Carhartt, America’s premium workwear brand since 1889, today announced it raised $125,400 in support of Helmets to Hardhats, a national nonprofit organization that helps active duty and retired military service members successfully transition back into civilian life by offering them the means to secure a quality career in the building and trade industry.

Carhartt’s “Strikeouts for Vets” campaign enlisted the help of the Carhartt Starting Rotation – which consisted of pitchers Chris Sale, Corey Kluber, Felix Hernandez, Jacob deGrom, and Michael Fulmer – to raise money for the organization. For every strikeout recorded by each of these five pitchers throughout the season, Carhartt donated $100 to Helmets to Hardhats.

“We’re very proud of the Carhartt starting rotation’s incredible performance this season, including two pitchers who set career highs in strikeouts,” said Tony Ambroza, chief brand officer at Carhartt. “Their effort on the field will go a long way in helping our military veterans find quality work in the trades after their careers in the armed forces. The ‘Strikeouts for Vets’ campaign lowers batting averages and the unemployment rate of veterans.”

The Carhartt Starting Rotation teamed up to amass 1,004 strikeouts during the 2017 season, which is more strikeouts recorded than any other starting rotation in baseball. This feat triggered a bonus of an additional $25,000 added to the final donation. The Carhartt Starting Rotation ranked ahead of Cleveland (933 strikeouts) on the list of total strikeouts recorded during the season.

During last year’s inaugural season, the “Strikeouts for Vets” campaign raised $125,500 for Helmets to Hardhats. With that money, the organization helped more than 120 veterans receive training and secure a career in the construction trades.

“Helmets to Hardhats exists to assist military service members and veterans connect to quality careers in construction. To continue this work as a nonprofit, it is crucial to find partners who not only believe in what you are accomplishing, but will enhance and expand that work with financial backing,” said Darrell Roberts, executive director, Helmets to Hardhats. “Having the support of a great American company like Carhartt gives the Helmets to Hardhats program the ability to reach more veterans. That outreach to military service members will help clear away the clutter of dead-end jobs and allows us to connect them to middle-class opportunities. I cannot thank Carhartt and the pitchers who participated in this campaign enough for their unwavering support and belief in our nation’s military veterans and the Helmets to Hardhats program.”

About Helmets to Hardhats
Helmets to Hardhats works closely with over 15 trade unions and 10 associations and corporations to source job openings and training for candidates. Once workers become a member in a building and construction trade or as a management employee and they work hard, they are entitled to a future with high pay, great medical insurance and one of the best pension plans in the nation. To learn more about Helmets to Hardhats, please visit www.helmetstohardhats.org.