The Red Sox Foundation is the official team charity of the Boston Red Sox.
Since 2002, the Red Sox Foundation has been uniquely positioned to leverage the iconic brand of the Boston Red Sox and harness the passion of the greatest fans in baseball to make lasting impact in our communities. Today, we are a model for others to follow as one of the most philanthropic team charities in all of professional sports, strategically using our platform to be a leading source of hope and positivity off the field.
Our mission is to use the power of Red Sox Nation to make a difference in the lives of youth, families, Veterans, and communities in need by improving health, educational, and recreational opportunities.
Immediately after taking ownership of the Boston Red Sox in 2002, Principal Owner John Henry, Chairman Tom Werner and the late Larry Lucchino and the team’s partners founded and funded the Red Sox Foundation as part of their commitment to making positive impact in our communities. Today, the Foundation is one of the largest and most philanthropic team charities in Major League Baseball. The Red Sox became the first two-time winner of the Allan H. Selig Award for Philanthropic Excellence. The club earned the inaugural award in 2010 for the Red Sox Scholars program, then won again in 2019 for the Home Base program.
By coupling our year-round, direct-service programming with our grant-making and core partnerships, the Foundation utilizes a unique structure and model as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization to effectively triple our impact in our local communities;
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Direct-Service Programming:
- In the focus area of youth education, our goal is to empower youth and young adults in our local communities by affording them access to high quality educational resources, mentorship and continued learning;
- The Red Sox Scholars Presented by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is a college success program annually awarding a $10,000 scholarship to 10 Boston 7th graders, as well as mentorship and academic, professional and social support.
- The New England and Lee County Service Scholarships recognizes graduating high school seniors who are making meaningful contributions in their local communities.
- The Fenway Park Learning Lab Presented by MassMutual Foundation, in partnership with Fenway Park Tours, opens the doors of Fenway Park to Boston Public School 6th graders for an innovative and interactive educational experience.
- In the focus area of youth baseball and softball, our goals are to increase access for underserved youth to participate and thrive, and to ensure all youth players have a positive experience;
- The Nike RBI & Jr. RBI Leagues annually provide team equipment, uniforms, field access and umpires to 2,000+ youth, ages 5 to 18, in Boston, Chelsea, and Lawrence at no cost.
- In collaboration with MLB, our Play Ball Events introduce youth, ages 5 to 12, in underserved communities to the game in a fun, informal setting.
- The Red Sox Coaches Box provides virtual and in-person trainings in partnership with best-in-class youth development organizations free-of-charge for youth, coaches and administrators.
- The Foundation provides stipends for local Little Leagues and also sponsors all State Tournament.
- The Foundation is also a leading supporter of Teddy Ebersol’s Red Sox Fields at Lederman Park. The project was completed in 2006 along the Charles River Esplanade in memory of an avid, young Red Sox fan, Teddy Ebersol. The fields were developed by a new civic and philanthropic partnership between the Foundation, Hill House, and The Esplanade Association, in cooperation with The Executive Office of Environmental Affairs and the Massachusetts Department of Conversation and Recreation.
- In the focus area of youth education, our goal is to empower youth and young adults in our local communities by affording them access to high quality educational resources, mentorship and continued learning;
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Core Partnerships:
- In the focus area of health, the Foundation partners with three reputable, best-in-class partners;
- We’ve helped raise over $167 million for cancer treatment and research for The Jimmy Fund, which represents one of the most remarkable partnerships between a team and charity in the history of sports.
- We’ve supported more than 35,000 Veterans and their families suffering from the “invisible wounds of war” with the Home Base Program created under the leadership of Red Sox & Red Sox Foundation Chairman Tom Werner.
- We’ve championed The Dimock Center in Roxbury, which annually provides health and human services to nearly 20,000 individuals.
- In the focus area of health, the Foundation partners with three reputable, best-in-class partners;
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Grant-Making & Giving Initiatives:
- As the Foundation continues to respond to our communities’ evolving needs and commit to supporting recovery across New England and Lee County, Florida, our grant-making and giving initiatives also evolve;
- Since 2002, the Foundation has donated to over 2,000 mission-aligned nonprofit organizations strengthening outcomes in health, education, and recreation in our local communities.
- The Foundation has also facilitated thousands of ticket donations from generous Season Ticket Holders and fans to afford access to Fenway Park for youth and families, and grow the game we all love.
- Each year, the Foundation also recognizes non-profits organizations demonstrating deep impact in raising awareness and improving mental health outcomes through the IMPACT Awards.
- In 2019, the Foundation partnered with the Women’s Foundation of Boston to launch the Women in Nonprofit (WIN) Network to empower women nonprofit leaders to learn, connect and collaborate
- In 2020, the Red Sox Foundation created and launched the Emergency Hardship Fund to help those experiencing food insecurity in New England and Southwest Florida as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- As the Foundation continues to respond to our communities’ evolving needs and commit to supporting recovery across New England and Lee County, Florida, our grant-making and giving initiatives also evolve;
To achieve our mission, the Foundation works to raise millions of dollars each year through major gifts, donations, events, grants and sponsorships. The Foundation is fortunate to have access to and leverage a suite of assets, including the team and Fenway Park, in order to fundraise — as well as the generosity of Red Sox Nation in all that we do.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your support. Our work would not be possible without you!