This summer, the Amazin’ Mets Foundation and Pitch In For Baseball & Softball worked together to support more than 2,000 children in youth baseball and softball leagues across New York and New Jersey.
“This equipment is really pivotal to being able to invite and welcome the kids into the program, because now people need to have all their own equipment to play,” said PIFBS CEO Meredith Kim.
“They want to be able to feel safe in that environment, and parents can’t really put out the financial investment sometimes to go try a new sport. So the gloves and the equipment the Mets are donating is going directly to children to give them a chance to play this game.”
In total, the projects supported by this partnership have benefitted more than 11,000 children. In the past four years, the Mets have partnered with PIFBS on projects to help underserved youth leagues in New York, Port St. Lucie (FL), and Boca Chica (Dominican Republic).
“The Mets is one of my favorite partnerships that we have,” said Kim. “What is so fantastic about them and what makes them unique is that the organization as a whole is committed to helping kids in every community where the Mets have a presence.”
Along with PIFBS staff members, the Mets’ Triple-A affiliate, the Syracuse Mets, held a packing event and distribution for local youth baseball and softball teams in need on August 4th and 5th at NBT Bank Stadium.
This donation of team kits – which included helmets, Mets-branded gloves, baseballs/softballs, bats, catchers gear, and team bags – supplied 10 youth baseball and softball programs in the Syracuse area with the gear they need.
The annual Sandlot Stars event two weeks later at the Mets’ Citi Field supported 70 teams in New York City and beyond.
“We partner with Pitch In For Baseball (& Softball) every year to donate little league equipment for baseball, softball, and tee ball teams all over the five boroughs, Long Island, New Jersey, and West Chester as well,” said Tony Croslin, Manager of Player Relations & Community Engagement for the New York Mets.
“This is just a great opportunity for us to engage the kids and get kids brand new equipment, and get a chance to come out to Citi Field and hang out with Mr. Met and have a fun time, all while expanding the game of baseball and softball.”