Teams 
Legacy capital funding has been provided to organizations throughout the Greater Toronto Area and across Canada to help offer safe, dedicated youth space and programs.
Jays Care Foundation Field of Dreams program includes the funding of capital project initiatives for the development of "safe youth spaces" where kids can play, learn and grow. There are currently 18 Jays Care Field of Dreams projects underway in Ontario and across Canada. In 2011, five legacy projects will open their doors, including Downtown Ooch, Ronald McDonald House Toronto, Moorelands sports field, Cabbagetown Youth Centre and East Scarborough Boys & Girls Club.
Jays Care Foundation served over 17,000 kids in 2011 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 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 $3 million into the community through the Grand Slam Grants program.
For the past four seasons, Jays Care Foundation has partnered with Pathways to Education Canada in an effort to reduce the high school dropout rate in Toronto's priority neighbourhoods of Lawrence Heights and Rexdale through a $400,000 funding partnership.
One hundred Rexdale and Lawrence Heights students have been supported through the Home Run Scholars program to date. Of these, 92 Pathways students in the two communities have successfully graduated from high school and are looking ahead to brighter futures. All 100 Home Run Scholars are continuing with their education, with 70 per cent of the graduates transitioning into post-secondary education. For many of these students, they will be the first in their families to go to college or university.
Pathways has experienced groundbreaking results since its inception in 2001. In Regent Park, Pathways' first community, graduation rates in the program more than doubled, dropout rates declined by more than 70 per cent, and the rate of students going on to post-secondary education or training increased by 300 per cent.
Through group and career mentoring, tutoring, and short- and long-term financial support to pursue post-secondary education, Jays Care Foundation's partnership with Pathways realized a 76 per cent decrease in students deemed academically "at risk."
In addition to committing $400,000 to this initiative, Jays Care hosts a graduation party for Home Run Scholars students every year at the Rogers Centre. The class of 2011 was rewarded for their efforts with a graduation celebration in the IBM Executive Lounge during a Blue Jays game and was recognized with a special in-game greeting.
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| An eager camper swings for the fences on Rookie League Opening Day last summer. |
In Canada, Major League Baseball's Jr. RBI program operates as the Blue Jays Baseball Academy "Rookie League." Since its inception, Rookie League has provided a safe, fun, active and engaging summer for children living in Toronto Community Housing. The program teaches baseball skills and the importance of teamwork, co-operation and partnership to more than 800 children in priority communities, including offering character-building employment to 60 youth each summer.
This year, Jays Care Foundation is excited to enter its 24th year of partnership with Toronto Community Housing and looks forward to launching its first full season of national programming in 16 cities across nine provinces with Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada!
Rookie League kicks off on July 4, 2012 and runs for seven weeks until the much-anticipated Wrap-Up event, complete with a championship game on Rogers Centre field, an awards ceremony, and the chance for the kids to meet some of their favourite Blue Jays players, on August 16, 2012.
Toronto Blue Jays players Ricky Romero, J.P. Arencibia, Rajai Davis and Sergio Santos will serve as honourary captains for each of the Rookie League divisions, while head coach, John Farrell, will serve as honourary coach.
During the 2012 MLB All-Star Week, Jays Care is proud to be fielding a team of 12 Rookie Leaguers from Toronto Community Housing neighbourhoods, where they will represent the Toronto Blue Jays in a 40-game Jr. RBI Classic tournament in Kansas City!
Jays Care works to ensure children and youth have the opportunity to play, learn and grow through the sport of baseball. Follow the link below to purchase equipment or subsidize Rookie League registration costs for a child:
The Toronto Blue Jays proudly opened the doors to their very own Jays Care Community Clubhouse at Rogers Centre. In 2011, this luxury suite will host more than 3,000 children and youth each year from community organizations and charitable groups around the Greater Toronto Area and beyond. Special thanks Shikatani Lacroix for donating their time towards the design and to Urbacon for renovations.
Fundraise to sponsor a night in the Jays Care Community Clubhouse today!If you have questions, please call Brendan Mohammed, Manager, Programs & Outreach, at 416-341-1170.
If you have questions about Jays Care Foundation programs and outreach initiatives, please contact Brendan Mohammed, Manager, Programs & Outreach, at 416-341-1170.
