HOUSTON -- The Astros' Community Leaders program on Monday was named a 2016 Mayor's Proud Partner Award winner at the 32nd Mayor's Proud Partners Luncheon, hosted by Keep Houston Beautiful. Twila Carter, the executive director of the Astros Foundation, received the award on behalf of Community Leaders.
The Community Leaders program, developed by Astros owner Jim Crane, provides newly renovated baseball and softball fields to Houston-area children. The concept of the program is to provide young athletes with renovated fields to play around the area.
Since its inception, the Community Leaders program has renovated 20 fields in eight parks, and it currently serves more than 2,500 children. In addition to year-round maintenance, additional features include player and coaching clinics, complimentary tickets to Astros games, free equipment and uniforms, and special visits from Houston players and front-office personnel.
Keep Houston Beautiful is the city's leading organization in beautification, litter reduction and recycling education. Originally known as the Houston Clean City Commission, Keep Houston Beautiful was created in 1979 and charged with the task of creating a clean and beautiful city.