The Amazin’ Mets Foundation Supports Kids Across All of Mets Territory.
PIFBS has partnered with the Mets’ charitable arm for projects in New York, Port St. Lucie (FL) , and Boca Chica, Dominican Republic, benefitting more than 11,000 children.
PIFBS + Amazin’ Mets Foundation
The Amazin’ Mets Foundation turns to Pitch In For Baseball & Softball to help support youth baseball and softball teams across all of Mets territory. In the past four years, the Mets have partnered with PIFBS on projects to help underserved youth leagues in New York City/New Jersey, Syracuse (NY), Port St. Lucie (FL), and Boca Chica (Dominican Republic).
In total, the projects supported by this partnership have benefitted more than 11,000 children.
In 2021, the Mets’ Triple-A affiliate, the Syracuse Mets, held a packing event and equipment distribution to help 10 youth baseball and softball programs in the Syracuse area. The annual Sandlot Stars event two weeks later at the Mets’ Citi Field supported 70 teams across the five boroughs of New York City as well as New Jersey.
Projects
Dominican Republic
Boca Chica
In 2018, the Mets and PIFBS sent 50 teams kits for children ages 10-12 to the Mets Baseball Academy in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic. Youth players and coaches were invited to attend the distribution event and pick up their brand new gear, which included gloves, catchers mitts, catchers sets, bats, baseballs, helmets, and team bags. Mets Instructional League players helped hand out the equipment and give tours of the academy.Â
Port St. Lucie, FL
Clover Park
The Mets expanded their support in 2020 to Port St. Lucie, Florida, home of the Mets’ Single-A affiliate the St. Lucie Mets. The event provided baseball and softball equipment to 75 programs in the Port St. Lucie area, including 35 tee ball teams, 20 baseball teams, and 20 softball teams. The equipment was valued at nearly $70,000. The St. Lucie Mets welcomed teams to their stadium for an equipment distribution, encouraging the kids to try out the new gear, grab a snow cone, and get their faces painted. The donations included gloves, bats, baseballs/softballs, catchers gear, and more.
New York City
Citi Field
The third annual Sandlot Stars event was held on August 17th, 2021 at Citi Field, supporting 70 teams in New York City across the five boroughs, plus Long Island, New Jersey, and West Chester. The Mets have hosted the event each year to celebrate the donations, inviting teams and coaches to Citi Field to pick up their new equipment and enjoy a fun-filled afternoon. Although the 2020 event was altered due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mets instead hosted a drive-through distribution. In 2019, the program supported 50 baseball teams and 50 softball teams in the five boroughs. In the first year of partnership, PIFBS and the Mets provided 25 baseball teams and 25 softball teams with brand new gear to kick off their seasons.Â
Syracuse, NY
NBT Bank Stadium
Joined by Pitch In For Baseball & Softball staff members, the Mets’ Triple-A affiliate, the Syracuse Mets, held a packing event and equipment distribution for local youth baseball and softball teams in need on August 4-5, 2021 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.