Community Partners
The Tampa Bay Rays are committed to being a strong regional partner by energizing our community through the magic of baseball. We strive to play a significant role in our community by utilizing our assets to showcase our partners who work tirelessly to make Tampa Bay strong and healthy.
Academy Prep Centers for Education provide an academic environment designed for students who may not have succeeded in a traditional school environment. Academy Prep inspires and empowers economically disadvantaged students to become future community leaders through a middle school program and ongoing graduate support. Each year, the Rays Baseball Foundation awards a $15,000 Academy Prep Scholarship to be shared between the St. Petersburg campus and Tampa campuses. Academy Prep is also awarded a Night in the Ballpark each season to share their message with fans at the game and watching from home.
In 2012, the Rays continued to support All Children's Hospital through multiple outreach and fundraising efforts. Rays players , along with mascot Raymond, made multiple visits to All Children's Hospital with the Sagicor Life Insurance "Rays Kids Spirit Days" Program throughout the season. These visits helped boost the morale of the sick children and allowed players to meet some of their biggest fans. The Rays Wives hosted their second annual Mystery Ball and Silent Auction, raising close to $35,000 to benefit All Children's Hospital. The event offers unique items donated by players and coaches across Major League Baseball for a donation to the hopsital's foundation.
The Rays partner with the ALS Association in an effort to fight to treat and cure ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) through research and advocacy while also empowering people with Lou Gehrig's Disease and their families to live fuller lives. Each year, the Rays host an ALS Association Night at the Ballpark where the organization raises funds through a group sales fundraiser and utilizes assets within the ballpark to raise awareness for Lou Gehrig's Disease. In addition to the Night in the Ballpark, the Rays Baseball Foundation partnered with the ALS Association of Florida for Fan Fest for the second year. RBF donated a portion of the proceeds raised from autograph wristband sales. In 2012, ALS received more than $20,000 in donations in conjunction with their partnership with the Rays and the Rays Baseball Foundation.
For the first year, the Rays partnered with Autism Speaks, the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization. The partnership, led by Sean and Giselle Rodriguez, began when the Rays Wives participated in the Autism Speaks annual walk. The Rays Wives stepped up to the plate to donate their winnings from the annual wives softball game to Autism Speaks later in the season. The Rays hosted an Autism Speaks Night in the Ballpark in June where Sean and Giselle Rodriguez presented the organization with a check for $3,000. The team showed their support for the cause by wearing their light blue jerseys, a nod to the organizations "Light it Up Blue Campaign".
Big Brothers Big Sisters has been operating in the Tampa Bay area since 1964 to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. The Rays are proud to support Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Suncoast, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pinellas in various ways. The Rays sponsor events, donate tickets to Big and Little matches, as well as invite matches onto the field for batting practice for quality bonding time while having the opportunity to meet some of the Rays players. The Rays also provide board leadership by providing committed executives to sit on boards and chair events for the organization.
Boys and Girls Clubs enable all young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. The Rays are proud to support all local Boys and Girls Club affiliates through various sponsorships, in-kind donations and more. Rays infielder, Sean Rodriguez, is a proud former Boys and Girls Club member from his home city of Miami. Sean has starred in a PSA for the organization along with Boys and Girls Club kids. For the past two seasons he has also participated in a Rays Luncheon for the organization to help raise funds for the Suncoast chapter. Prior to the start of the season, players from the Rays Minor League Camp visit the BGCSC to interact with the kids by playing games, helping with homework, and helping to serve the after school snack.
During Spring Training, the Rays partner with the local Boys and Girls Club of Charlotte County to put on the annual BaseBALL Gala. The event honors Rays coaches and brings the community of Port Charlotte together to raise funds for the BGC of Charlotte County. During the regular baseball season, Rays minor league players also visit this BGC location to spend time with the kids to be positive role models for them.
The Children's Dream Fund was founded in 1981 with the single purpose of fulfilling dreams for children ages 3-18 who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, and who live in West Central Florida. The Children's Dream Fund has been a partner of the Tampa Bay Rays since 2004 in conjunction with our Tuesday's Champion program. Since 2004 the partnership has grown to include the Rays Wives Fashion Show as well as fulfillment of several dreams.
In 2010, the Rays, along with James and Ryane Shields, partnered with Eckerd, one of the nation's leading not-for-profit providers of services for youth at risk, and their families. The partnership helped to create the Big Game James Club. The club provides normalcy and a sense of stability and belonging for foster children served by Eckerd. BGJC members get to watch a series of Rays games from the designated Big Game James Club suite. Throughout the season, they celebrated birthdays, got surprise visits from Rays mascot Raymond and were treated to special on field team days where they met and interacted with James and other Rays players.
James Shields and his wife, Ryane, have become big advocates for the Heart Gallery which features the faces and stories of local foster children available for adoption. The Rays have partnered with the Heart Gallery to feature a mini-gallery in the stadium as well as host a night in the ballpark to raise awareness for the organization and recognize some of the families that have been created through the Heart Gallery. Some of the families recognized have been formed thanks to the gallery displayed at Tropicana Field as well as the work that James and Ryane do with the Big Game James Club.
In 2012, the Rays Baseball Foundation and Helios Education Foundation teamed up to provide $1 million in college scholarships for students participating in Take Stock in Children in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Sarasota, Manatee and Pasco counties. The partnership is aimed at giving students the financial resources and mentorship support they need to successfully achieve a postsecondary education at any Florida state college. Helios Education Foundation is focused on creating a high-expectations, college-going culture in Arizona and Florida by investing in initiatives that create opportunities for postsecondary education success. Helios is contributing its leadership, expertise and financial resources to better prepare students to succeed academically and to compete in a globally competitive economy.
The Hillsborough Education Foundation engages business and community partners in the support of Hillsborough County Public Schools and the academic achievement of all its students. The Rays and Rays Baseball Foundation support HEF in numerous ways, including event sponsorship, in-kind donations and an annual Night in the Ballpark. Each season the Rays honor students and teachers in the Hillsborough area with pre-game ceremonies and television exposure. The foundation is also able to raise funds by holding a group sales fundraiser to invite parents and friends to attend Hillsborough Education Night.
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is the leading global organization focused on type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. For the first year, the Rays and Rays Outfielder Sam Fuld have partnered with the JDRF by hosting a baseball camp in February. One hundred and fifty campers joined Sam and a staff of other T1D coaches at the University of South Florida for a two-day camp put on by the USF Diabetes Center. Coaches on hand not only taught campers skills on the field, but also ways to deal with their disease in a sports setting. Parents were also able to attend clinics with medical professionals and learn about the latest technology and studies involving T1D research. The Rays also hosted an event at Tropicana Field in January of 2013, where parents could get information and resources from T1D professionals.
Junior Achievement is an organization dedicated to teaching young students about preparing for the real world and workforce by teaching them to make their own money, effectively manage the money, how to create jobs, as well as use entrepreneurial thinking. The Rays host a store front in JA Biztown where students can work, earn money, and buy Rays merchandise.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation was founded in 1980 with the intent to enrich the lives of children around the country with life-threatening medical conditions by granting them wishes. The Rays partnership with Make-A-Wish started in 2004 with the Tuesday's Champion program and has grown to also include granted wishes for wish participants.
The Rays partner with Moffitt Cancer Center on many events throughout the year, including:
- Spring Swing
During Spring Training, Moffitt Cancer Center promotes the importance of wearing sunscreen and being smart in the sun. On Opening Day of Spring Training in Port Charlotte, the Spring Swing bus is at the ballpark providing free skin cancer screenings along with skin cancer education to fans. After opening day, the bus then travels to three more Spring Training locations in the Tampa Bay area. - Miles for Moffitt
Miles for Moffitt is a race that is dedicated to raising funds for cancer research. The Rays are the presenting sponsor of the race as well as host a night in the ballpark to promote the race and to recognize many of the people affected by cancer and supported by Moffitt Cancer Center. The Rays mascot, Raymond, leads the Kids Race each year, encouraging younger participants to get involved in the fight against cancer. - Turn Back the Clock Jersey Auction
Every summer, the Rays turn back the clock to celebrate the history of baseball in Tampa Bay. The Rays have donned jerseys from a variety of past Tampa area teams, while the visitors dress in historical garb from that same era in their team's past. After the game, jerseys and equipment are signed by the players from both teams and auctioned off on raybaseball.com with proceeds benefiting the Rays Baseball Foundation and Moffitt Cancer Center.
Local Police Athletic Leagues focus on Crime Prevention through Athletics, Recreation and Education. For the second year, the Rays have donated new/used baseball and softball equipment to a local Pinellas County Police Athletic Leagues. The equipment was donated during the Baseball Tomorrow Fund Equipment Drive and for participating in the drive; the Baseball Tomorrow Fund donated $5,000 to the St. Petersburg Police Athletic League in 2011 and the Pinellas County Sheriff's Police Athletic League in 2012.
The Pinellas Education Foundation enhances and improves educational opportunities in Pinellas County Schools. The Rays and Rays Baseball Foundation support PEF in numerous ways, including event sponsorship, in-kind donations and an annual Night in the Ballpark. Each season the Rays honor students and teachers in the Pinellas County area with pre-game ceremonies and television exposure. The foundation is also able to raise funds by holding a group sales fundraiser to invite parents and friends to attend Pinellas Education Night. In April 2012, the Rays recognized top Doorways scholars in a pregame ceremony. Students were awarded the chance to meet Raymond as well as throw out a ceremonial first pitch. In a separate event in May 2012, the Rays recognized top Pinellas county teachers including the Teacher of the Year and Fan Favorite teacher.
For many years, the Rays have partnered with the Salvation Army for Joe Maddon's annual Thanksmas. Joe Maddon along with other coaches and broadcasters served dinner and lunch to the homeless at Salvation Army locations in St. Petersburg, Tampa, and Clearwater. Joe also served his famous meal and handed out holiday presents to the kids at the Sallie House in St. Petersburg which is a home for children removed from their families, through the Salvation Army.
For the first year, the Rays held a drive in July called "Thanksmas in July" that asked fans to bring toiletries to the stadium to be donated to the Salvation Army.
The Rays and Tampa General Hospital teamed up on various fundraising efforts in 2012, including event sponsorships for the Tampa General Hospital Gala and Annual Golf Tournament. The Rays Baseball Foundation partners with TGH during the annual Rays Broadcast Auction, a unique fundraiser hosted on Rays TV and radio broadcasts offering one-of-a-kind experiences to bidders. Proceeds from the auction benefit the Foundation as well as the Tampa General Hospital Children's Medical Center. Rays players also make visits to pediatric patients being treated in the Tampa General Hospital Children's Medical Center throughout the season, providing an uplifting experience to the patients, their families and staff.
The Rays and the now, United Way Suncoast, have formed a great partnership over the years. United Way strives to improve lives and create lasting community change by mobilizing the caring people of our communities. The Rays front office employees each year participate in the United Way Charitable Giving Campaign and this year the Rays have agreed to match donations 2 to 1 for the first $500. Along with giving, the Rays host the annual United Way Campaign Kickoff Breakfast at Tropicana Field each year. Each season the Rays have a United Way Night in the Ballpark to showcase the good work United Way does in our communities.