When fans at Grainger Stadium hear the exciting cry "Going, going, gone!" this season, they might have more to celebrate than a homerun. Anytime a Kinston Indians player hits the Weyerhaeuser billboard, which is just beyond the outfield fence between right and center fields, Weyerhaeuser will contribute $1000 toward flood relief for the eastern North Carolina region.

According to John Purvis, Assistant General Manager with the Indians, Weyerhaeuser approached the team with the idea prior to the season opener. "We think it’s a great way to provide additional flood relief to communities in the region that are still struggling," says Purvis. "Fans come from Lenoir County and a number of adjacent counties like Pitt and Craven that were hard hit by Hurricane Floyd. They come out to have a good time and the Weyerhaeuser homerun challenge gives them something extra to cheer about."

Marc Finlayson, Weyerhaeuser’s NC Communications Manager, says that contributing to regional flood relief in this way is a timely addition to the company’s long-standing sponsorship of the team. "Going to Kinston Indians games is a wonderful part of the summer for folks all around the region, including many Weyerhaeuser employees. We know how important recovery and relief is, because about 90 of our own people were affected by the floods. We hope a lot of Indians players hit the Weyerhaeuser billboard."

In addition to the homerun challenge, Weyerhaeuser will join WCTI-TV 12 of New Bern to sponsor Indians cap night for the kids on July 8th. Indians home games start at 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Sunday games start at 2:00 p.m. during the first half of the season and 6:00 p.m. in the second half. Any Kinston Indian player who meets the Weyerhaeuser homerun challenge will be recognized on the field when the check is presented for flood relief.

Weyerhaeuser Company (NYSE: WY), one of the world’s largest integrated forest products companies, was incorporate in 1900. In 1999, sales were $12.3 billion. It has offices and operations in 13 countries, with customers worldwide. Weyerhaeuser is principally engaged in the growing and harvesting of timber; the manufacture, distribution and sale of forest products; and real estate construction, development and related activities. Weyerhaeuser came to North Carolina in 1957 and now operates 16 facilities in ten communities across the state. The company is one of North Carolina’s largest private landowners, managing over 565,000 acres, primarily for the commercial production of southern yellow pine.

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