SAN FRANCISCO CA, November 15, 2003 – The Sports for the World’s Children Foundation (SWC) was recently awarded a $5,390 grant from the Baseball Tomorrow Fund. SWC plans to use the grant money to purchase pitching machines and “reduced injury” baseballs and softballs.

“This is a wonderful opportunity, not only for our program, but for the boys and girls who play the game,” says SWC Founder and Executive Director, Kim Ina. “We will use the grant to provide used and new sports equipment, facilities, instruction and educational material to children in the Western U.S. and the Mexican Baja peninsula through the ‘Communities Play’ program. This will give the opportunity for hundreds of children to play baseball and softball who otherwise wouldn’t be able to.”

In January, SWC will travel to Mexico with volunteers to bring donated sports equipment to the children and conduct skills training as part of its “Communities Play-Mexico” volunteer trip program. Volunteers for the trip are still welcome to sign up, and further funding is still needed to facilitate the transportation of the donated sports equipment, to the remote communities in Mexico. Interested individuals and/or sponsors can contact SWC for more information and/or a video about the program at swc@swcfoundation.org, (415) 566-3487.

The Sports for the World’s Children Foundation (SWC), based in San Francisco, has been a long time supporter of youth participation in sports in California and Mexico. SWC’s mission is to create ongoing, self-sustaining quality sports programs for children. Over the past six years, SWC has benefited more than 7,600 children, ages 5-18, by providing them with thousands of pounds of sports equipment and sports skills instruction and training through its “Communities Play” Program. The grant will provide funding to expand the Communities Play program in Mexico during January’s volunteer trip in four main areas: Flores Magon/La Paz, Insurgentes, La Bocana/Punta Abreojos, and Bahia Tortugas.

The Baseball Tomorrow Fund was designed to promote and enhance the growth of baseball among youth in the United States, Canada and throughout the world. Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) developed the program as a collaborative effort to ensure the future of baseball.

Since its inception in 1999, the Baseball Tomorrow Fund annually awards approximately $2 million to youth baseball and softball programs in the United States, Canada, Latin American and Europe.

Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis and will be awarded quarterly. Organizations may access the Baseball Tomorrow Fund online at: www.baseballtomorrowfund.com or by writing: Baseball Tomorrow Fund, 245 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10167.