Badges for Baseball Program

The OJJDP FY 09 Earmarks Programs further the Department's mission by providing grants, cooperative agreements, and other assistance authorized by the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, as amended, to organizations identified in the Explanatory Statement Regarding H.R. 1105 (Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009), 155 Cong. Rec. H1653 (daily ed. Feb. 23, 2009) (statement by Rep. Obey, Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations of the House).

Through the Badges for Baseball program, the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation strives to promote healthy choices, helping at-risk youth stay in school, away from negative peer groups, off harmful substances, by providing opportunities for interaction with positive role models. Badges for Baseball combines character education (Healthy Choices, Healthy Children) with a fun, healthy activity (baseball/softball/Quickball) while engaging volunteers and law enforcement representatives as mentors to foster positive relationships between youth and police. By increasing access and providing support to natural mentors (e.g. coaches, youth development staff), the program creates an environment for effective mentoring relationships for at-risk youth. Through this program, CRSF will positively impact an estimated 30 community-based youth serving organizations by providing staff training, technical assistance, and program management. Over 200 youth will attend a CRSF Summer Camp or instructional clinic; 1,500 youth will participate in the Badges for Baseball program. Finally, 3,000 youth will be engaged in healthy, out-of-school activities. NCA/NCF