FOX Sports Helps Restore Play for Youth Organizations in Honor of Jackie Robinson Day

Donations of Baseball and Softball Equipment Increase Access and Improve Availability of Youth Sports Initiatives

FOX Sports Celebrates #42 with a $42,000 Endowment

Los Angeles & New York City – Today, FOX Sports announces the donation of $42,000 in new baseball and softball gear and athletic apparel to youth organizations in Los Angeles and New York City in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. Recognized by Major League Baseball since 2004, Jackie Robinson Day, April 15, commemorates the day of his major league debut.

The donation – a nod to Jackie’s jersey number 42 – enables kids in his hometown, Los Angeles, and city where he played professionally, New York, to follow in his footsteps by creating access to the sport in which he broke the color line in 1947. The Boys & Girls Club of the Foothills in Los Angeles, Urban Youth Initiative in the Bronx and Central Brooklyn Youth Sports in Brooklyn will use the donated gear to provide baseball and softball programs for the children they serve.

“In the spirit of Jackie Robinson Day, we are proud to be able to offer new baseball and softball programs this spring to kids from diverse backgrounds who may not otherwise have had the opportunity,” said Boys & Girls Club of the Foothills Executive Director John Wilson. “We are so grateful to FOX Sports and Good Sports for helping to make this happen for our kids.”

The donations help reduce financial barriers to play for underserved youth and include bats, helmets, fielding gloves, batting gloves, catching gear, pitch returns, cleats, jerseys and other necessary gear. The equipment and apparel also support each organization’s ability to provide socially distanced programming for their members as they continue to resume in-person activities.

“When I learned FOX Sports was going to help our baseball and softball programs with a generous gift of equipment, I was almost reluctant to believe it,” said Urban Youth Initiative Executive Director Julian Forbes. “The youth that will benefit from this have expressed overwhelming joy and appreciation and I look forward to bringing the gift of sports to many of the Bronx’s deserving youth.”

The donated equipment and apparel are part of FOX Sports’ ongoing support of the Restore Play initiative with national nonprofit partner Good Sports. Restore Play aims to keep kids active and engaged in sports throughout the pandemic by providing at least $15 million in sports and fitness gear to thousands of youth organizations and children across the country who have endured significant setbacks due to COVID-19.

To help FOX Sports and Good Sports keep kids active and in the game through Restore Play, visit goodsports.org/restoreplay.