Strikeouts for Vets

2016 is an even-numbered year and baseball fans know that means it's time for the San Francisco Giants to make a run at winning the World Series (previous SF championships: 2010, 2012, 2014). Workwear company Carhartt will donate $500 to Helmets to Hardhats for each strikeout recorded by Giants ace Madison Bumgarner during the 2016 season.

On Monday 4/25, more than 200 veterans wearing yellow hardhats gathered at AT&T Park in San Francisco to cheer on Bumgarner and the Giants as they defeated the San Diego Padres 5-4. Bumgarner got the win in 6.2 innings pitched and recorded 9 strikeouts for the cause.

Helmets to Hardhats is an organization that connects transitioning veterans to jobs in the building and trade industry. “After serving our country, the last thing our brave soldiers should have to worry about is finding a job. Helmets to Hardhats has successfully placed over 20,000 veterans into quality careers in the past 13 years,” said Darrell Roberts, executive director, Helmets to Hardhats. “It takes nearly $1,000 for one veteran to successfully complete the program so we are very thankful to organizations like Carhartt that help us raise funds. We are looking forward to celebrating Madison’s strikeouts all season long.”

Over his five full seasons in the big leagues, Bumgarner has averaged around 207 strikeouts. If he reaches that plateau again this season, he'll raise over $100,000 for the cause.