The Rays Baseball Foundation, the official charity of the Tampa Bay Rays, awarded a total of $145,000 to three local nonprofit organizations through the club's All-Star Grant.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Suncoast will receive a $25,000 grant. Girls Inc. and Devereux Kids will each receive a $60,000 grant. Representatives for each nonprofit organization accepted checks from the Rays Baseball Foundation at an announcement ceremony held at Tropicana Field.
"The Rays are proud to fund and partner with each of these organizations who do so much to impact the lives of children and families throughout Tampa Bay," said Rays President Matt Silverman. "In concert with the regional growth of the Rays organization, the Rays Baseball Foundation continues to expand its reach, making significant investments throughout our community."
Through grants and other contributions, the Rays Baseball Foundation has invested over 1.2 million dollars in the Tampa Bay region over the past two years.
The Rays Baseball Foundation focuses primarily on youth and education programs in the Tampa Bay region that make a measurable difference in the Tampa Bay community. The Foundation's All-Star Grant selection process started in May with a candidate pool of nearly 40 community nonprofit agencies. The All-Star Grant provides substantial monetary support to help each community organization fulfill their mission. Key contributors to the foundation include Rays owners, sponsors, fans, employees and players. All Rays players currently signed to multi-year contracts contribute to the Rays Baseball Foundation and its programs. That group includes current Rays Carl Crawford, Akinori Iwamura, Evan Longoria, Pat Burrell, Carlos Peņa, Willy Aybar, James Shields and Dan Wheeler. Collectively, these players will contribute more than $1 million over the length of their contracts.
The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Suncoast is to help children reach their potential through professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships with measureable impact. The Rays Baseball Foundation grant will allow them to promote their Sports Buddies program. Sports Buddies is a one to one mentoring program targeting volunteer mentors with an interest in sports. The Rays Baseball Foundation has supported the program with Big Brothers Big Sisters Tampa Bay and Big Brothers Big Sisters Pinellas, Hernando and Citrus.
The mission of Girls Inc. is to inspire girls to be strong, smart and bold. The Rays Baseball Foundation grant will support their All Star Sports Program. This program will run at their Lakeland, Sarasota, and Pinellas sites. Funds will help to hire coaches for after school programs and purchase necessary equipment. The All Star Sports Program will promote team building, fitness training and athletic activities to develop girls' sense of personal power and growth.
Devereux Kids is a prevention program established to involve parents and community residents in training, relationship building and skill development to increase the safety and well being of children, youth and families at the neighborhood level. The Rays Baseball Foundation grant will support the Devereux Kids program in Sulphur Springs (Tampa) and will fund materials and staff for after school and weekend programs aimed at reaching youth in the area.
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