By Mary Goldmeer
Mail

Baseball fans can spend a day at the ballpark while supporting survivors of domestic violence during a special fundraiser for New Life Center.

On Saturday, March 22, at 1:10 p.m., the Cincinnati Reds will take on the San Diego Padres at Peoria Sports Complex, with a portion of ticket sales benefiting the Goodyear-based domestic violence shelter.  

Through a partnership with the event platform Fevo, 50% of ticket proceeds purchased through New Life Center’s exclusive link will go directly toward supporting the shelter’s mission. Ticket prices range from $28 to $56, and purchases must be made through fevo-enterprise.com for proceeds to count toward the fundraiser.  

“Every dollar we generate here helps survivors of violence rebuild their lives,” said New Life Center interim CEO Kate Thoene. “Together, we can work toward a society where every individual feels safe, valued and respected.”  

New Life Center, one of the largest domestic violence shelters in Arizona, provides critical support to individuals and families escaping abuse. Based in Goodyear, the nonprofit serves more than 1,000 survivors annually, offering emergency shelter, legal advocacy, financial empowerment programs and children’s services. Funds from the spring training fundraiser will help sustain these programs, ensuring survivors have the resources they need to rebuild their lives.  

The game will feature two National League teams preparing for the regular season. The Reds, Goodyear Ballpark’s home team and one of baseball’s oldest franchises, are in the midst of a rebuild, relying on young talent like shortstop Elly De La Cruz and pitcher Hunter Greene to propel them forward. The Padres are looking to bounce back after a tough divisional series loss in 2024 despite a star-studded roster that includes Fernando Tatis Jr. and Xander Bogaerts.  

The event highlights the Cactus League’s role in not only bringing fans together for baseball but also supporting the community.  

“We’re always talking about not just what happens every spring training, but what happens in the offseason and how these facilities are going to support the communities with signature events, tournaments … that happen all year long,” said Bridget Binsbacher, executive director of the Cactus League.  

Spring training with the Cactus League isn’t just about crowds, revenue and teams, Binsbacher said it’s about the love of sport and service to the community.  

“(The league) continues to grow, and it’s just wonderful to see it flourish in the memories that we’re creating for families. It’s pretty incredible to watch,” Binsbacher said.  

Fans should note that while the ticket platform may list the game as starting at 2:10 p.m., the actual game time is 1:10 p.m., as the system does not adjust for Arizona’s lack of daylight saving time.  

The fundraiser offers a way for the community to contribute to New Life Center’s mission while enjoying one of the last games of the spring training season, which concludes on March 25.  

Visit newlifectr.org for more information.