As we close out 2017 and look ahead to 2018, we want to thank you for your support of “C” You In The Major Leagues. Whether you’ve donated your money or your time, you’ve been vital to changing lives in Kansas City in 2017. You’ve undoubtedly heard the acronym TEAM: Together Everyone Achieves More. Usually TEAM is preached by countless coaches across the country, but away from sports, perhaps nowhere is that acronym more evident and true than in the nonprofit world. Lives cannot change without all of us working together.
One of the most exciting things in 2017 came in September when we made a grant that put us over the $500,000 mark. It’s incredibly humbling to think that we — all of us — have been able to grant more than $500,000 to 45 organizations since CYITML started in 2014. Of those 45 organizations and causes, 32 have directly helped folks in our community. (If you’d like to watch our 2017 Impact video, which runs about 8 minutes, here is the link.)
Our hope is that by January 2020, with your help, we will pass $1 million in grants. What an incredible impact that will have in Kansas City!
At the same time, however, during the past two years we’ve researched the needs of people in underserved areas of Kansas City to hone our focus even more. Besides making grants to help people, we’re doing what we can with our own programming to reach children at a younger age to give hope, encouragement, and character-building leadership messages. Studies show that when we reach students in high school and younger, we can help curb violence, criminal activity, school dropouts, runaways, and teen pregnancies. Together, we can change generations.
So, this past year with the support of the Darol Rodrock Foundation, we continued our “C” You At The “K” program, which brings more than 75 high school students from underserved areas to Kauffman Stadium during the season for a one-of-a-kind experience. Additionally, we granted a “C” You In The Major Leagues Scholarship for a student to attend college for free, and we partnered with Blue KC to develop a “Coaches with Character” program, which recognized amateur coaches who are making an incredible difference in the lives of students. In 2018 we plan to launch a new leadership and mentoring initiative for high school juniors, which you’ll learn more about in the upcoming days and weeks.
None of what you’ve just read is possible without you. Families that have lost nearly all of their possessions would not be able to rebuild their lives without you. More than 75 high school students would not be getting messages of character-based leadership and hope without you. A student from Kansas City, Kan., would not be in college without you. Together Everyone Achieves More.
Thank you!
About the Author: Dayton Moore became the sixth general manager in Royals history on June 8, 2006. Under Moore’s leadership, the Royals built one of the best farm systems in baseball en route to winning the 2015 World Series in the club’s second consecutive trip to the Fall Classic, and first World Series championship since 1985. That was following the club reaching the postseason for the first time in 29 years as they won the 2014 American League championship by setting a Major League record with eight-straight wins in the playoffs. In 2014, Moore, along with his wife Marianne, started the “C” You In the Major Leagues Foundation to support youth baseball, education, families in crisis, and faith-based programs and organizations. Since 2014 the foundation has granted more than $500,000 to help make a difference in those four areas.
NOTE: There’s still time to make a difference in 2017. To make a donation, click here.