There’s no better Father’s Day tradition than a Sunday afternoon visit to Regions Field for Birmingham Barons baseball.
Each Father’s Day, dads are invited on the field before the game to play a game of catch with their children and loved ones.
Now the Barons have added another Father’s Day tradition to ensure dads return for years to come: education about free PSA screening, courtesy of the team, Regions Bank and the Mike Slive Foundation. During the Sunday, June 16 game, there will be public service announcements, video board information and walk-away pamphlets detailing the need for the tests with information on how to make appointments.
With a simple blood draw, men over 40 can receive a free prostate specific antigen (PSA test) in a matter of minutes. When it comes to prostate cancer, this is the first step to stop a disease that affects one in eight American men.
The Barons are honored to partner with Regions and the Mike Slive Foundation. Our goal is to be active community partners, and working with both organizations allows us to provide an educational and effective opportunity to help folks in the Birmingham metropolitan area.
Jonathan Nelson, general manager of the minor-league Barons
For the Barons, the night of PSA education kicks off an incredibly important week. The Barons will also salute Negro Leagues greats Saturday night. On Tuesday, they play the rival Montgomery Biscuits in the inaugural MiLB at Rickwood Field, a game that will be televised nationally by the MLB Network. Two days later, the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals square off in the MLB at Rickwood Field, a game televised by the Fox Network to honor the historic Negro Leagues and baseball’s oldest ballpark.
The current-day Barons were the original tenant at Rickwood but shared the venue with the Birmingham Black Barons for decades prior to MLB’s integration. Today, the Barons play in downtown Birmingham, Alabama, at Regions Field, their home since 2013.
The collaboration with the Mike Slive Foundation is a first, but one that’s expected to become an annual Father’s Day tradition.
Anil Chadha, the Controller and head of Corporate Finance at Regions Bank, is a member of the Mike Slive Foundation board. Regions’ relationship with the foundation goes back to the nonprofit’s inception.
“Regions is honored to partner with the Mike Slive Foundation to help raise awareness of prostate cancer and fund cutting-edge research,” Chadha said. “The love of baseball has been shared from father to son for generations. By eradicating prostate cancer, we can ensure that continues for generations to come.”
Paul S. Simmons, another member of the Mike Slive Foundation board and a prostate cancer veteran is scheduled to take the mound before the game.
“I feel incredibly blessed to be standing here, healthy, and able to throw out the first pitch,” Simmons said. “Surviving prostate cancer has taught me the value of resilience and hope, and today, I’m grateful to share this moment. The work and partnership with the Mike Slive Foundation, the Barrons and Regions can help other men like me to fight, treat and, ultimately, eradicate this disease.”