The Reds Community Fund is hosting its first-ever Giveathon Week presented by PNC & St. Elizabeth Healthcare, with a goal of raising charitable dollars and awareness. Each day will feature Community Fund events and programs that highlight our unique mission that focuses on youth baseball, softball and education
Thank you to Bally Sports Ohio, PNC and St. Elizabeth Healthcare for their tremendous support this week. And THANK YOU to our incredible fans throughout Reds Country for your generous contributions.
We’ve already sold out of our Telethon gift packages, but we’re encouraging Reds fans to continue to support our efforts.
Click below to view segments produced by Bally Sports Ohio to highlight many of the Reds Community Fund’s efforts to impact kids in Reds Country.
In addition to the Telethon, events are taking place in the community during Giveathon Week to highlight the RCF’s outreach efforts.
Following Tuesday’s successful Telethon, the P&G MLB Cincinnati Reds Youth Academy and RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) Program had two special guests at Wednesday’s showcase. Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto and Reds mascot Gapper both made appearances. Votto, who often volunteers his time in the community, helped coach during the games while Gapper brought encouragement cheering on the players.
“This is my community, there are so many familiar faces and relationships I have built, I am just grateful,” said Votto.
Playing on the two fields were RBI Jr. league baseball players ranging from 13-15 years old and Academy softball players of all ages. With the goal to build confidence, players are working on developing their skills to create opportunity. The Reds recognize their hard work and want to show support, with Gapper and Votto by their side. This showcase event is just one of many opportunities for local kids to benefit from the amazing facilities at the Academy to continue learning the game of baseball.
In a continuation of the Reds Community Fund’s Giveathon week, 12 students were gifted scholarships to attend Reds Baseball Camps at Great American Ball Park Thursday.
The kids, who all play on baseball teams in the greater Cincinnati area that are supported by the Community Fund, had their registration fee waivered courtesy of Bally Sports Ohio and were invited to participate free of charge. The aspiring athletes were given full Reds uniforms and professional instruction on the field of GABP. At the end of the camp, Reds pitcher Graham Ashcraft hosted a special Q&A for the campers and gave them an opportunity to sit in the dugout with him.
“It is so important that we are reaching kids and giving them a taste of Reds baseball at a young age,” said Reds Community Fund director Charley Frank.
Through the scholarships, the Reds and Bally Sports Ohio have brought once in a lifetime experiences to 12 children. Scholarship recipient CJ Wright summed up the experience in one word, “amazing.”
The Reds Community Fund’s first annual Giveathon Week events concluded with a youth pick up-game with Reds coach Jeff Pickler. Pickler and other Reds coaches visited Lemker Field in Northern Kentucky for the game Saturday morning.
“It was fun to get out on a beautiful day and let kids play baseball,” said Picker, “give them more opportunity to get out and just play baseball in an environment where they can be free to play the game the way they want to and the way they love.”
Pickler was joined by Reds coaches Kyle Arnsberg, Alon Leichman, Joe Singley, Sam Neely and Tim LaMonte, as well as local high school coaches and athletic directors in the community. Pickler and all the coaches worked hard to create an environment where the young players could get excited about baseball and make memories. The morning served as a successful wrap up to a successful week. The community came together with the reminder that the Reds will continue to support them as they have through the years.
Since its inception in 2001, the Reds Community Fund (RCF) has used baseball and softball as a vehicle to enrich the lives of youth and to further develop the community. As an independent 501(c)3 non-profit affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, the RCF provides free programming that connects underserved children ages 4-18 to baseball and softball while providing educational and enrichment opportunities to help improve their futures.
The RCF’s programming includes:
