Kansas State University Athletics
K-State head baseball coach Pete Hughes, entering his sixth season, installed 19 Ways when he came to Manhattan as a community service initiative designed to have a positive impact on the community on 19 different occasions. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Hughes and his team were still able to connect and support the community through signature events such as Shave for the Brave and the ALS Awareness Halloween Game.
Shave for the Brave culminates the program’s fundraising campaign for College Baseball Vs. Cancer to benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. The Wildcats are three-time defending national fundraising champions, raising over $93,000 in that span. Last fall, K-State’s players and coaches raised $38,019 – nearly $10,000 more than any other college baseball program.
“I love it because it tells me I have the right guys in my clubhouse,” Hughes said. “Kids that care about the right things. Kids that aren’t entitled and feel truly privileged to have their health and get to play baseball at a great university. To be proactive and raise that amount of money in back-to-back-back years, speaks volumes.”
This season’s Shave for the Brave is scheduled for Sunday, November 7 following the finale of the annual Fall World Series at Tointon Family Stadium.
Another marquee event is the ALS Awareness Halloween Game, scheduled for Saturday, October 30. The players and coaches dress in costume for a fun, entertaining game of baseball while also raising money for ALS. Fans are encouraged to come in costume and support a worthy cause.
The 19 Ways program is named in honor of his late mother, Alice, whose favorite number was 19. For K-State student-athletes and staff, this is a platform to give back to the Manhattan community that gives such tremendous support throughout the course of the year.
Hughes developed the program while service as head coach at Virginia Tech in 2009 and continued the initiative at Oklahoma. Now, several teams across the country have adopted 19 Ways, including Notre Dame, Northern Illinois, Northeaster and Virginia Tech, among others.
“At Kansas State, our student-athletes will be privileged, not entitled,” Hughes said. “We will be extremely active in our great community and give back to the community that supports us so well. It is an honor to the selfless and charitable life that my mother led to now have her legacy attached to another program and community.”
Hughes encourages members of the community to send suggestions on how the K-State baseball program can help organizations or individuals in the Manhattan area. Please send requests and suggestions to K-State director of baseball operations Ryan Connolly at rconnolly@kstatesports.com.
2022-23
FCA Skills Camp
FCA Skills Camp
Manhattan Catbacker Youth Clinic
Just Tri-It Triathlon
Noak Strong 5K Walk
Big Brothers Big Sisters Home Run Derby
Light on Trunk or Treat
ALS Halloween Game
Shave for the Brave
Cats for Cans
Prepping Floats for Christmas Parade
Katie's Way vs No Stone Unturned Fall World Series
Donate Silent Auction Items to Raise Money for Special Olympics
Reading to a Local Elementary School
Donate Silent Auction Items to Raise Money for Purple Paws
Walk to End Alzheimers
Bat with a Cat
Hand out Thanksgiving Meals to at the Manhattan Senior Center
Reading to Children at Kansas State Center for Child Development
2021-22
Manhattan Just Tri It – Triathlon
Alzheimer’s Association Car Show Awareness Event
Manhattan Catbacker Youth Clinic
Coaches & Friends for the Military Clothing Drive
FCA Baseball Skills Camp
FCA Baseball Skills Camp
FCA Baseball Skills Camp
Cats for Cans
Alzheimer's Walk
ALS Halloween Game
Shave For The Brave
No Stone Unturned vs. Katie's Way Fall World Series
Spooktacular at Sunset Zoo
Visit To OU Children's Hospital
Visit To OU Children's Hospital
Visit To OU Children's Hospital
Turkey Trot
Thanksgiving Dinner with Troops at Fort Riley
Collect and hand out Christmas presents to local families in need
Prepping floats for Christmas parade in downtown Manhattan
Host Silver Keys Boys and Girls Club on game day
Signed baseballs for local youth teams
Volunteer for Big League fun
2020-21
Shave For the Brave
Although COVID kept us from directly connecting with our community, we were still able to go Back-to-Back-to-Back as Vs. Cancer National Champs raising $38,019 for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation as part of our Shave for the Brave campaign! We can’t wait to be back out in the community in full force in the coming year!
2019-20
Manhattan Catbacker Clinic
Speedy PD Parkinson’s 5K
Alzheimer’s Walk
School Fitness Challenge
Cats for Cans
ALS Awareness Halloween Game
Shave for the Brave
Storytime at the Manhattan Library
Cats in the Classroom at Panda Preschool
Manhattan Mayor’s Christmas Parade
SAAC Adopt-A-Family Christmas
Junior League of Flint Hills Adopt-A-Family Christmas
Toys for Manhattan Delivery
2018-19
Free Youth Clinic
K-State, along with the Manhattan Catbackers, put on a free youth baseball clinic on August 25.
Cats 4 Cans
Baseball team members participated in K-State SAAC's Cats 4 Cans collection, benefitting the Flint Hills Bread Basket.
ALS Awareness Halloween Game
The team hosted a Halloween themed, interactive scrimmage at Tointon Family Stadium to raise awareness and funds for ALS.
Shave for the Brave
K-State capped a week of individual fundraising that brought in more than $26,000 for juvenile cancer by shaving their heads at the ballpark.
Fight Like A Woman
K-State coaches wives participated in "Fight Like a Woman Yoga" fundraiser culminating Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Cats in the Classroom
Throughout the month of November, players visited various elementary schools throughout Manhattan spending time reading, playing games and learning in the classroom.
Adopt-A-Family Wrapping Party
The entire team was on hand to wrap collected gifts through K-State SAAC's Adopt-A-Family initiative.
Mayor's Spirit of the Holidays Lighted Parade
Coaches and players helped lineup and park floats for the Mayor's Spirit of the Holidays Lighted Parade through downtown Manhattan.
Children's Hospital Visit
Coach Hughes and Thomas Hughes visited the OU Children’s Hospital & presented the check for the monies raised during the team's Shave for the Brave event.
Special Olympics Track Pratice
Flower Delivery
Silver Key and Boys & Girls Club Visit
Job Mentorship
Youth League Scrimmage
Wamego Schools Career Day with K-State Baseball
Katie’s Way Mental Health Awareness Game
Meadowlark Veterans Center Visit
Manhattan Emergency Shelter Donations
