The Astros Foundation is once again teaming up with the Houston Police Foundation to host the 2016 Badges & Bases Run on Saturday, Sept. 17. The 10K/5K and Kids Fun Run will all begin in front of Union Station at Minute Maid Park and will finish inside the ballpark, with proceeds of the charitable event benefitting the two hosting foundations. <o:p>
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Registration for the Badges & Bases H-Town Rundown is now open at www.astros.com/run. Limited registration will be available the day of the race on Texas Avenue outside Minute Maid Park.<o:p>
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Race packets will be available on race day beginning at 6:30 a.m. on Texas Avenue outside Minute Maid Park or in advance at Academy Sports + Outdoors, located at 2404 Southwest Freeway (between Greenbriar/Shepherd and Kirby). Advance race packet pick-up will be available on Thursday, September 15 from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. and Friday, September 16 from 12:00 - 8:00 p.m.<o:p>
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All participants will receive a commemorative T-shirt and the first 2,000 finishers will receive a commemorative race medal. Free parking will be available for all participants and supporters in any of the Astros-controlled lots (A, B and C), located off of Preston Street on the east side of Minute Maid Park.<o:p>
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Badges & Bases is supported by the Houston Police Department, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Minute Maid, Coca-Cola, Occidental Petroleum, Fleet Feet Sports-Houston, Houston Community ToolBank, People's Trust Federal Credit Union, Bondi Band, Power Crunch, Oakley, KIND Snacks, KT Tape, Haynes and Boone, LLP, Shipley's Donuts, the City of Houston and the Houston Marathon Committee. <o:p>
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All participants and supporters will also be invited to a post-race party held at Minute Maid Park. <o:p>
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For more information, please visit www.astros.com/run.<o:p>
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FOOD DRIVE FOR HUNGER ACTION MONTH<o:p>
In collaboration with the Feeding America nationwide network of food banks, the Astros Foundation and the Houston Police Foundation are hosting a canned food drive benefiting the Houston Food Bank. Participants in the Badges & Bases Run are encouraged to bring one non-perishable food item. Collection barrels will be available at convenient drop off points in the designated parking areas so participants can drop off their donations as they park. For a list of most-needed items, please visit www.astros.com/run. <o:p>
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ABOUT THE ASTROS FOUNDATION:<o:p>
The Astros Foundation is the official 501(c)(3) team charity of the Houston Astros. We seek to harness the passion of baseball fans in the Greater Houston area to support our cornerstone charitable programs, including Community Leaders, the Astros Urban Youth Academy and the Astros RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities).<o:p>
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ABOUT THE HOUSTON POLICE FOUNDATION:<o:p>
The mission of the Houston Police Foundation is to foster visible and direct community support for the Houston Police Department by strengthening pride in and connection to the Department's mission of excellence.<o:p>
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The Houston Police Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation formed by local business leaders to support projects of the Houston Police Department. Donations made by individuals and companies fund special programs, officer safety, training, equipment, and new technology -- none of which would be feasible under the City budget. Approximately 96% of HPD's annual budget goes to pay officers and other department personnel.<o:p>
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The role of the Foundation is not to displace funding for basic law enforcement, or to reduce in any way the responsibility of the City of Houston to commit the necessary funding for law enforcement services for its citizens. However, as modern law enforcement tasks continue to become more complex, the Houston Police Department, similar to police departments across the country, has increasing needs to stay current in training, technology and equipment, and communication and partnership efforts with the community.<o:p>
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-ASTROS-<o:p>