SunTrust Park’s Aaron statue will be revealed at a fundraiser next week

The Braves are “eager to unveil” SunTrust Park’s new statue of Hank Aaron next week.

The statue will be revealed March 29 at a fundraiser benefiting the Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation. Tickets for the 7-10 p.m. event can be purchased for $500 per individual and $755 per couple.

Created by Atlanta-based artist Ross Rossin, the statue will be placed in the “Monument Garden” section inside the new stadium.

The Braves commissioned the new Aaron statue early last year after a dispute erupted over where Turner Field’s Aaron statue would be located after the team’s move to Cobb County. The original statue will remain in downtown Atlanta.

Next week’s fundraiser, dubbed “An Evening With Hank Aaron,” also will include the opening of SunTrust Park’s Hank Aaron Terrace, where a cocktail reception will be held following the unveiling of the statue.

Braves radio broadcaster Jim Powell will moderate a conversation with Aaron during the reception, and the legendary Braves superstar will be available for photos with guests.

The Braves announced earlier this year the new statue will capture the moment of impact between bat and ball on Aaron’s 715th home run, which broke Babe Ruth’s long-standing record for career homers April 8, 1974, at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.

“We are eager to unveil Hank Aaron’s new statue, not only because it celebrates such a historic moment in baseball, but also because it honors one of the most significant men in the history of sports,” Braves Chairman and CEO Terry McGuirk said in a statement Monday. “The statue is a vital piece of SunTrust Park, and we are delighted that the public can share in this moment while benefiting a wonderful cause.”

Aaron’s foundation encourages and rewards academic achievement and endows four-year college scholarships.