News

For Immediate Release

August 17, 2017

RED SOX FOUNDATION CELEBRATES 15 YEARS OF CHARITABLE WORK

 Anniversary Celebration to be Held Saturday, August 19, at Fenway Park

BOSTON, MA – The Red Sox Foundation, the charitable arm of the Boston Red Sox, will celebrate its 15^th anniversary in ceremonies preceding the Red Sox-Yankees game on Saturday, August 19, highlighting those who have been helped by the foundation and its programs over the past decade and a half.

“Since its creation, the Red Sox Foundation has helped support hundreds of charitable programs across New England that every day put people on a path to success,” said Red Sox Foundation Chairman Tom Werner. “But beyond the millions that have been donated to these worthy causes, are the vital programs that have been created by the foundation to improve and even save lives. I am most proud when I learn that a high school student has been dissuaded from dropping out because of the time and compassion that our Red Sox Scholars tutors have put in with them. And I have profound respect and admiration for the clinicians and personnel at the Home Base Program who every day are tasked with helping veterans assimilate back into civilian life, and pulling those who suffer from PTSD back from despair. The results have been real and tangible, and I look forward to building on all of the great work that has been achieved over these past 15 years.”

The Red Sox Foundation focuses its efforts in the areas of health, education, and youth sports, donating to 1,620 organizations since 2002, including its own self-operated programs (RBI, Red Sox Scholars, New England Service Scholarships).

In addition to the work of the Red Sox Foundation, the club has helped organizations raise tens of millions over the past 15 years by donating over 60,000 autographed items, providing charities with free use of the ballpark, and over 250,000 complimentary tickets for games, concerts, and special events.

The majority of the Red Sox Foundation’s efforts are concentrated in the following areas:

Education

• The Red Sox Scholars Program, presented by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, provides $10,000 scholarships, tutoring, and mentoring for academically-talented middle school students from the Boston Public Schools. The program received the first-ever Major League Baseball award for philanthropic excellence in 2010. The Red Sox Scholars Program has served a total of 274 Boston Public School students since its creation in 2003, and has a 96.8 percent high school graduation rate and 91 percent college or vocational program graduation enrollment rate among participating students.
• New England Service Scholarships of $1,000 for college are awarded to students who have engaged in community service from 170 public high schools in the five New England states outside of Massachusetts.

Health

• Since 2002, the Red Sox and Red Sox Foundation have helped raise over $135 million for cancer treatment and research for The Jimmy Fund, supporting the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and providing treatment to children and adults with cancer while developing cures through cutting-edge research.
• Created by Red Sox Foundation Chairman Tom Werner, Home Base, a Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital program, has helped over 11,000 veterans and their families suffering from the “invisible wounds of war,” such as post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. The Red Sox Foundation has raised over $22 million for Home Base through the program’s largest fundraiser, the Run to Home Base, a 9K/5K charity race presented by New Balance
• The Red Sox Foundation is the largest contributor to The Dimock Center, a comprehensive non-profit health and social services facility in Roxbury that is a regional leader in addressing opioid addiction.

Youth Sports

• RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) introduces urban youth in Massachusetts to baseball and softball, and uses the sport to promote healthy choices and valuable life skills.
• The Boston Area Church League brings more than 600 Boston children to baseball fields during the summer to play Saturday doubleheaders with pastors as coaches, police as umpires, and assistant district attorneys as volunteers.
• Lindos Sue᷈nos brings American teens to the Dominican Republic each summer to play with their teenage counterparts at the Red Sox Academy. Before taking the field, the children build homes for local residents. The program was created in partnership with Charlene Engelhard in 2004.
• The Red Sox Foundation provides the 317 Little League programs in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Maine with funding assistance as well as leadership and instructional skills training for coaches and administrators. This Thursday, August 17, a special Red Sox Report highlighting the Red Sox Foundation and the people whose lives have been changed by its programs and support will air on NESN at 7:30 p.m. The half-hour 15

This Thursday, August 17, a special Red Sox Report highlighting the Red Sox Foundation and the people whose lives have been changed by its programs and support will air on NESN at 7:30 p.m. The half-hour 15^th Anniversary special will re-air at 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 19, and again at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, August 22.

The Red Sox Foundation was founded and initially funded by Red Sox Principal Owner John Henry, Chairman Tom Werner, Red Sox President/CEO Emeritus Larry Lucchino, and their partners. It is the largest team charity in Major League Baseball, and in professional sports.

The Red Sox and Red Sox Foundation are active throughout New England, as well as in Lee County, Florida, the team’s Spring Training home. The foundation operates out of Fenway Park with eight full time employees, the support of the Boston Red Sox, and thousands of volunteers.

–RED SOX–