November 23, 2020 /CSRwire/ – Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) today announced the third round of recipients of the joint “Healthy Relationships Community Grant” program. The current distribution of nearly $500,000 is going to 11 nonprofit organizations, marking approximately $1.5 million donated to 32 organizations as part of the third of seven donation phases through 2021. The focus areas for the organizations receiving funding include support for survivors of domestic violence, mental health resiliency, and developing positive relationship skills in youth as a preventive measure to breaking the cycle of violence.
Organizations were encouraged to apply for funding to cover general operating expenses, allowing them to respond to their greatest needs, or program support. The recipients are as follows:
Organization
City, State
Category of Focus
Funding
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Redlands-Riverside
Redlands, Calif.
Relationship Skills
Relationship Smarts
Bresee Foundation Youth Center
Los Angeles, Calif.
Mental Health Resiliency
Mental Health Program for 100+ Low-Income LA Youth
Children’s Law Center
Washington, D.C.
Mental Health Resiliency
General Operating
Lake Sumter Children’s Advocacy Center Inc.
Leesburg, Fla.
Mental Health Resiliency
TREAT Program
Northern Virginia Family Service
Oakton, Va.
Mental Health Resiliency
NVFS’ Multicultural Mental Health Services
Northwest Immigrants Rights Project
Seattle, Wash.
Survivors of Domestic Violence
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Unit Support
Pueblo Nuevo Education and Development Group
Los Angeles, Calif.
Mental Health Resiliency
School-Based Mental Health for Resilient Students
Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support
Dallas, Texas
Survivors of Domestic Violence
Genesis Clinical Counseling & Advocacy Program
The Women’s Center
Vienna, Va.
Survivors of Domestic Violence
General Operating
Violence Intervention Program
New York, N.Y.
Survivors of Domestic Violence
General Operating
Young Women’s Resource Center
Des Moines, Iowa
Relationship Skills
Resilient Young Moms
This overall initiative is a $3 million commitment to provide funding in 2020 and 2021 to organizations that support healthy relationships through programs designed to build and improve relationship skills of the next generation, strengthen and provide critical services to survivors of domestic violence, and improve mental health resiliency among vulnerable populations.
U.S.-based nonprofit and global non-governmental organizations (NGOs) can still apply for localized support at MLB.com/HealthyRelationships and MLBPLAYERS.com/HealthyRelationships throughout the year, with proposals reviewed on a quarterly grant cycle. Nonprofits and NGOs may apply for grants of up to $50,000 for general operating or programmatic funding for one or more of the following categories: Healthy Relationship Practices/Education, Support for Survivors of Domestic Violence, and/or Mental Health Resiliency. Grant applications will be evaluated quarterly based on assessment of the population served, organization strength, impact, partnerships, sustainability of the programs, and more.
This initiative is intended as a prevention strategy to empower the next generation to understand the components of a healthy relationship. Organizational efforts supported by grant funding may include public education, with a preference for youth populations, on the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships as it relates to interpersonal violence (e.g., intimate partner, family or teen dating). Examples of education efforts include creating, producing & distributing public service announcements with relevant content and call to action as well as conferences or events focusing on awareness. Funding can also go toward supporting existing, or introducing new, programming on how to break the cycle of violence.
Strengthening and providing services to survivors of domestic violence is of critical importance to this grant initiative. Efforts may include (a) capacity building in support of the organizational mission of the nonprofit or NGO; (b) mental health support; (c) professional and life skills workshops as well as additional education and materials to improve employee readiness and workplace development; or (d) advocacy efforts to reduce domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
Efforts toward building and improving mental health resiliency for vulnerable populations may include providing greater access to (a) quality mental health services and wellness programs; (b) preventative programs designed to reduce suicide, suicidal ideations and self-harm; (c) training programs for mental health professionals; or (d) school or community-based interventions.
The joint donation for the “Healthy Relationships Community Grant” represents an ongoing commitment by MLB and the MLBPA to provide support to causes that assist vulnerable populations, which has historically included financial assistance toward disaster relief and recovery as well as human trafficking prevention.
# # #
Contact: Steve Arocho or Kerline Batista, Major League Baseball, (212) 931-7878, @MLB_PR
Silvia Alvarez, Major League Baseball Players Association, (646) 285-1819, mlbplayers.com, @MLB_PLAYERS.
