Dallas Cowboys aid Salvation Army fundraising in North Texas with Reliant Home Run Derby

After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Dallas Cowboys aimed for the fences in early June with the Reliant Home Run Derby benefiting The Salvation Army. Thousands of fans cheered on the Cowboys at Riders Field in Frisco, Texas, and the ninth annual charity competition resulted in Reliant donating $135,000 to 22 nonprofit organizations, the largest amount in the event's history.

"The Cowboys' show-stopping performance helped make the return of the Reliant Home Run Derby even more special, and it's amazing to reflect on the program's collective impact as it reaches more than $715,000 in nonprofit donations," said Andrea Russell, vice president, Reliant. "Now in our ninth year, we are thrilled to continue this fun tradition and give back to nonprofits that positively impact our North Texas communities."

The Reliant Home Run Derby, which was free and open to the public, gave fans a chance to see some of their favorite players in action, raising a total of $81,000 for The Salvation Army. Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch was named the 2022 Reliant Home Run Derby champion. The full Dallas Cowboys' lineup included Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, CeeDee Lamb, Micah Parsons, Anthony Brown, Trevon Diggs, and Zack Martin.

"A huge thanks to Reliant and Cowboys Nation for showing up in a big way this year, making the experience both rewarding and fun for our players to give back while interacting with fans," said Charlotte Jones, executive vice president and chief brand officer, Dallas Cowboys. "Our players love a little friendly competition, especially for a good cause, and look forward to this event every year."

In addition to the Cowboys trying their hand on the diamond, Reliant also invited local media personalities to swap their mics for baseball bats in the sixth annual Reliant Home Run Derby Media League. The event raised nearly $44,000 for nonprofits of their choice, with Rick Rogers of Star Local Media playing on behalf of The Salvation Army.

Nearly 50 local students involved with The Salvation Army attended and one deserving youth from the Gene and Jerry Jones Family Youth Education Town earned the opportunity to throw out the first pitch to a Cowboys player. Rowdy, the Cowboys' mascot, was joined by Reliant's mascot Hugo to create a lively atmosphere. The national anthem was performed by The Salvation Army Band, while the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and The Salvation Army's mascot, Captain Kettle, also joined the fun.

"The Salvation Army of North Texas is incredibly grateful for the generosity and partnership of Reliant and the Dallas Cowboys," said Major Todd Hawks, area commander for The Salvation Army of North Texas. "The Home Run Derby is such a fun way to engage the community to support our mission. The funds received will be put to immediate use serving those experiencing poverty, addiction, and homelessness in North Texas."