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(Photo: Toronto Blue Jays)

Please read for an important announcement made yesterday by the Toronto Blue Jays and KidSport™.

TORONTO, ON– Jays Care Foundation, the charitable arm of the Toronto Blue Jays, is proud to announce the extension of its partnership with KidSport™. Jays Care will once again invest $100,000 this year, which will provide 500 children & youth the opportunity to participate in baseball programs across the country.

“Jays Care is committed to giving children across Canada the chance to learn and grow through the game of baseball. We want this investment to inspire in children a love of sports and to develop healthy behaviours that will serve them throughout their lives.” said Robert Witchel, Executive Director, Jays Care Foundation. “Our partnership was an overwhelming success in 2014 and we look forward to providing baseball programming for deserving children and youth across the country.”

“We are excited to partner with Jays Care Foundation for a second year,” said Jamie Ferguson, Chair, KidSport. “Last year, we saw even more Canadian children get the opportunity to play baseball thanks to the commitment made by Jays Care Foundation. Our organizations have aligned values and share the same goal – get more children off the sidelines and onto the field to reap the many benefits of sport participation. Together, we are fielding dreams for at least 1,000 children across Canada in just two years of partnership.”

In 2014, Jays Care’s $100,000 contribution provided 500 deserving kids a season of baseball and led to a 25% increase in KidSport baseball grants from 2013 to 2014.

If you know a player/family that could benefit from a KidSport baseball grant this summer, please pass along this information.  Successful applicants will receive differing levels of funds depending on location within Canada.  Funds will be submitted directly to successful applicants’ local baseball associations.  Read below and see how easy it is to get in the game.

Eligibility:

• Children ages 18 and under are eligible to apply
• KidSport considers the social and economic barriers facing the child's family when determining eligibility for funding
• Applicants must be a Canadian resident
• Successful applicants will have their funds submitted directly to their local baseball association
• Association/program must be a recognized member of the provincial and/or national sport governing body
• Grant applications are subject to additional eligibility requirements that vary by province

Dollar value of successful grants will vary depending on specific communities and provinces

For more information, please visit: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/tor/community/kidsport.jsp