Oriole Advocates to hold Cardboard to Leather collection Saturday at Camden Yards

On Saturday, Aug. 30, the Oriole Advocates will conduct their 2014 Cardboard to Leather collection at Camden Yards, presented by Legg Mason. The Oriole Advocates created the program in 1992 to provide new and used baseball and softball equipment to underprivileged youth in developing countries. Since the program started, the Oriole Advocates have distributed tons of equipment to youth baseball players throughout the world in places such as Afghanistan, Aruba, Belgrade, Belize, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. Fans are encouraged to bring new or gently used baseball equipment to the Orioles game on Saturday to be used in this year's distribution. Financial donations will also be accepted to help with shipping costs. The Oriole Advocates Charitable Foundation will also conduct a silent auction of sports memorabilia at the game on Saturday, on the lower concourse near Gate E. Fans will have the chance to bid on baseballs, photos, bats and jerseys autographed by current Orioles stars including Chris Davis, Ryan Flaherty, Miguel Gonzalez, J.J. Hardy, Tommy Hunter, Brian Matusz, Buck Showalter, Chris Tillman and Matt Wieters. Funds raised from the auction will be used to support the Cardboard to Leather Programâ„¢, which this year will provide baseball equipment to players in Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, and other Latin and Central American countries. Bids will be accepted from 5:30-8:30 p.m. In a special ceremony prior to the game, a representative from Legg Mason will be joined by Gonzalez to present the Oriole Advocates Charitable Foundation with a $15,000 contribution for the Cardboard to Leather Equipment Collection. In addition, the Baseball Tomorrow Fund will award a grant of $5,000 to the foundation for the purchase of new equipment.