FOX Sports Ohio’s “Season of Support” Is Underway

As Ohio’s leading regional sports network, FOX Sports Ohio is proud to give back to the community this holiday season. Its charitable effort, FOX SupPORTS Ohio, has launched “Season of Support,” a program in which serves the underprivileged in the Cleveland and Columbus communities through raising awareness, fundraising, and volunteering.

Awareness and Fundraising Campaign for Columbus After-School All-Stars

FOX Sports Ohio has partnered with the Columbus After-School All-Stars to raise awareness and funds for the non-profit organization. In a mission to provide free, quality comprehensive after-school programs that keep children safe and help them succeed in school and in life, Columbus After-School All-Stars provides comprehensive programming to elementary and middle school children. 

FOX Sports Ohio has been working with Columbus After-School All-Stars to boost awareness of their causes through a series of PSA’s and features to run on the network. FOX Sports Ohio’s production crew visited Southmoor Middle School and Heyl Elementary School to gather footage. Columbus Blue Jackets Derek Dorsett, Derick Brassard, and John Moore joined the network’s visit to Heyl Elementary to speak with students about the importance of school and fitness as well as assist with sports clinics. The features shot at the schools will run on FOX Sports Ohio during Blue Jackets Live pregame shows.

Photos taken at the visit to Heyl Elementary School with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The network will also feature a special “Season of Support” Blue Jackets telecast committed to raising awareness for the Columbus After-School All-stars on December 8, when the Jackets play the Nashville Predators at Nationwide Arena at 7pm. The PSA’s and features will run during the pre-game show as well as throughout the game. FOX Sports Ohio will also interview children who benefit from the program.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are also supporters of Columbus After-School All-Stars and recently donated street hockey equipment to be used in three schools in which the program operates: Heyl Elementary School, Southmoor Middle School and Champion Middle School.

Season of Support Collection Drive for Cleveland Foodbank and Toys for Tots

Now through December 31st, employees and guests of FOX Sports Ohio and its neighboring businesses are invited to participate in a collection drive for the Cleveland Foodbank and Toys for Tots. FOX Sports Ohio is currently hosting a collection drive at its Broadview Heights headquarters. Collection boxes are located in the main entrance lobby of the network’s Broadview Heights headquarters as well in as the other building in the South Hills Blvd. Industrial Park. The Cleveland Foodbank is in need of nonperishable food and household items and Toys for Tots collects toys for children in need throughout Greater Cleveland. 

Volunteering at the Domestic Violence and Child Advocacy Center “Twinkle Shop”

FOX Sports Ohio has been a long-time supporter of Cleveland’s Domestic Violence and Child Advocacy Center (DVCAC), and this holiday season provides staff the opportunity to give their time. In mid-December, the DVCAC hosts the “Twinkle Shop,” which provides women and children in need with the chance to shop and give to their families over the holidays. FOX Sports Ohio employees spend the evening supervising children and helping them make holiday crafts and gifts.

While preparing to televise its final H.S. football game of 2011 between Eastlake North and Willoughby South, FOX Sports Ohio learned of Eastlake North's place kicker, Anthony Bagliano. 

FOXSportsOhio.com's story that ran on MSN's main carousel packaged the story with a video and photo gallery less than 24 hours prior to the live game.

*The feature by Sam Amico was the 2nd-highest viewed in the month, drawing more than 30X the audience of a typical front-page article. 

*The photo gallery was the 2nd-most visited in October, earning 8X the page views of the next-highest gallery. 

*FOX Sports Ohio’s high school producer Jeff Platz put together a special video feature  that aired during FOX Sports Ohio’s live telecast of the game as well as on FOXSportsOhio.com. This video had the most hits of any FOX RSN's site during the month of October.

*Despite being a battle of unranked teams, the Thursday streaming (run in parallel with live telecast) registered 3X the viewership of the previous three weeks, and was the 3rd most viewed video stream of the entire season. 

Let the Shootout Showcase Begin

FOX Sports Ohio and the Columbus Blue Jackets are excited to feature youth hockey players from all over Ohio all season long in a “Shootout Showcase,” presented by Scotts Miracle-Gro.

Eleven youth hockey clubs from around the state entered teams to compete in a single elimination shootout tournament. Each team consists of three shooters and one goalie.

 

The following organizations will be represented: The Columbus Chill Youth Hockey Association, Columbus Blue Jackets Girls Hockey, Easton Youth Hockey Association, Newark Ice Hockey Association, Capital Amateur Hockey Association, Springboro Hockey Association, Euclid Youth Hockey Association, Columbus Ice Hockey Club, Butler County Youth Hockey Association, Findlay Amateur Hockey Association and Troy Youth Hockey.

“Doubling the number of teams participating this year truly allows the Blue Jackets and FOX Sports Ohio to showcase the talent from the various youth associations represented from around the entire state,” stated J.D. Kershaw, Vice President of Marketing for the Blue Jackets. “This truly is a great event for the kids that hopefully will be around for years to come.”

During Blue Jackets Live, the network will air one shootout every Saturday Blue Jackets game through Saturday, March 17, 2012, whittling down to the final two teams. The final two teams will compete live at Nationwide Arena on Friday, March 30th, when the Jackets host the Panthers at 7pm. FOX Sports Ohio will televise the final shootout live.

“Everyone at FOX Sports Ohio is particularly proud of the Shootout Showcase,” said FOX Sports Ohio’s Director of Marketing Alex Slemc. “Aside from being an exciting and compelling piece of programming, it is an outstanding way to promote youth hockey while celebrating the hard work and effort these kids and parents put into their sport all year long.”

All of the shootout segments will also be available on http://www.foxsportsohio.com/ and http://www.bluejackets.com/.

Fly Away to Florida!

Nothing beats heading to Florida in the middle of winter to watch the Jackets. FOX Sports Ohio, The Columbus Blue Jackets and Columbia Gas have teamed up to offer the Florida Fly Away Giveaway, a contest where fans have a chance to win a player autographed puck and a trip for two to Florida.

Beginning Thursday, Nov. 3rd, fans who watch the Blue Jackets on FOX Sports Ohio will be given a Florida Fly Away keyword to enter online for the chance to win an autographed puck. Fans can also text the keyword to 37664. Each game in the twelve-game window from Thursday, Nov. 3rd through Tuesday, Nov. 29 is a new chance to win!

One fan will be randomly selected from the twelve nightly qualifiers to win the Florida trip, which includes round-trip airfare from Columbus; accommodations at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort; and tickets to watch the Blue Jackets play the Tampa Bay Lightning on January 24, 2012.