The Peninsula Daily News and its parent company, Sound Publishing Inc., share in a prestigious award given to the Seattle Mariners baseball team by Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig.
The Mariners were named by Selig as the 2014 recipient of the Commissioner’s Award for Philanthropic Excellence.
The Mariners were acknowledged for their “Refuse To Abuse” domestic violence prevention program, a statewide educational initiative, in partnership with the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, to promote healthy relationships and take a public stand against domestic violence. Mariners Care will receive a $10,000 grant from Major League Baseball Charities as part of this recognition.
Sound Publishing and its more than 40 newspapers — including the Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum on the North Olympic Peninsula — partnered with the Mariners to publish advertising in support of the “Refuse To Abuse” campaign last summer.
“The efforts of the Mariners, who encourage fans to take a public stance against domestic violence, are exemplary,” Selig said.
“When we were approached by the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence with an opportunity to support this difficult and serious issue we recognized it as a unique way to use our brand to send the message that domestic violence is not OK,” said Howard Lincoln, Seattle Mariners chair and CEO.
“It is a great honor to be recognized by Commissioner Selig for the work we have done over the years with our partners at the coalition.”
The Seattle Mariners and Mariners Care partner annually with the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence to implement the “Refuse To Abuse” program, which the club launched to bring attention to domestic violence issues. Through the program, the Mariners take a public stance against domestic violence and provide an opportunity for the local community to join this effort, Lincoln said.
Refuse To Abuse features Mariners players as role models, educating the community about available help and promoting respectful relationships to children and teenagers. Refuse To Abuse includes television, radio and print ads that use Mariners players to deliver messages of respect and communicate that there is no excuse for domestic violence.
In 2014, the program expanded to include a partnership with Sound Publishing, the largest community news organization in Washington state, resulting in the promotion of Refuse To Abuse to millions of people.
As the state’s largest community media organization, Sound has a combined print circulation of 637,547 and 2.3 million unique visitors online. Sound employs more than 600 people in 36 locations on the Olympic Peninsula, in Puget Sound region and in Eastern Washington.
Its daily newspapers, in addition to the PDN, include The Daily Herald of Everett and recently acquired Daily World in Aberdeen.
“We were a large contributor to [the Mariners’] success by turning up the volume and increasing their visibility throughout the Northwest this year,” said Gloria G. Fletcher, Sound Publishing president, in an email to employees.
“We are thrilled that the Seattle Mariners’ national leadership in professional sports is being recognized,” said Nan Stoops, executive director of the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence. “We are grateful for the commitment demonstrated throughout the Mariners organization and for the partnership of Craters of the Moon Marketing and Sound Publishing. Together, we are building respect and hope in communities across our state.”
