The Cincinnati Reds are committed to utilizing our platform to spotlight resources that help our communities. Each month we will highlight a cause or topic and partners working to benefit our community in that area.
UNITY
The Cincinnati Reds are committed to promoting positive initiatives in our community and for fans throughout Reds Country. Below you will have the opportunity to hear from voices within the Reds organization, find out what initiatives we conduct to promote positive change and inclusiveness, learn more about how you can get involved and make a difference in your community and much more.
Let’s unite so that we can raise awareness and education and change our society together.
REDS COUNTRY CARES
APRIL – REDS BASEBALL WELCOMES ALL
In the month of April, Reds Country Cares is focusing on disability awareness and diversity, equity & inclusion, bringing the message that Reds Baseball welcomes all. Click below to learn how you can get involved.
NEWS AND EVENTS
Colerain Becomes Newest High School to Participate in Reds and PNC “Murals With A Mission” Initiative
On April 19, students from Colerain’s Hope Squad and Art Club unveiled the newest entry in the “Murals With A Mission” powered by PNC program.
“Murals With A Mission” travels to high schools across Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky to develop murals that elevate positive social messages relevant to each school’s student body. Under local artist Brent Billingsley's guidance, members of Colerain’s Hope Squad and Art Club orchestrated a step-by-step creative process that empowered the students to lead the mural project from its inception, through design and painting. The group had the idea to have students painted on the different panels of the mural wearing shirts that spelled out COLERAIN while also using sign language to spell Colerain. They presented the completed mural to the student body during a school-wide assembly. Earlier that day, about 150 Colerain students participated in a custom T-shirt making session as part of the festivities.
Since 2022, Billingsley has worked with student organizations at various schools in the Greater Cincinnati area to build relationships which translates into the artwork. Colerain joined Princeton, Mason, Loveland and Dixie Heights as the fifth school to take part in the program. Madeira and Sycamore are set to reveal their murals in May.
Jackie Robinson Day School Visit
In honor of MLB’s Jackie Robinson Day which officially took place on April 15, when the Reds returned home this weekend three of their players made a special visit to a local school.
On Friday, April 19, Reds players Hunter Greene, Will Benson and Bubba Thompson visited Woodward Career Technical High School to discuss the impact of Jackie’s legacy with some of the students there.
Reds Youth Academy Hosts Annual Joe Morgan HBCU Classic
In continuing the celebration of Jackie Robinson Day earlier in the week, the P&G MLB Cincinnati Reds Youth Academy hosted its third annual Joe Morgan HBCU Classic on April 17. The game featured Kentucky Sate University vs. Wilberforce University. Players from both teams wore authentic replica Negro Leagues jerseys and received custom, limited-edition baseball cleats from Nike. Kentucky State took this year’s Classic with a 12-7 victory.
Among the special guests in attendance was seven-time All-Star and Reds Hall of Famer Dave Parker who addressed the crowd and players before the game. Pregame also featured a ceremonial first pitch from Chuck Harmon Jr., son Chuck Harmon who broke the color barrier for the Reds.
“Today is the 70th anniversary of him becoming the first Black player, April 17, 1954, so it’s a great honor to be out here today,” Harmon Jr. said.
Reds Annual High School Showcase Honors Jackie Robinson
The Cincinnati Reds are joining with all of Major League Baseball to commemorate Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson breaking Baseball’s color barrier on April 15, 1947. On April 13 and 14, the Skyline Chili Reds Futures High School Showcase presented by Cincinnati Children’s Sports Medicine & Orthopaedics celebrated Jackie Robinson Day by hosting eight games featuring Cincinnati Public Schools baseball and softball teams. In honor of Robinson, all participating players wore “42” jerseys provided by Nike.
The Reds will continue celebrating Jackie Robinson all week long in the community and at the ballpark.
Hunter Greene Named Lou Gehrig Memorial Award Finalist
Each year, all MLB teams nominate a player for the Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity’s Lou Gehrig Memorial Award. The award honors a player who best exemplifies the spirit and character of Gehrig, both on and off the field. The award was created to acknowledge an individual player’s outstanding commitment to both his community and philanthropy.
For the second straight year, the Reds nominated Hunter Greene, recently named a finalist for his efforts in 2023. Hunter’s philanthropic journey began in his formative years, ignited by a passion for community service that manifested when he was just six years old. With a promise to his family and himself to extend aid to those in need once he had a platform, Hunter’s dedication to uplifting others remained steadfast throughout his life’s journey. This early vow served as a guiding principle, propelling him forward with a sense of purpose and responsibility.
Reds First MLB Team to Join King Family for Realizing the Dream Initiative
The Cincinnati Reds welcomed Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King to Great American Ball Park for the official announcement of the Reds’ participation in the King family’s recently announced Realizing the Dream initiative.
“We are honored to be here with the Reds organization and in Cincinnati to help create the climate in our nation and world and ultimately realize the dream that my father envisioned — a nation where freedom, justice and equality is real for all humankind,” King III said.
Reds Community Fund celebrates National Girls and Women in Sports Day
The Reds Community Fund punctuated its annual RCF Scholars High School Season Sendoff by celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD).
YOUTH AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
REDS MAKING AN IMPACT WITH RCF SCHOLARS
The Reds Community Fund (RCF) is focused on developing student-athletes into Major League Citizens, which is the objective of its newest program, RCF Scholars.
REDS YOUTH ACADEMY
The P&G MLB Cincinnati Reds Youth Academy is a state-of-the-art facility that supports thousands of kids and coaches in the Greater Cincinnati area. The academy serves as the home for the Cincinnati RBI (Reviving Baseball in the Inner Cities) program, along with year-round baseball and softball clinics and activities for players and educational sessions for coaches. In addition to on-field instruction, academy programs also provide academic tutoring, mentoring and life-building opportunities for the young people who need it most.
COMMUNITY NIGHTS
The Reds are proud to celebrate diversity and inclusion at the ballpark. Our Community Nights are one of the ways we like to honor our city's rich culture and heritage.
MURALS WITH A MISSION
Launched in 2022, “Murals With A Mission” powered by PNC Bank is an initiative that aims to create a mural at high school campuses across Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky that elevates positive social messages relevant to each school’s student body. Local artist Brent Billingsley works with student organizations to develop the message and artwork.
MLB INITIATIVES
The Cincinnati Reds partner with Major League Baseball on a number of programs and initiatives throughout each season that promotes diversity and inclusion.
2024 MLB CALENDAR OF EVENTS
- April 15 – Jackie Robinson Day
- May – Mental Health Awareness
- May 12 – Mother’s Day
- May 17-19 – Armed Forces Weekend (Military Appreciation)
- May 27 – Memorial Day
- June 2 – Lou Gehrig Day (4th Anniversary)
- June 14-16 – PLAY BALL Weekend
- June 16 – Father’s Day
- September 1 – Childhood Cancer Awareness Day
- September 11 – September 11th Remembrance
- September 15 – Roberto Clemente Day
- October 17 – Spirit Day
SOCIAL JUSTICE
The Cincinnati Reds are committed to turning words into action as we all look for ways to promote equality and social justice in our society. We can all come together to drive positive change and make a difference in our communities.
KEEP THE DISCUSSION GOING
While we strive to be a leader in making positive change, we also understand that we do not have all of the answers. Please let us know any feedback you have or suggestions for what we can do better as we look ahead to make a difference.
We also encourage you to keep the conversation going however you can. Get involved by discussing your thoughts and opinions with others on social media. Plan events in your community to bring people of all backgrounds together. It’s only through education, sharing and understanding that we can create true, lasting change.