NEWSLETTERS - Rent One "Day at the Diamond" a grand slam

Rent One "Day at the Diamond" a grand slam

With an entire minor league baseball park at their disposal, over 100 vendors from 30 companies were honored at Rent One's annual vendor appreciation event today at Rent One Park in Marion, Illinois.

Rent One Owner Larry Carrico presents a $10,000 check to Ronald McDonald House of St. Louis.

"Day at the Diamond" participants, including vendors and Rent One employees,  divided into 10 teams and competed for points in five events including the "home run derby", "longest throw", "fastest pitch", "accuracy pitch" and "team spirit contest" -- in which teams danced and chanted slogans before a panel of judges.

Vendors will also be treated to a dinner/ awards banquet and silent auction -- the proceeds of which will benefit Ronald McDonald House of St. Louis and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Illinois.

Ronald McDonald house will receive a guaranteed $10,000 from the effort and Big Brothers Big Sisters will receive a guaranteed $500. Additional raised money will benefit various charities throughout the year.

Randy Kalin, a coordinator with Ronald McDonald House said the donation will help build another Ronald McDonald House near St. Johns Hospital in St. Louis. His organization currently operates three such homes in St. Louis which provide low to no cost lodging for 39 families with seriously ill children.

"Rent One has been a strong supporter for the past several years, allowing us to serve more and more families," Kalin said. "And we are very appreciative of their efforts."

Cliff Norman of ALMO -- an electronics and appliance distributor -- said the gesture was greatly appreciated, especially in trying economic times.

Cliff Norman of ALMO Distribution.

"This is great for moral and gives vendors a great opportunity to network in a non-work environment," Norman said. "I don't know of any other rental company that has an event like this and it shows that Rent One is a top notch company from the owner, Larry Carrico, on down. When do you get the chance to play ball in a real stadium?"

Trent Agin, Larry Carrico and Mark Williams.

Rent One owner Carrico said he was pleased with the "Day at the Diamond" turnout and said the setup gave more vendors an opportunity to network and relax that the golf tournament Rent One used to host for vendors in past years.

"The main reason this was set up was to show appreciation to the vendors we do business with and raise some money for charity," Carrico said. "Everybody gets to do a little bit of something here with plenty of time to just relax and visit."

Visit the Day at the Diamond photo gallery.

mevans@rtohq.org