Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2007, $3,000,000)
The C.A.L. Program will direct its resources to develop and expand its youth delinquency prevention program, Play Ball, in under-funded, inner-city areas in US Major and/or Minor League cities, focusing on local community youth leagues. CRSF will also expand its 2007 pilot initiative Badges for Baseball, which successfully engages local police and other law enforcement professionals as coaches and mentors with youth serving organizations to foster positive, productive relationships between youth and police. Using the hook of baseball/softball the C.A.L. Program provides a 'big league' experience for high risk youth in targeted cities across the country and provides assistance to youth-serving organizations to develop and expand programs and teach youth how to make healthy life choices. The Foundation will train 200 youth development professionals to implement Healthy Choices, Healthy Children (HCHC). Over 500 youth will attend CRSF camp; 6,000 youth will participate in HCHC character education; 30,000 youth will be engaged in healthy out of school activities that include team sports and an alternative character education program such as Smart Moves; 200 youth development and/or law enforcement professionals will be trained as HCHC instructors and/or coaches; and 9,500 youth will benefit from 70 Quickball and Equipment grants. NCA/NCF