KANSAS CITY, MO – The Kansas City MLB Urban Youth Academy will host its second annual fundraising event, Queens of the Diamond, this Thursday, August 29. The event will feature 30 teams of women leaders from the Kansas City community competing in a softball tournament at the Academy, while enjoying a morning of networking and team-building. The 2019 event is chaired by Allison Murdock of Stinson LLP and Jill McCarthy of the Kansas City Area Development Council. All proceeds from the event will fund girls’ programming at the Academy. Attendees will also have the opportunity to hear from Royals Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Dayton Moore during a morning program. The program will also feature the newly formed Lincoln College Preparatory Academy softball team, which is the first softball program at a Kansas City Public School high school in nearly 40 years.

With limited softball opportunities within the urban core of Kansas City, the Academy offers impactful athletic programs to girls while also helping them develop academically and socially into high-character leaders. The Academy’s programs not only focus on growing the games of softball and baseball, but also educational supplementation, social opportunities and professional development. 

“We are honored that Kansas City’s women leaders have chosen to come together to ensure lasting positive change for the girls in our community,” said Darwin Pennye, Kansas City MLB Urban Youth Academy Executive Director. “We believe in the power of baseball and softball. Instilling a love for this sport and utilizing it to promote positive character development, academic enrichment, and improved health are the primary goals of the Academy. Without the tremendous support of the community through events like Queens of the Diamond, we could not achieve our mission.”

The event will feature teams sponsored by: AdamsGabbert; Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City; C. Duryee Consulting, LLC; Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Executive Women’s Leadership Council; Jackson County; JE Dunn Construction Company; Kansas City Area Development Council; Kansas City Royals; Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences; KPMG LLP; McCownGordon Construction; Metropolitan Community College; Polsinelli PC; Populous; Price Chopper; Royals Wives; Sprint/Samsung; The Planned Approach; and UMB Financial Corporation.

Event sponsors include: Dayton & Marianne Moore; Stinson LLP; EJ’s Urban Eatery; CBIZ; Kansas City Southern; The University of Kansas Health System; CommunityAmerica Credit Union; Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation; KCP&L; Jason Dalen and Kathleen Boyle Dalen; City of Kansas City, MO; Hallier Reed, LLC; Helzberg Helps; JE Dunn Construction Company; Mark One Electric Co., Inc.; Midtown Signs; Pepsi; UnitedHealthcare; and USA Softball of Kansas City.

The event, which will run from 7:30am to 1:30pm, will be closed to public, open only to ticketed attendees and the media.

About the Kansas City MLB Urban Youth Academy:

The Kansas City MLB Urban Youth Academy officially opened in 2018 to serve its mission of empowering Kansas City’s underserved youth through baseball and softball, as well as academic and social opportunities, to be the leaders of tomorrow. Through our programs, we will build a strong foundation for Academy participants, based on work ethic, leadership, responsibility, accountability, and moral principles. This foundation will allow Academy participants to acquire that unwavering strength of purpose that is the keynote of all individual success. For more information, find us on social media at www.facebook.com/KCMLBUrbanYouthAcademy or www.twitter.com/kc_uya or visit www.mlb.com/kcuya.