DAHLONEGA | The University of North Georgia Department of Athletics is planning to host A FIELD OF DREAMS: Make-A-Wish Day on Tuesday, April 7 at Bob Stein Stadium at the UNG Athletic Complex. Royce “Cailen” Rundles, a 10-year old fourth grader at Mount Vernon Elementary in Gainesville, will be the event’s special guest.
“The real winner in this entire initiative is the children that benefit from the Make-A-Wish foundation,” UNG athletic director Lindsay Reeves said. “Seeing our entire campus community embrace such an impactful cause is rewarded by the smiles that are brought to the faces of the guests.”
A FIELD OF DREAMS: Make-A-Wish Day is packed with special events and guest appearances and precedes the UNG baseball team facing West Florida at 6:00 p.m. at Bob Stein Stadium.
The day will kick off with Cailen and his family receiving a police escort to Coleman Field House followed by a press conference announcing his signing to head coach Tom Cantrell‘s team.
Numerous branches of both the local community and UNG campus have pledged their support and will be participating in a pre-game tailgating event, the completion of a suspended baseball game and concludes with an on-field special announcement.
The highlight of the event will take place before the game when North Georgia and West Florida complete a scripted “halted game.” The game was suspended from last season with the score tied at 4-4 with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning with a Nighthawk runner on second base.
Following a special performance of our National Anthem and a presentation by the UNG Boar’s Head Brigade Color Guard, Rundles will also throw out the first pitch.
The University of North Georgia Athletic Department raised over $21,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation during the 2013-14 year, marking the highest total ever from a single institution in the history of the NCAA Division II initiative. UNG has donated the highest amount of money to the Make-A-Wish Foundation in three of the past four years.
Through a joint collaboration between the national Make-A-Wish office and the NCAA, five Division II schools nationally are part of a wish reveal each year. Representatives from the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the NCAA national office in Indianapolis and the Peach Belt Conference will also be on hand, as well as local and regional media outlets.
“Seeing Joseph Tippins as our guest last year was a moving night that the Nighthawk Nation will always remember and we look forward to making A FIELD OF DREAMS: Make-A-Wish Day just as enriching.”
Get all the updates regarding A FIELD OF DREAMS: Make-A-Wish Day at UNGAthletics.com and on the department’s social media accounts using the hashtag #CAILENSWISH.
Tentative Schedule For A FIELD OF DREAMS: Make-A-Wish Day at the University of North Georgia
3:00 p.m. – Cailen receives UNG Police escort to arrival at Coleman Field House
3:15 p.m. – Press Conference announcing Cailen’s signing to the UNG baseball team
3:30 p.m. – Meet & Greet with new teammates
4:00-5:30 p.m. – Campus-wide tailgating event in lower soccer parking lot
5:30 p.m. – Completion of suspended game with UWF
5:45 p.m. – On-field photo opportunity
5:55 p.m. – Cailen throws out first pitch & special recognition ceremony
6:00 p.m. – Special performance of National Anthem and presentation of the Colors