The Players Alliance, a nonprofit organization comprised of more than 150 active and former Major League Baseball Players, seeks to improve representation of Black Americans in all levels of the game. This season on Jackie Robinson Day, MLB Players from across the league donated their game-day salaries to The Players Alliance, raising more than $1 million which the organization is reinvesting in the Black community.
Major League Baseball is matching the Alliance’s investment with a donation of an additional $1 million worth of supplies and baseball equipment, expanding the Alliance’s reach in the communities that need it most.
On December 1, The Players Alliance launched a two month, cross-country mobile tour in partnership with Pull Up Neighbor, a Black-owned community response team. In many of the cities they will partner with local grass root organizations to activate community outreach and humanitarian aid.
Many underserved children have endured countless losses due to the pandemic, including access to learn and play baseball. This program’s goal is to help counter all that and provide support during these uncertain times.
The Black community has been disproportionately affected by the COVID pandemic. So, this important initiative will help aid communities of color in a safe, socially distant and responsible capacity. They will be provided with much-needed resources, including a pop-up pantry and COVID supplies, and as an added bonus, access to baseball equipment via the Alliance’s Gear For Good program.
Each of the pull up destinations will also have special program hosts: our players.
“In order to institute significant changes during this time, we need to be able to pull up to as many Black communities as possible to help give folks the resources they need, whether it be food, aid, supplies and of course, access to baseball equipment to play our great game,” said Curtis Granderson, former MLB Player and President of The Players Alliance. THEPLAYERSALLIANCE.COM
