Baseball Tomorrow Fund recognized before Game 2

BOSTON -- The Baseball Tomorrow Fund was recognized during a special ceremony before Game 2 of the World Series at Fenway Park on Thursday night, with Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association presenting the organization with a $2.5 million donation toward the worldwide growth of youth baseball and softball.

BTF is a joint initiative between the MLBPA and MLB designed to promote that growth by awarding grants to support field renovation and construction projects, equipment and uniform purchases, coach-training material and other selected program expenses.

"Tonight's announcement from MLB and the MLBPA symbolizes our solid commitment to helping communities and organizations provide quality baseball and softball to children around the world," said BTF executive director Kathy Bradley. "For 14 years, it has been our great pleasure to award grants that have benefited thousands of young players. We look forward to many more years of the same."

Since its formation in 1999, BTF has awarded more than 700 grants totaling $24 million to non-profit and tax-exempt organizations in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa and Asia, serving more than 330,000 youths.

MLB chief operating officer Rob Manfred and MLBPA deputy executive director Tony Clark presented the check to BTF. Accepting for the fund were two members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the official MLB charity and the organization for which Game 2 was partly dedicated.