Since 1992, the Toronto Blue Jays' (MLB) Jays Care Foundation has been empowering children and youth in need, inspiring them to make positive choices and helping them realize their dreams by providing access to programs that support physical activity, education, and life-skill development.

Programs & Outreach

• Field of Dreams

"Jays Care" about providing safe places for kids to play, learn and grow.

Legacy capital funding has been provided to organizations throughout the City of Toronto to help offer safe, dedicated youth space and programs.

In 2008, Jays Care Foundation expanded the scope of its Field of Dreams program in an effort to further expand the impact of its community investment in areas of need in Greater Toronto Area and beyond.

Originating in 2000 as a seven year, $1-million commitment to the City of Toronto, Parks and Recreation Division for the refurbishment and restoration of baseball and softball fields, Field of Dreams has grown to now include the funding of capital project initiatives for the development of "safe youth spaces" where kids can play, learn and grow!

The expansion of Field of Dreams has allowed Jays Care to outfit all eight YMCA Health, Recreation, and Fitness Centres in Toronto with baseball equipment for its Youth Sports Leadership curriculum, as well as contribute to the development of much needed safe youth spaces in the Jane & Finch and Kingston & Galloway communities.

• Grand Slam Grants

"Jays Care" about helping kids in need.

Jays Care Foundation served over 12,500 kids in 2009 by providing access to vital programs, services and facilities.

Each year, Jays Care Foundation supports a variety of charitable and not for profit organizations from the Greater Toronto Area and across the province of Ontario.

Grand Slam Grants are awarded twice annually to organizations offering programs that focus on physical activity, education, and life-skill development for children and youth in need.

To date, Jays Care has invested more than $1.8-million into the community through the Grand Slam Grants program.

• Home Run Scholars

"Jays Care" about keeping kids in school.

In 2008, Jays Care Foundation added Home Runs Scholars to its outreach initiatives through the development of a four-year, $400,000 funding partnership with Pathways to Education Canada.

Home Run Scholars focuses on the Toronto neighbourhoods of Lawrence Heights, Regent Park and Rexdale, ensuring that at-risk students enrolled in the Pathways program will graduate from high school and have funds available for post-secondary education.

The Pathways program has realized tremendous levels of success in Regent Park since its inception in 2001, with the drop out rate falling from 56% to 10%, and post secondary enrollment increasing from 20% to 80%. Jays Care is excited to be a part of bringing the program to Lawrence Heights and Rexdale in an effort to further our common goal of combating high school drop out rates in priority neighbourhoods across the city.

• Rookie League Baseball

"Jays Care" about getting kids healthy and fit.

Each summer, Jays Care Foundation partners with Toronto Community Housing to operate Rookie League, a summer-long baseball day camp for kids living in Toronto Community Housing Neighbourhoods. Blue Jays centerfielder Vernon Wells serves as Rookie League's Honourary Commissioner, with Honourary Division Captains Aaron Hill and Lyle Overbay joining Vernon in supporting the program and its participants.

In 2009, more than 500 kids from 24 different Toronto Community Housing neighbourhoods participated in Rookie League. Each week, volunteers from the Blue Jays and Rogers Centre family, and from local minor baseball organizations, provide participants with valuable baseball skill development instruction, while emphasizing the values of teamwork, partnership, and cooperation in life beyond the baseball diamond.

You can become a part of the Jays Care team in 2010! Get involved this Rookie League season by purchasing equipment, supporting a child or making a donation!