Cal Ripken Sr Foundation Inc

LED BY FORMER BASEBALL GREATS, CAL RIPKEN, JR. AND BILL RIPKEN, THE CAL RIPKEN SR. FOUNDATION, INC., THROUGH ACTIVE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WITH AMERICA'S MOST SUCCESSFUL YOUTH SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, TEACHES UNDERSERVED CHILDREN FROM AMERICA'S MOST DISTRESSED COMMUNITIES THE IMPORTANCE OF CHOOSING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AND MAKING SMART, PRODUCTIVE DECISIONS IN THEIR YOUNG LIVES. THE FOUNDATION USES SPORTS TO GRAB THE ATTENTION OF THESE UNDERSERVED CHILDREN WHILE TEACHING THEM THAT EMBRACING LIFELONG CHARACTER TRAITS SUCH AS PERSEVERANCE, COMMITMENT, DEVELOPING GOOD NUTRITIONAL HABITS AND GIVING BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITIES WILL EXPOSE THEM TO OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPERIENCES THAT WILL HELP THEM BECOME SUCCESSFUL, CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. THE FOUNDATION NOT ONLY TRAINS LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS TO BE SUCCESSFUL MENTORS TO CHILDREN AND TO IMPLEMENT THE FOUNDATION'S YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, BUT ALSO PROVIDES FUNDING, CHARACTER EDUCATION MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT TO THESE COMMUNITIES.

PROVIDE CASH AND EQUIPMENT FUNDING TO ORGANIZATIONS WORKING WITH UNDERSERVED YOUTH IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE FOUNDATION ALSO ENGAGES LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS IN THESE AND OTHER COMMUNITIES (INCLUDING THE U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE) TO ACT AS MENTORS AND COACHES FOR UNDERSERVED YOUTH AS PART OF THE FOUNDATION'S "BADGES FOR BASEBALL" PROGRAM. THE GOAL IS TO DISPLAY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS AS FRIENDS AND POSITIVE ROLE MODELS, NOT PEOPLE WHO YOUTH ONLY BECOME ENGAGED WITH IN TROUBLED TIMES. IN ADDITION, THROUGH OUR NATIONAL STEM INITIATIVE, WE GIVE YOUTH ACCESS TO ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STEM EDUCATION. IN EACH RIPKEN STEM CENTER PROGRAM, WE PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL STEM PRODUCTS; TECHNOLOGY; TRAINING FOR EDUCATORS/MENTORS; CURRICULUM AND LESSON PLANS, AND FURNITURE AT SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

DESIGN AND FACILITATE THE CREATION OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PARKS, PRIMARILY IN AT-RISK COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY WHICH ARE IN NEED OF A SAFE PLACE FOR CHILDREN TO PLAY AND GROW. THE FOUNDATION PARTNERS WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO BUILD MULTI-PURPOSE, SYNTHETIC SURFACE FACILITIES THAT SERVE AS CLASSROOMS FOR MANY OF THE LESSONS THE FOUNDATION TEACHES THROUGH OUR "BADGES FOR BASEBALL AND "HEALTHY CHOICES, HEALTHY CHILDREN" CHARACTER EDUCATION PROGRAMS. THESE PARKS ARE STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES THAT ARE ATTRACTIVE, SAFE, FUN, EDUCATIONAL AND STIMULATING FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES. EACH FACILITY IS CUSTOMIZED TO MEET THE NEEDS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY FOR THOSE WHO LIVE AND PLAY THERE. DURING 2022, WE WERE ABLE TO IMPACT OVER 1.3 MILLION KIDS WITH THE HELP OF 597 YOUTH PARTNERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.

PROVIDE A "MAJOR LEAGUE-STYLE" OVERNIGHT CAMP EXPERIENCE FOR UNDERSERVED YOUTH FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY AT THE FOUNDATION'S YOUTH BASEBALL FACILITY IN ABERDEEN, MD. FOUNDATION STAFF TEACH BASEBALL THE "RIPKEN WAY" WHILE REINFORCING THE VALUES TAUGHT IN THE "HEALTHY CHOICES, HEALTHY CHILDREN" CURRICULUM. THE YOUTH ALSO PARTICIPATE IN A NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES AT THE OVERNIGHT CAMP LOCATION INCLUDING ROPES COURSES, SWIMMING, BASKETBALL AND CHARACTER-BUILDING GAMES. THE FOUNDATION ALSO CONDUCTS MINI-CAMPS AND CLINICS AT PARTNER SITES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY WHICH ARE SIMILAR TO THE BASEBALL PORTION OF THE OVERNIGHT CAMP IN ABERDEEN.