The Hub City Spartanburgers and Fifth Third Bank announced Monday that the week of May 5–10 at Fifth Third Park has officially been designated Sparkle Week — a new community service tradition in which Spartanburgers players, coaches, and front office staff will spend each morning volunteering alongside a different Upstate nonprofit before that evening’s homestand game against the Wilmington Blue Rocks.
The initiative is driven by Hub City’s naming-rights partnership with Fifth Third Bank. South Carolina and Coastal Georgia Market President David Torris said Fifth Third believes strong communities are built through collective action, and called the initiative a demonstration of what a hometown team and a local bank can accomplish when they unite around service. He said Fifth Third is proud to partner with the Spartanburgers to support organizations working across the Upstate.
Spartanburgers General Manager Tyson Jeffers said the organization sees Sparkle Week as the beginning of an ongoing tradition. He said the team is determined to give back to a community that has given much to the franchise, and expressed hope that Sparkle Week’s impact will continue to grow in the coming years.
The four participating nonprofits and their assigned service days are:
- Habitat for Humanity of Spartanburg — Tuesday, May 5
- Spartanburg Humane Society — Wednesday, May 6
- Spartanburg Soup Kitchen — Thursday, May 7
- Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve — Friday, May 8
Each day, after completing the morning of volunteer work, the featured nonprofit will have an informational table at that evening’s game, the opportunity to throw out a first pitch, and a half-inning segment on the Spartanburgers Radio Network to discuss their organization and its work in the community.
To close out Sparkle Week, the Spartanburgers are hosting a canned food drive on Friday, May 8 before and during the game against Wilmington. All donated items will benefit the Spartanburg Soup Kitchen. Donation stations will be set up outside the left field and right field gates beginning at 5:45 p.m.
Fifth Third Bank’s role extends beyond Sparkle Week. Hub City and Fifth Third Bank also collaborate on a financial literacy program, special kids’ booklets for Education Day, and the Spartanburg Pastimes alternate identity.
The Spartanburgers are the High-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers and the reigning South Atlantic League South Division Champions. The team faces the Wilmington Blue Rocks — the High-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals — during Sparkle Week. Hub City took four of six games against Wilmington during their mid-April road series. Tickets are available at HubCitySpartanburgers.com or by calling 864-594-0701.
