About the Charities- Baseball Tomorrow Fund
In the third and final installment of our three-part series, About the Charities, Operation Level Playing Field will be introducing the Baseball Tomorrow Fund and how its unique mission lines up with that of Op.LPF's. Last week, we looked at FUNDaFIELD, and the week before, the Boys and Girls Club of America (see archives for the articles).
Baseball Tomorrow Fund
The Basebal Tomorrow Fund is a parternship program between Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Player's Association. Its goal is to promote participation in youth baseball or softball programs; through the program, grants are given to a few select proposals each year to build baseball or softball leagues around the world. With the grants, BTF funds programs, fields, coaches, training uniforms, equipment, and other related expenses. In addition, it provides educational support to grant recipients and applicants, in an effort to help organizations become self-sufficient.
Announced during the 1999 World Series, the fund began as a $10 million commitment by MLB and MLBPA; since then, the two sides have agreed to annual commitments nearly doubling their original. Today, BTF awards about 45 grants per year, adding up to a rough total of $1.5 million annually. To date, BTF has awarded over 770 grants totaling more than $26 million to youth organizations in US, Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia. More than 330,000 youth players have benefited from BTF's programs and support.
With its commitment to helping youth baseball and softball prosper around the world, the Baseball Tomorrow Fund truly encapsulates the spirit of Op.LPF's mission through its work. By giving children around the world the opportunity to play baseball, the Baseball Tomorrow Fund is certainly doing its part in leveling the playing field for youths globally.
