Over the weekend, RMC Owner Jim Scarff and Northern CA National Bank CEO Todd Lewis treated 200 Paradise, CA students to an Oakland A’s Major League Baseball game. The initial vision for the complimentary tickets originated from a conversation between Jim Scarff and his friend Todd Lewis. Jim and Todd both enjoy A’s baseball games, and they wanted to put together a baseball experience for students from the Paradise, CA student body.

Paradise Students

Paradise students greeted by A’s players

Paradise Students

Paradise students find their seats

In November of 2018, all Paradise schools encountered countless damages and a multitude of devastation from the most destructive wildfire in California history known as the Camp Fire. Most students are now displaced from their homes and schools during the rebuilding years. Six months after the loss, RMC and the local community remain dedicated to supporting the students from Paradise.

Paradise students

Paradise students enjoy the view together

After the conception for the baseball excursion was established, RMC’s John Propersi reached out to Lucas Coyle, the Partnership Marketing Coordinator for the Oakland Athletics. Lucas generously offered to set aside 210 complimentary tickets. Jim and Todd coordinated with Annie Stearns, the Athletic Director from the Paradise Unified School District and “Chico Sportsperson of the Year“, to notify, organize, and fill up three commercial buses for transportation.

Once the students arrived to the massive Major League Baseball stadium, they were greeted by the Athletic’s Lucas Coyle and Andy Szabo. The hospitality shown by these two toward the students and adults from Paradise was second to none. Also, 50 of the students were invited on the field to greet some of the Oakland Athletic’s players. They were amazed that their complimentary seats along the third base and left field line had a wonderful view of the game. They also had a great view of the pitcher’s mound where Annie Stearns was given the honor of throwing out the game’s first pitch. Enjoying the game and friendship, Jim and Todd sat amongst the students. They enjoyed seeing the displaced classmates, staff and parents enjoying a baseball game together as well.

Oakland Stadium RMC Baseballs