25 Moments of Impact: Building Fields Where Every Child Belongs
February 9, 2026
25 Moments of Impact: Building Fields Where Every Child Belongs At the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, the belief that all kids deserve a place to
Our Three Pillars of Focus
(1) National Youth Mentoring Initiatives
(2) Youth Development Parks
(3) National STEM Center Initiative
Reach & Impact
In 2025, the Ripken Foundation collaborated with 1,369 schools, local youth-serving partners and law enforcement agencies in 583 communities in 45 states and Washington, D.C. to impact 1.6 million youth. The Ripken Foundation Portal, which gives mentors access to our program curriculum guides, impacted 404,578 of those youth. In addition, we now have 809 STEM Centers completed in 28 states and Washington, D.C. giving over 334,000 kids the early exposure and hands-on opportunity to explore Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.
Mentoring
In 2025, over 1,800 coaches, law enforcement officers, teachers, volunteers, and other youth mentors worked with the kids in our programs. Badges for Baseball, our signature crime prevention and mentoring program, impacted 35,475 kids in 128 communities in 31 states and Washington, D.C.
Youth & Development & Parks
We’re adding more of our signature Youth Development Parks every year—creating safe places to play and renewing community pride
Score Big with Our Resource Portal
Create your free account to access a stellar lineup of positive youth development resources. You will find easy-to-use training materials, videos, and other tools to help coaches and mentors make a lasting difference.
Testimonials
We love to hear how the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation has positively impacted the lives of our mentors and at-risk youth. If you have a positive experience with the Foundation that you would like to share, please submit a story. You might be featured below or on our social media outlets!
" I have seen students come out of their shells, they are answering questions, they are building relationships with police officers and it is a very positive program in the schools. "
Tricia WinklerPrincipal, Lima South Science-Technology Magnet 
" Although our gym can be quite chaotic during the Badges for Baseball program, it has been rewarding to see the kids practice sportsmanship and leadership during games. I've had multiple students ask me, ‘Can we come back every day?’ It's questions like those that make all the chaos worthwhile. "
Carrie MarshMentor, Y of Central Maryland 
" I remember meeting Ernie Graham on the second day of the CRSF Summer Camp and listening to the story he told us about how he went from rags to riches to rags. I can honestly say that the summer camp was the reason I came back to school and decided to become a smart athlete. "
Cornell PowellFormer Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation Summer Camp Participant 
" The Badges for Baseball program was a 100% law enforcement participation program and the kids that participated were at-risk kids who would never speak or communicate with the police. That has changed drastically, these kids now run up to the police cruisers and they want to talk to the police. "
Sgt. Randy ShawStafford County, Virginia 
" The Badges for Baseball program has yielded results that were unforeseen. The relationships made will be lifelong and the Green Bay Police Department is eager to continue on with the program. "
Officer Kevin WarychGreen Bay Police Department 
" This CRSF camp trip was packed with “first’s” for most of the members that joined me: it was the first time these members traveled out of state and for some, the first time at a baseball camp. Although the camp was loaded with memories, what stuck with my group of boys the most was the bonding they had with our roommates after all the activities were done. "
BJ KolbBoys and Girls Club of Green Bay 
" I can remember back to my first day in the Badges for Baseball program. The police officers were amazing, coming out to all the practices and games. They had a big influence on me, and because of them, I am now studying to become a police officer at Fox Valley Tech in Appleton, Wisconsin. It wouldn’t have been possible without Badges for Baseball. "
Alex StewardFormer Badges for Baseball Participant 
Sponsors
The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation is grateful for the support of the generous sponsors who share our vision and make our work possible.
