JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. -- The Appalachian League has announced the Johnson City Doughboys as its award winner for the Patriot Award for the 2022 season. The Patriot Award is awarded to the club that exhibits outstanding support of and engagement with the United States armed forces and veterans, both at the ballpark and in the community.
The Doughboys hosted the Spring Honor Flight of the Appalachian Highlands charity softball game at TVA Credit Union Ballpark at no charge to help raise funds to send local veterans to Washington D.C. at no cost to them. During the season the Doughboys offered a military discount on tickets at the box office, Salute to Heroes Night, and hosted military branches to visit the ballpark to meet fans. They also allowed the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network to set up a booth on the concourse free of charge so they can meet fans and give out information for their program for military veterans. The Doughboys introduced a new weeknight promotion in 2022, U.S. Army Wednesdays. The U.S. Army recruiting office came out to each Wednesday night home game to interact with fans and promote the U.S. Army.
“In appreciation for all who have served and are currently serving, we are honored to show our support to all branches of the military,” said Doughboys general manager Kiva Fuller. “We look forward to growing the outreach for all military services offered in the Johnson City area and beyond at our JC Doughboys 2023 season home games.”
“I am thrilled for our team and front office staff to have won this award,” stated Boyd Sports vice president Jeremy Boler. “Our Johnson City staff has done an exceptional job working with our military veterans in our community. Having a military name like the Doughboys, it is very important to us to build relationships with and be involved with our veterans. We will continue to build off of this momentum and will continue our work with our local military veterans.”
