Fenway Park's home plate is used to being crossed by Nike, Reebok, Mizuno and other baseball cleat brands, but on May 23, New Balance will be the featured footwear at the Fens.
Officials from the Red Sox Foundation and from Massachusetts General Hospital announced Monday that New Balance is the presenting sponsor of Run to Home Base — a 9K fundraiser that will have thousands of fans, veterans and active duty servicemen and women cross home plate while at the same time raising funds to support services for local veterans with combat stress disorders and traumatic brain injuries.
"The brave men and women who have served our nation have earned not only our respect, but deserve the best of care when they come home," said Red Sox and Red Sox Foundation chairman Tom Werner. "We are proud to have New Balance, a global brand based right here in Massachusetts, join our team as the Presenting Sponsor of the Run to Home Base. We encourage fans across Red Sox Nation to sign up to run or donate to one of the many veteran's teams running to ensure this fundraising event is a success so our servicemen and women and their families can get the care they need and deserve."
"New Balance is excited to join the Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital in presenting the Run to Home Base," said New Balance president and CEO Rob DeMartini. "We are extremely proud to support this great event in our own backyard that combines running, fund-raising and iconic Fenway Park to help improve the lives of New England servicemen and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan."
"Events like this help raise exposure of the program to veterans and their families, and help us to expand the services we offer to veterans who not only need but deserve our support," says Peter Slavin, MD, president and CEO of Massachusetts General Hospital. "Having New Balance join us in this endeavor will help us to continue to raise awareness for this meaningful program."
