Results tagged ‘ baseball tomorrow fund ’
Baseball Makes its Mark on Earth Day
Earth Day is an opportunity for both individuals and companies to demonstrate their commitment to protecting the environment. The Baseball Tomorrow Fund (BTF), Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Player’s Association serve as great examples of how highly visible sports organizations can also make their mark .
For instance, the BTF collects used equipment via collection drives at Major League Baseball stadiums across the country through one of our major annual initiatives – Equipment Day. The equipment is then donated back to local baseball and softball organizations in need. This serves as a great example of how ‘recycling’ can be more than tossing your empty water bottle in the recycling bin. In fact, recycling can create win-win situations: the people who donate equipment AND the people who receive equipment both benefit from the act of recycling.
In addition to Equipment Day, many MLB teams are going above and beyond to make their mark on Earth Day. The Pirates are leading a trash pick-up on the North Shore prior to their game on Earth Day, while the Mariners are encouraging children to think of ways they can improve the environment via their new kid-friendly mascot, Kid Compost. The Diamondbacks Solar Pavillion will not only provide fans with shade, but it will also generate 75 kilowatts of solar power, and the Red Sox were the first to install solar panels at their field in 2008.
We ask that you think about ways that you can make your own community greener. For example, consider buying reusable water bottles or donating your old glove to charity at the end of the season. Every small step counts!
NRPA to Host Free Online Chat About Baseball Tomorrow Fund
What: An online chat hosted by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) to answer questions related to the BTF application process and evaluation criteria. Chats are online conversations that last 30 to 45 minutes and are live, free, and open to anyone.
Where: Wednesday, April 6 at 2pm EST
Log-in Directions below.
Who: Cathy Bradley, Executive Director of BTF, will answer questions and discuss issues related to the grant process.
We encourage participation by:
- Park and recreation professionals involved in fundraising/development/grant writing serving low-income communities
- Non-profit organizers for youth sports programs and facilities, especially youth baseball/softball, serving low-income communities
- Current or prospective BTF applicants
More: The Baseball Tomorrow Fund (BTF) is designed to promote the growth of youth baseball and softball throughout the world by awarding grants to support field renovation and construction projects, equipment and uniform purchases, coaches training material and other selected program expenses. Established by Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association in 1999, BTF awards approximately $2 million annually to non-profit and tax-exempt organizations in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia.
BTF strongly encourages applicants serving low-income communities, minority players and girls to apply. Information regarding the application process and past grant awards can be found at www.baseballtomorrowfund.com.
Log-In Directions:
- Before the chat begins, visit www.nrpaonlinelearning.org to create your own NRPA Online Account. Set up an email reminder to ensure you join the chat on Wednesday, April 6!
- At the time of the chat, log in and hit the chat tab located across the top of the dashboard.
- During the chat, feel free to submit questions or concerns.
Keys to a Healthy Sports Diet for our Children – National Nutrition Month
Coaching baseball and softball includes both on-the-field and off-the-field instruction that educates our youth on different ways to reach their fullest potential. An often forgotten topic that is vital to both health and athletic performance is nutrition. In recognition of National Nutrition Month, we’ll take a closer look at ways we can educate youth on how to seek out the best nutritional options.
Three key nutrition topics for children that first come to mind are variety, moderation and balance:
1) Variety – no single food or supplement contains all of the vitamins and nutrients that our children need. Eating food from each of the five food groups daily is essential.
2) Moderation – Our children should not eat too much or too little of any one food or nutrient.
3) Balance – Calorie intake and energy expenditure should be balanced to maintain healthy weight and body composition.
If you’d like to learn more about teaching our youth proper nutritional habits, please visit our colleagues at WePlay.com
Making an Impact — Interning with Major League Baseball and the Baseball Tomorrow Fund
As I entered my new office at 245 Park Avenue for the first day of my internship, I paused to consider the opportunity in front of me. I was surrounded by a mix of nostalgic memorabilia that gave a nod to baseball’s glorious past and an enthusiastic group of co-workers who are defining what the future of baseball and softball looks like for our youth. And so went my first reaction to working for the Baseball Tomorrow Fund (BTF), a joint initiative of Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association to promote the growth of youth participation in baseball and softball.
As a second year MBA student at New York University’s Stern school, I’ve had the chance to interact with executives at a number of top class organizations in the sports industry including Nike, the NBA, and the NFL. I can assure you that the philanthropic efforts at each of these companies, and most certainly MLB, impact hundreds of thousands of children around the world every year. The charitable work of each of the companies is doubly important because sports have the unique ability to help our youth develop all important interpersonal skills like teamwork, leadership and fair play in an engaging and fast-paced environment. Only after mastering these skills can an individual be successful both on and off the field.
The opportunity to work with the BTF particularly appealed to me because it combines many of my passions – volunteering, sports and marketing. Some of my past travels have taken me to an orphanage in Jamaica to run a soccer camp and to youth rehabilitation centers in London to connect troubled teenagers and professional athletes. In each case, the influence of sports was able to transcend barriers and deliver a positive impact to those who were in need. The BTF shares this same ethos by funding programs, fields, coaches’ training, and the purchase of uniforms and equipment to encourage and maintain youth participation in the game.
In my three months at MLB I’ll be working on several projects such as planning for 2011 Equipment Day, developing social media strategy and maintaining social media properties, and increasing the effectiveness of our website. I look forward to working with a group of people who shares my passions and to making a positive social impact in a tangible way.
Please take the time to support our cause by joining our Facebook community and by following us on Twitter.
Signing off.
Tony Watkins
Update: BTF Grant Recipient- L.E.A.D.
L.E.A.D., Inc. (Launch, Expose, Advise and Direct, Inc.) is a non-profit organization established by former Major League player, C.J. Stewart, to increase the number of African-Americans playing competitive high school baseball in the inner city of Atlanta and to prepare them to compete at the college level.
The entire 2010 L.E.A.D. Ambassador graduating class received college baseball scholarships for fall 2010. Five of the eight high school seniors who have signed college baseball scholarships will continue playing together at Selma University in Alabama.The Ambassador Elite Exposure Team is a travel/tournament team for inner-city players aimed at providing exposure to college recruiters.
L.E.A.D. provides year-round programs including baseball skill development, educational/leadership development, community service and coaches training through its Legacy League, a new instructional fall league for inner-city players; the Urban Coaching Mentoring Program and the Ambassador Elite Exposure Team.
In 2009, a Baseball Tomorrow Fund grant was given to L.E.A.D. to fund the purchase of equipment, uniforms, travel expenses and selected program expenses to support the availability of quality programs to inner-city players and coaches.
To learn more about L.E.A.D., go to www.lead2legacy.org.
The Orlando After-School All-Stars and the South Florida After School All-Stars.
Learn a little more about two of BTF’s third quarter grant recipients, the Orlando After-School All-Stars and the South Florida After School All-Stars.
After-School All-Stars: Comprehensive after-school programs for at-risk youth.
Orlando After-School All-Stars (Orlando, FL): The local chapter of a national program serves 1,600 children from Orlando middle schools.
The grant will provide funding to increase the number of players in the summer and fall leagues of the organization’s Youth Baseball Development League, a free baseball program to middle school, at-risk children.
South Florida After School All-Stars (Miami, FL): The South Florida After School All-Stars program is the local chapter of a national program that provides year-round, school-based academic, enrichment and health programs to middle school students.
The grant will provide funding for the development of its first organized sports program, which will be a baseball league with partner M-E Baseball, a local recreational youth baseball league.
Northshore Amateur Sports Academy, Inc. (Gary, IN)
Learn a little more about one of BTF’s third quarter grant recipients, the Northshore Amateur Sports Academy, Inc.
Northshore Amateur Sports Academy, Inc. (Gary, IN) was established in 2005 to provide year-round educational and recreational opportunities in the community. The academy provides baseball and softball camps and clinics, an all-sport camp and workshops to more than 800 children.
The grant will provide funding for equipment and player and coaches training material to support a learning and resource center, a groundskeeping academy for youth and coaches training and a college readiness program.
Check out the BTF Website to learn how your organization can apply for a grant!
Baseball Tomorrow Fund 2010 Third Quarter Grant Recipients
BTF Announced the 2010 Third Quarter Grant Recipients
Baseball Tomorrow Fund (BTF) today announced the awarding of third quarter grants totaling more than $215,000 to six communities across the country, including: Gary, Indiana; Gonzales, Louisiana; Miami, Florida; Orlando, Florida; Portland, Maine; and Reidsville, Georgia. The Baseball Tomorrow Fund, a program formed by Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association, promotes the growth of youth baseball and softball throughout the world by awarding grants to support field renovation and construction projects, equipment and uniform purchases, coaches training material and other selected program expenses.
FIELD MAINTENANCE TIP OF THE DAY
The mowing tip for today’s field maintenance tip of the day is the fourth mowing tip of the week!
TIP 4: If the mower makes turns on the skinned areas and warning track, remove any clippings on those areas.
More tips next week and look forward to the four traditional patterns to mow a baseball field!
FIELD MAINTENANCE TIP OF THE DAY
Today’s field maintenance tip is about mowing! Starting this afternoon there will be one tip on mowing each day this week!
Tip 1: It is important to train employees on equipment to reduce the potential for damage and ensure safety.
Check back tomorrow for another mowing tip!
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