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GOOD NEWS: MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THE RED SOX ARE QUIETLY BUILDING “FIELDS OF HOPE” FOR OVER 2,000 LOW-INCOME CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN BOSTON WITH FREE BASEBALL PROGRAMS AND GEAR – THE STORY BEHIND THIS WILL MAKE YOU CRY AND FEEL PROUD OF A TEAM THAT WINS NOT JUST ON THE FIELD BUT IN THE HEARTS OF ITS FANS.nh1

July 25, 2025 by mrs z

Fields of Hope: How the Red Sox Foundation Is Building a New Future for Boston’s Low-Income Kids, One Free Game at a Time

BOSTON – On a cloudy Tuesday afternoon, the sound of a baseball meeting leather echoed across a modest field in Dorchester. A 10-year-old named Elijah adjusted the oversized Red Sox cap on his head, his eyes lighting up as he connected with the ball, sending it rolling into the grass while his teammates cheered.

For Elijah, and more than 2,000 children like him across Boston, baseball isn’t just a game. It’s a lifeline. And it’s free.

At a time when youth sports are becoming increasingly inaccessible due to costs of equipment, uniforms, and field rentals, the Red Sox Foundation is quietly flipping the narrative. They are providing gloves, bats, uniforms, coaching, and field access to children and families who otherwise could never afford to participate.

“We’re not just teaching baseball,” said Bekah Salwasser, Executive Director of the Red Sox Foundation. “We’re building community, self-confidence, and giving kids a safe place to grow.”

A field bigger than baseball

The numbers are staggering. According to data from Project Play, the average cost to participate in youth sports in America can range from $150 to over $500 per season, a barrier that forces many families to keep their children on the sidelines.

In Boston, where many neighborhoods face economic hardships, that barrier becomes a brick wall.

The Red Sox Foundation saw an opportunity to do more than just hand out tickets or host one-off clinics. They built a sustainable pipeline where children can access baseball at zero cost, while also offering educational support, tutoring, and mentorship woven into the program.

On the field, volunteers and coaches, many of whom are former collegiate players, spend hours teaching not only how to throw a fastball but how to handle setbacks, show up for teammates, and take pride in showing up each day.

“They learn how to lose, how to win, and how to keep going,” Salwasser added. “That’s bigger than baseball.”

Creating memories and safe spaces

On any given week, fields supported by the Foundation are alive with the laughter and determination of children who are experiencing the joy of organized sports for the first time. For many parents, seeing their children run bases in Red Sox jerseys is more than a sports milestone – it’s a symbol of hope.

Maria, a single mother of three in Roxbury, said the program has given her children something to look forward to after school. “We can’t afford club sports,” she explained. “But here, my kids have a safe place to be, they’re learning, they’re happy, and they feel like they belong.”

That sense of belonging is what the Red Sox Foundation has set out to build, one practice at a time.

The impact ripples beyond the field

The Red Sox Foundation’s work is not confined to one neighborhood or one summer. They are committed to long-term development, tracking children’s progress, supporting families with resources, and partnering with schools to ensure the holistic growth of the children they serve.

Graduates of the program often return as volunteers or coaches, creating a cycle of giving back. One former participant, now a freshman at UMass Boston, credits the Foundation with helping him discover leadership skills that shaped his academic journey.

“Baseball was the hook,” he said. “But the Foundation taught me about showing up, working hard, and believing in myself.”

Building a bridge between the team and the city

The Red Sox are an institution in Boston, but through its Foundation, the team’s impact stretches far beyond the walls of Fenway Park. Players frequently visit the programs, sometimes surprising kids during practice, signing gloves, and offering batting tips that are treasured for years.

During a visit last month, Rafael Devers joined a hitting clinic, laughing with kids, taking selfies, and telling them about his own childhood in the Dominican Republic. “I tell them, don’t stop dreaming,” Devers said.

These interactions bridge the gap between a professional team and the communities they represent, ensuring that the Red Sox are not just a team people watch on TV but a real presence in the neighborhoods of Boston.

Why it matters now more than ever

As youth sports continue to face barriers of affordability, and as communities strive to recover from economic challenges, initiatives like the Red Sox Foundation’s free baseball programs provide more than recreation – they provide a lifeline.

They offer children a chance to dream, to belong, and to build friendships, skills, and memories that will carry them forward.

For Elijah, it means racing home after school, grabbing his glove, and heading to the field where he knows his friends and coaches will be waiting. For his mother, it means watching her son smile after a long day, knowing he’s in a safe, supportive environment.

“We talk about championships and banners at Fenway,” Salwasser said, “but the real win is seeing these kids believe in themselves.”

As the Red Sox continue to chase victories on the field, their Foundation is quietly creating victories off it, one child, one game, and one community at a time.

 

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