Gloves for All

Pitch In For Baseball & Softball has not missed a beat this Spring after moving to a new facility at the end of 2022. So far this year, over 35,000 kids have received equipment from PIFBS. Equipment has been distributed to over 25 states across the U.S. and multiple countries around the world. These grants have included over 20,000 gloves for underserved youth in the regions served. In March, one of our largest grants of the year thus far, was sent to Panama where over 5,000 kids will now be able to play the game they love. Helping these kids fulfill their dreams on the diamond is why we do what we do. These efforts by our operations team have put PIFBS in position to make 2023 yet another record year. 

While PIFBS has started the year by helping thousands of kids play ball, there is still a lot of work to be done. For instance, according to the most recent Sports & Fitness Association Report, softball is the fastest growing sport amongst young girls. However, with the rising prices of equipment and widespread economic hardships, participation from lower-income households continues to remain quite low. This indicates that overlooked communities are still struggling to access these sports. PIFBS is committed to ensuring that no child is ever turned away due to a lack of access to the proper equipment. Over the next few months, we plan on supporting the baseball and softball dreams of even more kids, and we will continue to lean on the generosity of our supporters to fill the gaps in our inventory so we can best meet the needs of all the young athletes we serve.

Impact Stories:

Calabasas K8 School Softball –

This school in Rio Rico, Arizona was able to add ten new players this year because of an equipment grant from PIFBS. They simply would have had to turn players away if they did not receive any gear. The team had been sharing just two bats up until PIFBS stepped in to help. The coach noted that the team had a tremendous boost of confidence almost immediately after opening the boxes filled with bats, gloves, and softballs. One child, Angela, is currently in foster care. Her coach mentioned that the gear she received gave her hope and allowed her to focus on just having fun again. Softball is her escape from the challenges she faces at home, and PIFBS is thrilled to be able to provide her with those opportunities.

Clay Youth Baseball League –

This league in Brazil, Indiana serves numerous kids from households with incomes below the poverty line. On the first day of practice, they had numerous kids show up without a glove. However, those kids soon found out that they were going to be using a brand-new glove this season from PIFBS. The equipment they received allowed these children to play with confidence, and removed the burden of buying new equipment for their parents. This enabled these families to focus on other more important expenses while still having baseball as a positive outlet for their children. All the equipment donated gave these young athletes the motivation they needed to make the most out of their baseball experience.   

Links:

• Check Out Our Organizational Video!