MLB All-Stars George Springer and Trevor Story have teamed up to donate $150,000 to the Perfect Game Cares Foundation's "Grow the Game" fund. The donation is being matched by Perfect Game, giving $300,000 to help provide financial assistance to youth baseball players, specifically players of colour and from underprivileged backgrounds.
Springer and Story are both alumni of Perfect Game programs from their time in youth baseball. According to a statement from Perfect Game, "Grow the Game" funds are set aside to help "ensure that cost does not stop any child from enjoying a chance to play and fall in love with the great games of baseball and softball in their communities."
“As a Black baseball player myself, one of my goals is to make the sport more accessible to athletes of colour,” said Springer in a statement. “I’m proud to be a part of this initiative and provide help to underprivileged kids who need the financial assistance to further their careers.”
“It’s extremely important to break down the barriers that have kept Black and underprivileged kids from pursuing a career in baseball,” said Story in a statement. “These funds will go towards helping kids from impoverished communities participate in programs that would normally be outside their financial means.”
Springer, 31, signed a six-year, $150-million contract in free agency with the Toronto Blue Jays before the season. Story, 28, is in the final year of a two-year, $27.5-million contract with the Colorado Rockies and will be one of a number of star short stops looking for a big contract on the free agent market next winter. The two players have a combined four Silver Slugger awards and five All-Star Game appearances between them.
“We are very grateful and proud of George and Trevor. They are showing that they truly care about the future of other young children who may just need a helping hand to accomplish great things in life,” said Perfect Game founder and president Jerry Ford in a statement. “I remember watching George compete in our showcase at Cape Cod and watching Trevor compete with the Dallas Patriots in Jupiter. It is with great pleasure to see those two, along with many other former PG alums, become very successful Major League players. It means so much that they care about our mission to help those that lack the financial resources necessary to get better opportunities, and it is an honour to recognize their generosity by matching their contribution.”
