CommunityNew in 2008, Cleveland Indians Charities established a youth baseball and softball $50,000 grant program. With support from Majestic Steel, this Baseball Diamond Improvement Grant will benefit Northeast Ohio teams and leagues in need of new bleachers, backstops, fences and other equipment. The goal of this program is to assist league funding, programming, and renovation of playing fields.
Over the past 10 seasons, the Athletic Department of the Cleveland Municipal School District and the Cleveland Indians shared partnership. During this time frame, Cleveland Indians Charities (CIC) has donated over $1 million to operate baseball and softball programs throughout Cleveland. Over the past two years, CIC has donated over $400,000 saving the entire program when budget cuts threatened to end them. A major highlight of this partnership is the Senate League Championship Game held at Progressive Field. During the game, they honor the All-stars from both the baseball and softball program. Each year, this progressive partnership reaches over 700 high school boys and girls who play softball and baseball in the City of Cleveland.
Cleveland Indians Charities (CIC) and the Cleveland Baseball Federation (CBF) have continued its partnership through 2008 to grow youth baseball and softball in the Cleveland area. CBF is the sole operator of the Cleveland Indians Youth Baseball League, comprised of Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) & Rookie League. Through this partnership, CBF will streamline the RBI and Rookie Program to maximize youth participation, make the best use of grant proceeds, and most importantly, provide youth with a positive team-oriented activity to keep them off the streets and challenge them academically and physically.
Each year, the Cleveland Indians help provide funding for summer baseball and softball programs for Cleveland's youth. Additionally, these children are required to attend educational seminars that stress positive social interaction, health issues, and the importance of staying in school. Over 4,500 boys and girls participate in RBI and Rookie League each year. Please visit www.clevelandbaseballfederation.org for more information about this fabulous organization.
Cleveland Indians Charities (CIC) and the Boys & Girls Club of Cleveland (BGCC) have worked endlessly to positively influence the lives of boys and girls ages 7-19 in the City of Cleveland and East Cleveland. Currently there are seven centers with 2,700 boys and girls currently enrolled in after-school and recreational programs. Over the past 10 years, CIC has provided an annual donation to the general operating fund of the Clubs. CIC intends to continue this long-standing partnership not only financially, but by providing support through player and front office involvement. Recently, Travis and Amy Hafner created a new initiative, Pronk's Peeps, which is geared to address life and self-esteem skills for Cleveland-area 7th graders. The Cleveland Indians take pride in helping B&GCC fulfill their mission to enable all young people, especially those who need it most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible adults. For more information on the Boys and Girls Clubs of Cleveland, visit www.clevekids.org.
The Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Foodbank have a long standing partnership that stem from numerous food drives, food donations and multiple volunteer visits to the Cleveland Foodbank where Indians staff members package, ship and prepare foods for distribution. Annual food drives range from front office drives to morning commuters visiting the Gateway Plaza during Holiday Drives. Food donations include the infamous opening homestand of 2007 that caused four snow-out games and a shift of games from Cleveland to Milwaukee. As bulks of fresh produce and prepared meats were deemed to go unused, the Indians stepped up and donated all goods to the Foodbank.
Through these efforts, the Cleveland Indians assist the Foodbank's mission to alleviate hunger by providing food and support to community organizations that feed the hungry. Last year, the Cleveland Foodbank distributed 19.5 million pounds of food to more than 450 hunger programs in a six-county area. That was enough to provide 15 million meals to hungry men, women and children in Northeast Ohio.
For the past four years, the front office of the Cleveland Indians have participated in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland's Bowl for Kids' Sake fundraiser. The "bowl off" between the Indians and the front office of the Cleveland Browns are tied at 2-2 in their playful rival called the Cleveland Sports Bowl. The entire event, while fun, is done with a purpose. Funds raised support the mentoring programs of Big Brothers Big Sisters and the 1,600 children they serve throughout Cuyahoga County. Their mission is to help children reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships with measurable impact. For more information on how you can help Big Brothers Big Sisters, visit www.bbbs-cleveland.org. The next highly anticipated Bowl-A-Thon between the Indians and Browns Front Office is scheduled for this spring. Stay tuned for results!
