Jays Care invests more than $1.5 Million in community baseball diamonds across Canada

April 30th, 2023

As announced on Sportsnet’s Blue Jays Central, Jays Care Foundation, the charitable arm of the Toronto Blue Jays, will make infrastructure investments of more than $1.5 million in 2023 to benefit Canadian children and youth through its Field Of Dreams program.

Fifteen organizations across eight provinces and one territory will receive funding to build, enhance, or refurbish baseball diamonds where children and youth will develop important life skills and learn from positive role models. Over the past 10 years, Jays Care has invested nearly $15 million in 163 Field Of Dreams projects across the country.

The following communities and organizations have been selected as Jays Care’s 2023 Field Of Dreams grant recipients:

  1. Maskwacis, Alberta – Louis Bull Tribe
  2. Peachland, British Columbia – District of Peachland
  3. Dakota Plains, Manitoba – Dakota Plains School
  4. McCreary, Manitoba – McCreary Minor Baseball
  5. Elsipogtog First Nation, New Brunswick – Elsipogtog Sports & Recreation
  6. Harvey, New Brunswick – Harvey Minor Baseball Association
  7. Plaster Rock, New Brunswick – Village of Plaster Rock
  8. Sackville, New Brunswick – Sackville Minor Baseball Association
  9. Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador – Gander Minor Baseball
  10. Halifax, Nova Scotia – BGC Greater Halifax Clubs
  11. Kingston, Ontario – Kingston Thunder Baseball Association
  12. Lappe, Ontario – Lappe & Area Local Services Board
  13. Toronto, Ontario – Ryerson Community School
  14. Lac-Mégantic, Quebec – Association de Baseball Mineur de Lac-Mégantic
  15. Whitehorse, Yukon Territory – Softball Yukon

"Jays Care is honoured to partner with 15 exceptional organizations throughout Canada that are dedicated to creating safe, inclusive, and accessible spaces for young people in their communities. Through the building of these baseball diamonds, youth will have the opportunity to form lasting relationships and a sense of belonging, learn valuable life-skills from positive role models, and grow through the power of sport and play. From Newfoundland and Labrador in the east, to the Yukon in the north, we are excited to continue investing in our Blue Jays Community. Many thanks to all who submitted proposals and congratulations to those who have been selected. We look forward to seeing the positive impact of these projects for years to come." – Robert Witchel, Executive Director, Jays Care Foundation

Jays Care Foundation is grateful for the support of its largest funding partner, Rogers Communications, whose annual donation supports the growth of youth programs like Challenger Baseball, Rookie League, and Girls At Bat – with many kids in supported programs playing on Fields Of Dreams diamonds.