MLB & Stand Up 2 Cancer Announce A New Virtual Initiative

I’m always a proponent of Stand Up 2 Cancer and anything that brings us a step closer to beating this horrid disease, I’m always in favor. MLB which has been a partner with Stand Up 2 Cancer for the last few years has announced a new program in which fans can buy a “virtual” piece of their favorite stadiums, a base, a suite, or a pitcher’s mound and dedicate them to a loved one. Here are details from MLB and SU2C.

DEDICATE A VIRTUAL PIECE OF A FAVORITE BALLPARK AND STAND UP TO CANCER WITH “STAND UP STADIUMS” ON MLB.COM

Fans Can Pay Lasting Tributes To Loved Ones Touched By Cancer And Support Innovative Cancer Research

July 27, 2010 (Los Angeles/New York) – Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), the charitable initiative supporting groundbreaking research aimed at getting new cancer treatments to patients in an accelerated timeframe, and MLB.com, the official Web site of Major League Baseball, announced today a new online program for fans to contribute directly to cancer research while honoring loved ones touched by cancer with customized baseball virtual goods from their favorite ballparks.

“Stand Up to Cancer is thrilled to continue our long-standing partnership with Major League Baseball, through MLB.com and Stand Up Stadiums. It’s a platform that allows baseball fans everywhere to help make real progress against cancer,” says SU2C co-founder Laura Ziskin. “As a person living with cancer, I also know that this tribute space will make a personal difference in the lives of patients, survivors, and all of us in the fight.”

The program, MLB.com Stand Up Stadiums, will be supported at launch by a public service announcement created by MLB.com and SU2C that will be shown on ballpark video boards and available at MLB.com and Club Web sites. This initiative will give fans the opportunity to make a donation to SU2C online at MLB.com/standupstadiums and receive virtual seats, suites, bases and pitcher’s mounds from any of the 30 Major League Baseball ballparks, each with customized branding and personal messages to honor loved ones impacted by cancer.

After choosing their favorite team and ballpark, fans can select the virtual piece of the stadium they’d like to dedicate. The minimum donations will be tiered based on the items available, including $5 per ballpark seat, $100 per suite, $200 per base and $500 per pitcher’s mound. Individual donations at each tier may be increased as desired.

Before completing the donation, fans can enter a dedication name, write a personal commemorative message and upload a digital photograph to customize their virtual items.  Fans will be able to preview their items before ordering in a special team-branded gallery page. The donor will have a unique web page link to display and share the virtual item with friends, families, co-workers and others touched by cancer via e-mail and across social networking platforms.

Major League Baseball was the founding donor to contribute to Stand Up To Cancer in 2008 when Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig pledged the industry’s resources to support this innovative cancer research model.

“Stand Up Stadiums present a compelling online vehicle to honor loved ones and rally fans in the fight against cancer,” said Dinn Mann, executive vice president, content, MLB.com. “The virtual ballparks provide a convenient way to donate, to spread the word interactively, and as an extension of Commissioner Selig’s, and the industry’s, commitment to the cause.”

And MLB Network will join several other networks in airing the 2nd Stand Up 2 Cancer Special on September 10 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.