In March 2010, the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation was pleased to launch our fourth year of the Virginia Badges for Baseball program with financial support from Governor’s Office of Substance Abuse Prevention. As long standing program sites, many of our Virginia partners consider Badges for Baseball a staple in their spring and summer programming. The 2010 Virginia Badges for Baseball program will serve at least 500 youth at sites in Fredericksburg, Richmond, Newport News, and Lynchburg.
Stafford County, Virginia, has one of the most successful Badges for Baseball partnerships, with a law enforcement agency, Stafford County Sheriff’s Department, and a community based organization, Stafford Junction, working hand in hand to deliver the program to youth across Stafford County. This March, the Executive Director of Stafford Junction came to Maryland to share their successes with the nine new program sites in Maryland, helping these Sheriff’s Departments consider ways to develop the most effective program plans. Thanks to a history of success in sustaining program in Virginia, we are able to provide many new sites with best practices and support in creating strong programs for youth from urban, rural, and suburban settings.
