Gloves for All

A RETURN TO NORMALCY. As world leaders work to safely reopen their communities, youth sports around the world have begun to also return and the demand for equipment has never been greater.  And Pitch In For Baseball & Softball (PIFBS) has been busier than ever. Financial hardships caused by the pandemic left many leagues unable to purchase the equipment they need to create a safe and fun environment for kids. PIFBS focuses on serving underprivileged communities, which have unfortunately been disproportionately affected by this pandemic. Last year, many leagues had to cancel their season entirely, so they were forced to refund much of the fees collected from participants. Even if they were able to have a season, many families still opted to not have their children play for safety reasons. As leagues started their spring 2021 seasons, in an effort to include as many children possible, leagues waived registration fees as families struggled due to the economic impact of the pandemic.  

The unfortunate reality is, for many leagues, the loss of revenue did not stop there. Fundraising event cancellations, concession stand closures, and tournament cancellations left leagues around the world in terribly difficult financial situations. To add even more to these issues, with the CDC’s guidelines calling for minimal sharing of equipment, many leagues currently need more equipment than ever before to ensure the safety of players. With the lack of funding and increased need for equipment, leagues are facing immense challenges to continue providing baseball and softball for their local youth. PIFBS however, has acted swiftly this Spring to help minimize the effects of the pandemic on participation.

Over the last couple of months, we have supplied nearly 1,000 equipment grants around the world. This includes over 5,000 gloves already distributed to leagues in need this year, and around 30% of these gloves were sent through our general domestic and international grants which are open to any group around the world. These gloves have already had a tremendous impact on the programs supported as it has allowed many to start their season on time. Our goal is to continue to secure the funds that enable us to support efforts to get kids back out on the diamond playing the sports they love.

Some Highlight Projects: 

North Little Rock Police Athletic League (PAL) – This league in Little Rock, Arkansas use sport as a way to connect the community and keep children engaged in positive out-of-school activities. Along with their baseball and softball leagues, they also provide mentorship programs for youth in the area. These programs specifically focus on encouraging youth to invest in education and community involvement throughout their lives. The sport and mentorship programs are free for all children in the community, so this organization relies completely on donations to operate. With much of their baseball and softball equipment being outdated gear passed down from other leagues, and around 70% of participants not having their own glove, they contacted PIFBS for help. Eager to support growing this league, we distributed over $2,300 worth of equipment including bats, helmets, and of course gloves. Over 30 gloves were donated to increase participation and give the kids a boost of confidence on the field. North Little Rock Police Athletic League was able to start their season in April and the donated equipment has already made an impact boosting morale across the organization.

Lanai Little League – Located in Lanai City, Hawaii, this league is trying hard to grow the game in their small island community. They currently have around 100 youth participants and hope to grow that number with the help of PIFBS. Like many of the leagues we serve, they had a decline in participation due to families being unable to afford the league fees and equipment. In an effort to encourage new registrations and bring former players back, the league asked PIFBS to help cover some of their equipment needs so they can offer more sponsorships to facilitate participation. Of course, PIFBS was more than willing to help. We put together over $1,200 worth of equipment, including over 30 gloves, to be sent from the East Coast all the way to Hawaii. With this grant the league believes they will be able to expand their program to more age groups next season, and of course will continue growing love for the game. We are excited to see the growth of this league in the years to come.

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