Ontario Tower Buzzers to honor Jackie the bald eagle with special charity night

The Ontario Tower Buzzers will team with Friends of Big Bear Valley for “Fly High, Jackie Night” on Aug. 23 at ONT Field in Ontario, with half of ticket proceeds from a special offer going to the nonprofit. The tribute comes after Jackie’s death earlier this month and aims to support conservation work tied to the bald eagle made famous by the group’s livestream.

Why it matters: - Jackie’s story connected a local baseball fan base to wildlife conservation and drew global attention to Big Bear Valley. - The event turns that attention into fundraising for Friends of Big Bear Valley, a nonprofit focused on wildlife, habitats and environmental education. - Half of proceeds from tickets sold through the special offer will support the organization in Jackie’s memory.

What happened: - The Ontario Tower Buzzers will host Friends of Big Bear Valley’s “Fly High, Jackie Night” on Sunday, Aug. 23, at ONT Field. - The Tower Buzzers will play the Inland Empire 66ers at 5:05 p.m. - The special night will honor Jackie, the Big Bear bald eagle whose life was followed by viewers around the world. - Tickets for the event are available through the dedicated ticket offer.

The details: - Jackie was believed to have hatched in Big Bear Valley in 2012. - Friends of Big Bear Valley’s live nest cameras made Jackie, her longtime mate Shadow and their eaglets familiar to viewers worldwide. - The nonprofit has run a free public bald eagle nest livestream to educate viewers about bald eagles, Southern California wildlife and the protection of natural habitats. - Jackie died earlier this month after several weeks of intensive care following the discovery that she was grounded near Big Bear Lake. - The loss drew tributes from the global community that had followed Jackie’s life online. - Allan Benevides, general manager of the Ontario Tower Buzzers, said Jackie’s story created an extraordinary connection between people and wildlife and that the team wants fans to celebrate Jackie’s life while supporting the organization that shared her story. - Since installing its first bald eagle nest camera in 2015, Friends of Big Bear Valley has provided a 24-hour livestream that has helped build awareness of bald eagle conservation. - The organization also creates classroom education resources, advocates for sensitive areas and works to preserve habitats that support bald eagles and other wildlife in Big Bear Valley. - The Aug. 23 game will be played at ONT Field, 9375 E. Riverside Drive in Ontario. - The Ontario Tower Buzzers are the Single-A Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers and play home games at ONT Field in Ontario, California. - Team information, schedules and event details are available at www.milb.com/ontario.

Between the lines: - The game gives the team a way to tie a local event to a widely followed conservation story. - Jackie’s popularity shows how livestreamed wildlife content can create long-term public engagement beyond the original habitat. - The donation structure is simple and tied directly to ticket sales, which can make participation easier for fans.

What's next: - Fans can buy tickets through the special event link before the Aug. 23 game. - The Tower Buzzers will continue promoting the event through their social channels and team website. - Friends of Big Bear Valley will receive the donated share of ticket proceeds after the event.