BOSTON, MA – The Boston Red Sox, in partnership with JetBlue, today distributed over 40,000 blue and yellow City Connect Red Sox hats to Boston Public Schools (BPS) students and staff at 104 K-8 schools across the city. This year’s hat giveaway launched with an event at Mario Umana Academy, a dual-language school in East Boston, earlier this morning that included City of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Red Sox President and CEO Sam Kennedy, Red Sox Partner and Foundation Board Member Linda Henry, 2007 World Series Champion Manny Delcarmen, and BPS Superintendent Mary Skipper.

“Since its start in 2017, Hat Day has become one of our most treasured community traditions at the Red Sox,” said Kennedy. “What began as a way to connect students to the team at the start of each season has grown into a cornerstone of our effort to grow the next generation of Red Sox fans. We are grateful for our partners at JetBlue who continue to support this initiative, and to Mayor Wu and Superintendent Skipper who allow us to make this meaningful connection to tens of thousands of our city’s youngest fans each year.”

“Boston Public Schools are grateful to the Red Sox for their partnership and commitment to building lasting relationships with our students, faculty, and staff through this annual event, as well as their support throughout the year including the Fenway Park Learning Lab and our valedictorian luncheons,” said Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper. “We are excited to see our students sport these hats with pride throughout the spring and summer months.”

The club also filled Umana Academy’s Catie’s Closet with hundreds of articles of Red Sox apparel. Catie’s Closet is a nonprofit providing access to clothing and basic necessities for students to discreetly shop, free of charge. The organization operates at various schools throughout the city and region.