Dodgers RBI

1. To increase participation and interest in baseball and softball among under resourced youth with an emphasis on increasing participation amongst African American youth, girls, and youth ages 13-18.

2. To use the sport as an engagement tool in order to increase access to educational resources and increase positive attitudes toward educational opportunities among program participants.

3. To use the sport as an engagement tool in order to increase access to health resources and increase positive attitudes towards exercise and healthy habits among program participants.

4. To provide a safe and fun atmosphere for play while promoting positive character development among program participants.

In 2018, Dodgers RBI aims to serve over 10,000 youth across 68 locations in Los Angeles county. Communities served include, Compton, East Los Angeles, Northeast Los Angeles, Inglewood, Hawthorne, Harbor City, Cudahy, Florence-Firestone, South Los Angeles, Long Beach and Lynwood. Dodgers RBI is part of an international Major League Baseball initiative, which today encompasses more than 200 cities and over 230,000 youth, helping to grow on and off the field.

Youth development through sport: LADF believes in the power of sport to change lives and teach life skills. Each year Dodgers RBI implements a full program measurement and evaluation process. This system is multifaceted and directly informs LADF of best practices and the impact made in communities and in participants' lives. The evaluation system includes: pre- and postseason participant surveys, parent focus groups, coach focus groups, park staff interviews, special event feedback surveys and process evaluation interviews with partner organizations.

73% of players felt supported by the adults, coaches and mentors in their program, building strong systems of SOCIAL SUPPORT

62% of players reported an increase or maximum level of understanding in TEAMWORK

87% of players reported that they find the sport to be FUN and want to continue playing

70% of players reported an increase or maximum level of understanding in SPORTSMANSHIP

74% of players reported an increase or maximum level of SELF-CONFIDENCE

81% of softball and baseball players reported an increase or maximum level of INTEREST in the sport

68% of players reported an increase or maximum level feeling of SAFETY in their local park

As one Dodgers RBI parent explained: "Due to being a part of the Dodgers RBI program, our sons learned about teamwork, sportsmanship and having a good work ethic. In their own words: 'Dodgers RBI has made an impact on us. We have autism, and this is the first time that we have played baseball with a team. It is hard for us to make friends and follow directions, but we are doing our best to be a part of the team. We practice every week and play every game, hoping to do better each time. Every win we make as a team brings a smile to our faces. Our teammates accept us. We're proud to be Dodgers."

Program Resources

• Uniforms for every player: home and away jerseys, pants, socks, hats/visors, and practice t-shirts
• Equipment kits for every team, including gloves, bats, tees, catcher's gear, baseballs and softballs
• Branded polo for each coach
• Live workshops and skills training for coaches
• Grants to offset umpires and field maintenance costs
• Online registration & data collection tool
• Marketing and recruitment support: fliers, banners, email and text messaging
• LADF staff support
• Access to education and health resources for youth and families: college tours, eye screenings/exams/glasses, financial literacy seminars and fitness clinics

Program Elements

• Sports + Recreation
  • Player Development
    • Baseball and softball clinics
    • MLB RBI Regional Tournament
    • Player Development Practices
    • LADF Tips
  • Coach Development
    • Coaches Training
    • Coach of the Year Awards
    • Coach Development Practices
    • Trauma Informed Coaching Workshop
    • LADF Tips
• Education + Literacy
  • Financial Literacy Seminars
  • College and Career Accelerator
    • College Tours
    • College and Career Panels
  • Dodgers Reading Champions Challenge
  • Bilingual Reading Subscription
  • Recycling Education
• Health + Wellness
  •  Eye Screenings, Exams and Glasses
  • Fitness Clinics
  • Nutrition Education
  • Concussion Awareness
  • Hands-Only CPR Training

Special Events

• Dodger Days
• PlayerFest
• MLB Events
• Suite Nights
• First Pitch Opportunities