Gloves for All

As baseball and softball seasons are coming to an end, it is important to reflect on the work we have done while also looking forward to next season. So far this year, PIFBS has helped over 100,000 kids play ball. Our operations team has been working tirelessly to support underserved groups around the world. Overcoming equipment shortages and rising costs was no easy task for our team this year. Despite the seemingly endless number of setbacks, PIFBS was still able to distribute over 20,000 gloves to youth in need. Baseball and softball gloves have never been more expensive, so it has been our goal to relieve this expense for parents still trying to just support their child’s basic needs. This year our grants have reached communities in over 40 states and 18 countries around the world, and we are not done yet! Major international projects are still in the works to be completed in the fall, which will likely increase our numbers for this year significantly.

Even after conducting this extensive programming, there are still so many kids unable to participate in baseball and softball due to an inability to access the proper equipment. There are also still many children using outdated and, in some cases, unsafe equipment. Countless grantees have mentioned the boost in confidence their players have when they receive new equipment from PIFBS. Our goal has always been to ensure players are able to be at their best when taking the field. Therefore, we are committed to ensuring all children have the equipment they need to maximize their potential. As we start to look forward to 2023, our goal is to make it our best year yet! With our continued growth, the need for funds to support increasing our capacity has never been greater. Donors like you make our work possible. You are giving children a chance to chase their dreams, and to receive the positive developmental benefits of playing baseball and softball. No kid wants to show up to the field without a glove, so it is critical we continue to work towards eliminating equipment as a barrier to play.

Impact Stories:

Maxwell Activities Association – This league in Greensburg, Pennsylvania was able to give more kids the opportunity to play because of the equipment they received. The equipment helped 8-10 players who would not have been able to play without the equipment distributed. PIFBS helped these players get the specific equipment that would have put a financial burden on the parents. The donation also helped the league keep their costs down, which allowed them to reallocated funds to other integral parts of their organization. The league president shared her gratitude with us stating, “Being able to brighten a kid’s day by offering them a no strings attached gift like new gear is just an amazing thing PIFBS does. The whole Maxwell Organization and I are extremely grateful we were chosen to receive this amazing grant. And thank you to your organization and everyone behind the scenes that keep this grant going. You truly are amazing people.”

Ridgeline Little League – This league in San Bernardino, California received a grant filled with gloves, bats, balls, and catcher’s gear. One of their players, Cali, had never played softball before and was shy at the very beginning of the season. About 4 games in, she started making new friends and loved learning the game. They put her in as the catcher and she was hesitant at first, but when she saw the gear that was donated by PIFBS, and how safe she was going to be in it, her whole outlook of the position changed. She now always asks to suit up (put the gear on) and start practicing. The gear PIFBS provided gave Cali the confidence to try something new and start to truly enjoy the sport we all love. Her coach noted, “she has grown so much and it's incredible to have a program like PIFBS that helps us change the lives of kids.”