Our partners at T-Mobile were the first and founding partner of the Hometown Nine, contributing a $50,000 donation in 2020 to offset program expenses to support BIPOC youth participating in the program.

With support from T-Mobile, the Hometown Nine supports communities of color by creating access and removing barriers to participation with the goal to foster a diverse pipeline of baseball and softball players.

Seattle Mariners longtime corporate partner KeyBank has signed on to support Hometown Nine, a cornerstone of the team's social justice commitment that helps youth from under-resourced communities continue to play baseball and softball at an elite level.

For every on-field assist by a Mariners player, KeyBank donates $10 to Hometown Nine, up to $15,000.00. An assist is awarded to any fielder who touches a ball before an out is recorded by another player. To date, Mariners players have recorded 532 assists in 2021.

"KeyBank is thrilled to support the Hometown Nine with the Mariners as part of our mission to help our communities thrive," said KeyBank Seattle Market President, Matt Hill. "This program is helping youth maximize their potential and build skills like teamwork and confidence that will contribute to their future success. We are looking forward to the Mariners recording a record numbers of assists this season."

The Seattle Mariners longtime partner Nike has teamed up with Mariners Care to support the Hometown Nine Program. Nike is contributing by providing attire to the Hometown Nine Students and the mentors, along with hosting an annual summit each year at the Nike Headquarters in Beaverton, OR.

This summit will welcome the cohort of Hometown Nine fellows and their mentors, introducing fellows to Nike employees and careers. Speakers will seek to inspire and empower youth as student-athletes and future leaders, preparing them to serve as advocates for the next generation of baseball and softball players.