 10 media participants will take their position in right field at Miller Park. The players will be paired up to create five teams of two and will attempt their best Ryan Braun impression as they swing for the fences using Wiffle Bats and Balls to raise money for charity.
The derby will be made up as part of two rounds. In the first round, each participant will receive 10 swings with the Wiffle Bat. Every home run that is hit will count as one point, and if a home run hits the Toyota Highlander suspended above the Toyota Territory, the hitter will receive two bonus points for their team. The two top teams with the highest cumulative scores in the first round will move on to the final round. In the final round, each player will have five swings to rack up as many points as possible. If there is a tie, a tiebreaker will be used to determine the winner.
No participant or charity will go home empty handed. Each participant will be guaranteed a $1,000 donation to a non-profit of their choice. The victors of the derby will receive an additional $5,000 for their respective non-profit organizations.
"We’re grateful to Toyota for its support of the Brewers and this fundraising event," said Brewers Chief Operating Officer Rick Schlesinger. "Through the Brewers Community Foundation and Toyota, we look to events like this one to make a difference with the many great charities in our local area and beyond. We also look forward to turning the tables as we have the rare opportunity to evaluate the media’s skills on the diamond."
"Toyota and its dealers have long been committed to that which is near and dear to the hearts of their customers and dealership associates," said Pat Donahue, Vice President of Wilde Toyota. "We see this contest as a fun way of giving back through several deserving charities."
Participants and their charities of choice include the following:
FOX Sports Wisconsin, Bill Schroeder (Fisher House)
WTMJ Radio, Greg Matzek (The Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation)
WTMJ-TV, Elise Menaker (The Alzheimer’s Association)
WDJT-TV, Bill Walsh (Hunger Task Force)
WISN-TV, Ben Wagner (The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee)
WITI-TV, Jessob Reisbeck (The Pat Tillman Foundation)
102.9 The Hog, Mitch (The Wisconsin Humane Society)
WMIL Radio, Scott Dolphin (Kathy's House)
105.7 The Fan, Chuck Freimund (Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee)
540 ESPN Radio. Gabe Neitzel (The Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation)
As a reminder, fans always have the chance to win a brand new 2017 Toyota Highlander when they attend a Brewers game this season. If any member of the Crew hits a home run off the Highlander located in the Toyota Territory in right field, a random fan will win the car.
Over the years, there have been numerous close calls, including a Kirk Niewenhuis blast this year that missed by approximately five feet – but to date the Highlander has never been struck.
