BakersfieldCondors.com - Programs & Events

The Bakersfield Condors strive to meet the educational, social, health, and cultural needs of our community by offering unique resources and support for local youth-oriented and non-profit organizations that maintain and enhance the quality of life in our community.

If your business or organization is interested in sponsoring one or more of the Bakersfield Condors outstanding community programs, or you would like to schedule an appearance, contact the Community Relations Department at 324-PUCK (7825).

Open House & Family Day
The annual Open House was held on Sunday, Oct. 5. This event marked the first chance to meet the 2008-09 team and get a chance to see them on the ice during a team practice. Fans were also invited to skate with the team following their practice. It was also the first day for season ticket holders to pick up their ticket packages. Admission was free with the donation of two non-perishable food items that were donated to the Bakersfield Homeless Shelter. This year's Open House brought in over 1,800 pounds of canned food, bringing the seven-year total to 17,700 pounds of food - nearly 9 tons!

Charity Golf Tournament
The Condors 10th Annual Invitational Charity Golf Tournament was held at the Links at Rio Bravo Country Club in October and raised $10,000 for Kern Bridges Youth Homes. A total of $41,335 has been raised for local charities in the history of the Condors Charity Golf Tournament.

Ladies Night
More than 60 lady Condors fans participated in a behind-the-scenes tour of the arena and locker rooms, received on-ice instruction from players, and enjoyed dinner with the players, followed by a question-and-answer session. The following night the ladies enjoyed the Condors game from the on-ice suite.

Tip-A-Condor
Held at the Crystal Palace on March 10, the players transformed from skaters to waiters at the annual Tip-A-Condor Charity Dinner. Members of the team were the evening's waiters and entertainers, collecting "tips" that were donated to the Kern County Shrine Club. The evening also featured an auction that included signed jerseys, a vacation package, autographed equipment and other memorabilia. Tip-A-Condor has raised a grand-total of $110,000 in its nine year history.

Jersey Auctions
Since the 1998-99 season, "Jersey Off Our Back" auctions have proven to be a successful way for the Condors to raise funds for non-profit organizations. In its 11th year history, the Bakersfield Condors have raised more than $570,000 in charitable donations through various themed jersey auctions. Jersey auctions raised a total of $77,000 during the 2008-09 season. The money went to Ronald McDonald House Charities, Boys and Girls Clubs of Kern County, Petroleum Shrine Club and the Active 20/30 Club.

Donations
The Condors respond to hundreds of donation requests each year. During the 2008-09 season the Condors donated to more than 200 individual local organizations in the form of merchandise, tickets and monetary donations.

Nightly Jersey Raffle/Organization of the Night
One local non-profit organization receives the special distinction as the Condors Organization of the Night at every Condors home game. As the Organization of the Night, non-profit organizations receive a concourse table from which to promote their services and/or offer information regarding their cause. In addition, raffle tickets are sold for the chance to win a Condors game worn-jersey, for only $1, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Organization of the Night.

Through this program, over $19,000 was divided among participating organizations during the 2008-09 season. Jersey raffles have raised over $111,000 in Condors history.

Condors Fighting Cancer Hockey-Thon
The 5th Annual Fighting Cancer Hockey-Thon drew $41,700 for Links for Life, a local cancer resource center. The expanded 41-hour hockey marathon also included a West Coast All-Star team vs. Condors Alumni Game. This event has raised more than $203,000 to help local women with breast cancer.

Condors "Care-A-Van"
Each summer, the Condors travel to outlying Kern County communities with Goodwill Industries to promote hockey and collect donations. Last summer the Care-A-Van visited Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Frazier Park, Taft, Ridgecrest and Bakersfield with players, mascots and staff. Stops included rotary clubs, boys and girls clubs, parks, schools and restaurants.

Teddy Bear Toss
During the event's 10-year history in Condorstown, over 52,600 stuffed animals have been tossed onto the ice leading to international acclaim as one of the most successful Teddy Bear Tosses in North America. During the 2008-09 season a standing-room only crowed helped bring in 7,614 stuffed animals on Nov. 27, which were distributed to local children through the United Way of Kern County.

Project Warm Families
The Project Warm Families Coat Drive collected 1,300 coats during the 2008-09 season and helped needy families through various Kern County social agencies. The event has collected nearly 19,500 coats in its history.

Blood Drive
The 2008-09 blood drive month was held during the month of March. Anyone that donated blood during March for the Condors Blood Drive received a voucher for $1 admission to the game on Wednesday, March 25th. To boost the blood drive, Condors players, mascots and staff alongside KUZZ 107.9, held special appearances at Houchin Blood Bank throughout the month. The Condors blood drive brought in 930 registered donors during the final week, nearly doubling the Houchin weekly average of 500 donors.

Condors Kids Club
Fans 12 years old and younger can join the coolest club in Condorstown! Membership runs through the whole season and includes an individual ticket to six home games, a Kids Club T-shirt, chances to meet Condors players at an exclusive end of the season party, access to the Flashco Kids Zone and Kids Club gifts - a value of over $165.

Big Buddies Nights
The Condors team up with local businesses to provide tickets for underprivileged children and worthy non-profit organizations through the "Big Buddies" program. On November 29 and April 4, more than 2100 tickets were made available to children who would not otherwise have been able to attend a Condors game. If you would like to donate to the Big Buddies program contact the Condors office at 324-PUCK (7825).

Over $74,000 in tickets has been given away during the Big Buddies five-year life span, thanks to our generous corporate partners.

Raymond's Rascals
Named for Condors Head Coach, Marty Raymond, the Condors set aside 20 tickets to every home game for the United Way, who then distribute those tickets to groups or families that may not otherwise be able to attend a hockey game.

Condors Classroom Champions
Condors Classroom Champions, sponsored by ABC23, SC Architect, Inc. and Kern County Firefighters, is dedicated to excellent attendance levels at school. Students who meet attendance requirements will be rewarded with a ticket to a pre-determined Classroom Champions game night. Attendance criteria will be managed by each individual school and/or teacher.

T.H.I.N.K.
T.H.I.N.K. (Turn Hockey Into New Knowledge), sponsored by Mercy and Memorial Hospitals and Diamond Technologies, is geared towards academic excellence. The purpose of this program is to reward students who reach their scholastic and/or behavioral goals with a ticket to a pre-determined T.H.I.N.K. night game. Each school and/or teacher will be able to set criteria requirements that the students must meet. One T.H.I.N.K. program participant last season was selected to win a brand-new computer, courtesy of Diamond Technologies.

School Field Trip Day
Wednesday, November 5, 2008 was the fourth annual Condors Field Trip Day, with nearly 5,000 students present. Elementary schools across Kern County were invited to bring students out to the Rabobank Arena for a special 10:30 am Condors game. Participants not only enjoyed hockey and lunch, they also received a 16-page educational booklet that ties hockey to education by including all the major subjects in school.

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Condors 2007-08 Awards and Recognition

The Bakersfield Condors were nominated for the 2008 Beautiful Bakersfield Group Humanitarian Award for the ninth consecutive year, for their achievements during the 2007-08 season. The club had another outstanding year in community service donating more than $433,000 in goods, services and monetary donations for local non-profit organizations and schools. The Condors were also voted as a Kern County Favorite in the Bakersfield Californian’s Best of Kern Reader’s Choice Poll. Condors player Mike Hofstrand was awarded with the Real Heroes Award from the Kern Chapter of the American Red Cross.

"It is an honor to support our local community partners in Kern County," Condors President Matthew Riley said. "Together we make an unbeatable team on and off the ice, as our successes continue to grow. We are very proud to serve as a conduit for our tremendous fans to help the less fortunate."

"The ECHL would like to recognize the Bakersfield Condors for their exemplary efforts within the Kern County community," ECHL Commissioner Brian McKenna said. "Through the Condors involvement in local charitable causes they have become an important part of the fabric of the community. The involvement of Condors' players and staff and their donation of time, money and merchandise have set a standard for other ECHL teams to match."

During the Condors 10 year history the organization has contributed nearly $2.9 million dollars to charitable organizations. The Condors would like to give a huge heartfelt thank you to all their fans and supporters because without their continuous dedication and contributions this impact would not be possible.

A New Beginning:
On May 21st the Condors announced the organization’s long-awaited affiliation with the NHL’s 2007 Stanley Cup Champions Anaheim Ducks.