The Twins Community Fund partnered with Pitch In For Baseball to donate baseball and softball equipment to Minneapolis and St. Paul middle and high schools in an event at Target Field on March 15. Hosted by former Twins All-Star shortstop and Pitch In For Baseball chairman Roy Smalley, the event leverages a donation from the Twins Community Fund and equipment manufacturer relationships to provide $110,000 worth of new equipment.
"Through a generous donation from the Minnesota Twins, we have been able to supply junior high school and high school teams here in the Twin Cities area with much needed equipment to get more and more kids playing ball on baseball fields all around Twins Territory," said Smalley.
With this partnership, opportunities for involvement among young people, particularly those without the correct resources, are created within the Twins community.
 "The Minnesota Twins organization is thrilled to collaborate with Pitch in for Baseball in providing much needed equipment to Twin Cities schools," Twins President & CEO Dave St. Peter said. "These programs and kids are deserved of incremental opportunities to play our game and develop their skills. This equipment helps make that possible."
Players and coaches alike identify this unique opportunity as a critical initiative to get more players on the field and experience the game of baseball and softball.
 "A lot of kids at our school don't have the gear," said Lynn Holty, a junior baseball player from Minneapolis Roosevelt High School. "It's nice to have equipment that more can use. "
"We could not run our program without getting donations like this - so this is huge," said Greg Burn, Minneapolis Washburn High School softball coach.
The 2018 season recipients include:
Baseball:
Hazel Park Preparatory Academy
Minneapolis Edison High school
South High School
Minneapolis North High School
American Indian Magnet School
Harding Senior High School
St. Paul Johnson High School
Washington Technology Magnet School
Parkway Middle School
Minneapolis Roosevelt High School
Humboldt High School
Cristo Rey Jesuit
Farnsworth Aerospace 5-8
Softball:
American Indian Magnet School
Southwest High School
Harding Senior High School
Humboldt High School
Battle Creek Middle School
Farnsworth Aerospace 5-8
Minneapolis Patrick Henry
Minneapolis Washburn High School
Minneapolis North Community High School
St. Paul Johnson High School
Minneapolis Edison High School
Washington Technology Magnet School
St. Paul Central Softball
Minneapolis Public Schools Adapted Athletics Physically Impaired Softball Program
Pitch In For Baseball (PIFB) is a non-profit founded in 2005 based out of Harleysville, PA. Their mission, along with their sisterbrand Pitch In For Softball (PIFS) is to redistribute new and gently used equipment donations to teams, leagues and schools across the United States. Through this initiative, they hope to break the barrier that prevents boys and girls from getting out on the field and grow their love for baseball and softball.
 "We get to do something every day, which is help more kids enjoy something (baseball and softball) that is positive for them," said Pitch In For Baseball CEO, David Rhode. "It helps them do something really good for themselves."
Through collaborations and donation events, the Twins Community Fund continues to support communities throughout Twins Territory by providing resources to children and families in an effort to promote healthy development through an association with baseball, softball and the Minnesota Twins.