MLB & MLBPA Grant Addresses Healthy & Positive Relationships

March 12, 2021 

Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) have announced the fourth round of recipients of their joint “Healthy Relationships Community Grant” program. The initiative focuses on supporting and strengthening programs that build on and improve relationships and interpersonal skills, with a goal to “address positive relationship health, with self and others.”  

Overall, the initiative will award $3 million in 2020 and 2021 to US-based nonprofits and global NGOs that: support healthy relationships through programs designed to build and improve the relationship skills of the next generation; strengthen and provide critical services to survivors of domestic violence; and improve mental health resiliency among vulnerable populations. All are encouraged to apply for localized support across these key areas.

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, disaster relief and recovery as well as human trafficking prevention. It is intended as a prevention strategy to empower the next generation to understand the components of a healthy relationship.

According to a new report released by the World Health Organization, almost 1 in 3 women have experienced physical or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime. Intimate partner violence was the most prevalent form, starting from an early age. Nearly 1 in 4 girls and women who'd been in a relationship have already experience physical and/or sexual violence by age 19. A surge in violence against women and girls around the world has been seen since lockdown restrictions have been implemented, as many found themselves trapped in their homes with their abusers.

The current distribution of $400,000 is going to eight non-profit organizations, marking nearly $2 million donated to 40 organizations as part of the fourth 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. The latest recipients are: 

• Ada S. McKinley Community Services, Inc., Chicago, IL – Mental Health Resiliency 
• Child Saving Institute Inc., Omaha, NE - Mental Health Resiliency 
• Friends of the Children National, Portland, OR - Mental Health Resiliency 
• Girls Inc. of Worcester, Worcester, MA - Mental Health Resiliency 
• House of Ruth, Washington, DC – Survivors of Domestic Violence 
• Stella Maris Inc, Cleveland, OH - Mental Health Resiliency 
• UTEC, Lowell, MA - Mental Health Resiliency 
• Vera House Inc, Syracuse, NY – Relationship Skills

To learn more about the grant, click here.