Angels set standard for community involvement

Community involvement has always been a focal point for the Cedar Rapids Kernels - equally as important as having a competitive team on the baseball field.

In addition to providing affordable family entertainment, the Single-A baseball club promotes reading to elementary school students, holds an annual 5k race for charity, and awards a memorial scholarship on behalf of former pitcher Nick Adenhart.

More than $9 million was donated to charitable groups by Minor League Baseball teams and leagues last year alone, according to Minor League Baseball's official website. But the Kernels commitment to the community goes far beyond just simply being a Minor League baseball club.

The organization's emphasis on community involvement is a testament to the example set by their Major League affiliate - the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

"It's really important to our parent club, the Angels, that they pass down to our affiliates the importance of giving back to the community we play in,” Kernels Manager Brent Del Chiaro said.

Cedar Rapids' affiliate since 1993, the Angels are dedicated to being involved both in the community and through several philanthropic organizations.

One of the team's most notable charitable endeavors is the Angels Baseball Foundation. Founded in 2004, the foundation awards grants to various community organizations, and annually offers $4,000 college scholarships to five underprivileged and financially disadvantaged students.

Professional baseball has been a staple in Cedar Rapids for more than a century, and the Kernels organization has made it their mission to give back to the city that has treated the team so well over the years.

“It's important for us as a team to stay involved in the community so people can see that baseball is not our only job,” Del Chiaro said. “Serving the community is vital to the organization as a whole."