Residents can help United Way California Capital Region and its partner nonprofits score a home run in the annual campaign this year by attending United Way Night at the River Cats on Aug. 23 at Raley Field, 400 Ballpark Drive, West Sacramento. United Way expects 1,000 people for the event that will include a fair where residents can learn more about United Way’s 140 certified local nonprofit partners, a barbecue dinner, keynote speaker and the River Cats game.

Tickets cost $30 for adults and $25 for children ages 10 and under. Residents can also sponsor one of United Way’s Fit Kids participants to attend the event for $30. To purchase tickets, visit http://www.yourlocalunitedway.org. Other sponsorship opportunities are available.

“This campaign benefits 140 nonprofits, so you can imagine how many people will receive help because of community donations,” said Steve Heath, president and CEO, United Way California Capital Region. “This event is a great start to the campaign: Guests will enjoy great food, music, a ballgame and the chance to hear from one man making a difference in the area of childhood obesity.”

The event keynote speaker will be Teddy Herrera who founded Across America for Childhood Obesity. He recently finished a 10-month, 22,000-mile bicycle tour to raise awareness for childhood obesity across the nation. During that time, he gave more than 500 speeches at schools in more than 100 cities. Herrera’s passion for helping youth lead a healthy and active lifestyle began when his father died of a heart attack at age 47. He decided to travel the world, and upon his return in March 2011, he was struck by how American children have a less active lifestyle than other kids around the world. That day he founded his nonprofit and began planning his ride across the nation. He will speak at United Way Night at the River Cats in support of United Way’s Fit Kids project that is working to fight childhood obesity in the community.

United Way is the region’s leading provider of innovative solutions on the community’s most pressing issues, including high school graduation rates, household financial stability and obesity. United Way’s team of nonprofits, businesses, donors and volunteers work together to provide positive, measurable results on these issues through United Way projects: STAR Readers, $en$e-Ability and Fit Kids. Community members can give, volunteer and advocate in support of the causes they care most about, benefiting United Way and hundreds of nonprofits in Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties. United Way is an independent, local affiliate of United Way Worldwide. For more information, visit www.yourlocalunitedway.org.