Frank Callen Boys & Girls Clubs Receives $10,000 Badges For Baseball
Grant From Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation
Badges for Baseball, was created in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Justice as a juvenile crime prevention initiative. It's a simple concept: - pair cops and kids together to play and learn. The program works to enhance the relationship between law enforcement and kids in under-served communities across the country using baseball as the hook. Badges for Baseball provides an opportunity to reach kids at an impressionable age and gives them opportunities to see law enforcement officers as mentors, coaches and friends.
The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation partners with America's most successful youth serving organizations such as Boys & Girls Clubs. Each program site receives program materials including Healthy Choices, Healthy Children, baseball, softball, Quickball equipment, training, and ongoing support from Foundation staff and local law enforcement agencies. Partners receive funding from the Foundation to support their staff needs and other costs associated with running Badges for Baseball. Kids learn the value of a healthy lifestyle, the importance of setting goals, and how to achieve these goals such as staying in school, not joining gangs, and staying away from drugs. In addition, children and their families begin to see their local law enforcement as an agent for positive change and safety. Most importantly, law enforcement officers and young people begin to have fun together and develop a mutual respect for each other and their community.