BOSTON, April 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Immediately following the Boston Red Sox Home Opener against the New York Yankees on Friday, April 8th, the entire team will participate in the 2011 Welcome Home Party Presented by Covidien at the House of Blues, located directly across from Fenway Park on Lansdowne Street. Attending the event will be all of the 2011 Red Sox players, coaches, owners and management, with proceeds benefiting the Red Sox Foundation's nonprofit programs for at-risk children.

In this charitable fundraiser, Red Sox players will take the stage to compete in a series of 60-second challenges.  The show is emceed by Emmy award nominated actor Mike O'Malley, who currently stars in the hit TV show Glee! 

In addition to the players, addressing the sold-out crowd at this year's Welcome Home Party will be Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner, Covidien Director of Civic Affairs Teresa Hacunda, Red Sox Foundation Executive Director Meg Vaillancourt and two Boston middle school students in the team charity's award-winning Red Sox Scholars program, Nohely Pinales, 13, of the South End and Terrell Rice, 13, of Mattapan. 

Covidien, a leading global healthcare products company, is the Presenting Sponsor of the 2011 Red Sox Foundation Welcome Home Party. Covidien shares a philanthropic partnership with the team charity on a number of award-winning initiatives, including the Red Sox Scholars, a program serving academically talented, economically disadvantaged students; the Dimock Center in Roxbury, providing health, wellness and social service programs to more than 40,000 low income families with a special focus on communities of color; and the Jimmy Fund at Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Covidien also was a supporter of last year's Welcome Home event, as well as the Run to Home Base benefiting the Red Sox Foundation and MGH Home Base Program for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and their families.

In addition, Covidien volunteers worked with the team charity and Red Sox players on a number of community service projects including overhauling the recreation and physical therapy facilities at the Brockton Veterans Administration Hospital and Dimock's detox center in Roxbury, as well as making care packages for thousands of local troops serving our nation in harm's way. 

In recognition of Covidien's exceptional leadership and support of programs serving the health, educational and social service needs of at- risk children and families, Covidien's logo is emblazoned in a place of honor at Fenway Park -- directly in the center of the iconic Green Monster.    

"Covidien is clearly a charitable champion in our community," said Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner. "We are honored to partner with them at Fenway and in this annual fan-favorite event as together, we seek to open the doors of opportunity for families throughout New England."

"Covidien has a deep commitment to community, and understands the importance of working with others as a team," said Eric Kraus, Senior Vice President, Covidien. "We are proud to continue our support of a championship charity like the Red Sox Foundation to make a difference in our communities."  

Some 1,000 fans are slated to attend the Red Sox Foundation's Welcome Home Party Presented by Covidien. In addition, former Red Sox players-turned MLB broadcasters Kevin Millar of the World Series winning 2004 Boston Red Sox and former first baseman Sean Casey, along with Channel 5 Sports Anchor Mike Lynch, NECN Anchor Steve Aveson, Channel 7 Sports Anchor Mike Ambrosino and WEEI Talk show host Mike Adams have supporting roles in the evening's entertainment.

The Red Sox Foundation has won numerous awards for its innovative programs and impact in the community, including the first-ever Major League Baseball Commissioner's Award for Sports Philanthropy awarded late last year and the Scott Patterson award for "Best Team Charity in Sports," given by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Sports Philanthropy Project.

The Red Sox Foundation refers to team sponsor Covidien as an MVP supporter of the Red Sox Foundation and its programs focused on health, education and neighborhood wellness efforts.

Other supporters of Friday's event include Target Corp., Bank of America, State Street Corporation, The Baupost Group, ANC Sports, Walsh Brothers, Amgen, Suffolk Construction, Ernst & Young and NER Construction.

About the Red Sox Foundation:

The award-winning official team charity of the Boston Red Sox, the Red Sox Foundation is committed to using the power of Red Sox Nation to support community partnerships that will improve the lives of at-risk children and wounded veterans across New England.  A 501c3 nonprofit, the Foundation's efforts are primarily focused on the cornerstone programs run by the team charity  including the Red Sox Scholars, and RBI and Rookie League youth baseball and softball programs,  and support for Dimock Center in Roxbury,  The Jimmy Fund at Dana Farber Cancer Institute and  the new  Red Sox Foundation and MGH Home Base Program for veterans,  returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with combat stress and traumatic brain injury.  Founded and initially funded by Red Sox Principal Owner John Henry, Chairman Tom Werner, President/CEO Larry Lucchino and their partners when the ownership group acquired the team in 2003, the Red Sox Foundation raises most of its funds through special events with Red Sox owners, players and their wives, sponsors and fans. For more information about the Red Sox Foundation, please visit www.redsoxfoundation.org.

About Covidien:

Covidien is a leading global healthcare products company that creates innovative medical solutions for better patient outcomes and delivers value through clinical leadership and excellence. Covidien manufactures, distributes and services a diverse range of industry-leading product lines in three segments: Medical Devices, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies. With 2010 revenue of $10.4 billion, Covidien has approximately 42,000 employees worldwide in more than 60 countries, and its products are sold in over 140 countries. Please visit www.covidien.com to learn more about our business.

SOURCE Red Sox Foundation