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Baseball Tomorrow Fund (BTF)
The Baseball Tomorrow Fund (BTF) is a joint initiative of Major League Baseball and the Players Association. Created in 1999, BTF is designed to promote and enhance the growth of youth baseball and softball throughout the world by funding programs, field construction and renovation projects and equipment purchases. Since 2005, BTF has partnered with MLB clubs, including the Indians, on the BTF/MLB Equipment Day, an initiative to organize equipment collections at Major League ballparks throughout the country.
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Cleveland Indians Youth Baseball League (RBI & Rookie League)
June 12, 2008 - It was a beautiful day for baseball Thursday at Progressive Field. And 1,000 youngsters from Cleveland's inner city took full advantage of the opportunity to be on the same field where big leaguers plays and so many memories of Cleveland baseball have taken place.
The kids ran the bases, played catch, got hitting tips, were taught the values of proper nutrition, met Indians players and coaches and had a full scale baseball game. For many, it was the first time they had been inside a major league stadium. To actually get on the field was even more special and something they'll remember the rest of their lives.
"I didn't know the field was this big," said William Edmonds as he gazed around the ballpark. "It's real big."
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Cleveland Public School Championship Game
Over the past 10 seasons, the Athletic Department of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and the Cleveland Indians shared partnership. During that time frame, Cleveland Indians Charities has donated over $1 million to operate baseball and softball programs throughout Cleveland. Since 2005, CIC has donated over $560,000 saving the entire program when budget cuts threatened to end them. In 2008, CIC will continue to provide the Cleveland Metropolitan School District the necessary funds to assure the continuation of the district's 11 high school baseball and softball programs. Financial assistance will be given to provide uniforms and equipment for the teams. A highlight of this partnership is the Senate League Championship Game held at Progressive Field in which All-stars from both the baseball and softball program are honored.
MLB Pitch Hit and Run
MLB hosted its annual Pitch, Hit, & Run competition at Progressive Field on June 16th. 16 youth baseball players from Northeast Ohio competed in this MLB initative to become the best of the best. Each participant took part in a special pre-game ceremony honoring their skills and efforts. This MLB initiative provides a series of competitive events that will test the ability for kids to pitch, hit, and run. This "Official Youth Skills Competition of Major League Baseball" reaches more than 600,000 boys and girls between the ages of 7 and 14 each year. MLB Pitch, Hit & Run includes more than 3,500 local competitions, providing youth across North America with an integrated competition that recognizes individual excellence in core baseball skills. The top four competitors nationwide from each division advance to the Major League Baseball All-Star Week for the national finals. In 2007, Northeast Ohio sent one of its very own.
Buses for Baseballs
Indians players including Grady Sizemore, C.C. Sabathia, and Josh Barfield hosted the Major League Baseball Players Trust "Buses for Baseballs" event prior to Tuesday's game (June 19th) at Progressive Field. Courtesy of the player's charitable foundation, 50 members from the Boys and Girls Club of Cleveland met the Indians players before attending that evenings game. Players signed autographs, posed for pictures and took part in an interesting Q&A session with the children. "Buses for Baseballs," a program hosted by the Players Trust provides transportation, game tickets and personal greetings from players for underprivileged children.
NEOBCA All-Star Game
Playing at Progressive Field is a dream for many children across Northeast Ohio. The Northeast Ohio Baseball Coaches Association (NEOBCA) All-Star games are an opportunity for the Cleveland Indians to provide this dream. The NEOBCA and Blue Streak Camps administered these games on Wednesday, June 13, 2007. This one-day event featured four all-star games (Cuyahoga County vs. Summit County, Lake vs. Geauga County, Portage vs. Ashtabula and Cuyahoga vs. Lorain) with a portion of the proceeds to benefit Cleveland Indians Charities.
PLAY Clinic with PBATS
(Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society)
This one-day clinic held at Progressive Field on June 25, 2008 was administered by Indians Head Athletic Trainer, Lonnie Soloff and assisted by Indians Indfielder, Jamey Carroll.
PLAY, which stands for
Promoting a
Lifetime of
Activity for
Youth, is a public awareness campaign of the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS), in conjunction with the
Taylor Hooton Foundation and the
Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation. The PLAY Campaign promotes healthy living and decision making among children in America.
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Hooton Foundation
A one-day clinic held at Progressive Field and administered by Tribe Strength and Conditioning Coach Tim Maxey and the Taylor Hooton Foundation, is designed to fight the use of steroids in young athletes through a program called Hoot's Chalk Talks. Baseball and softball players from the Cleveland Baseball Federation RBI Program participate in the Clinic free of charge.