Our Three Pillars of Focus
(1) National Youth Mentoring Initiatives (2) Youth Development Parks (3) National STEM Center Initiative
ABOUT USFrom the Field to the Future: How Mentorship and Partnership Shapes Leaders
Lily Baughan
June 2, 2025
“Sports teaches you character, it teaches you to play by the rules, it teaches you to know what it feels like to win and lose – it teaches you about life.” - Billie Jean King
At the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation (CRSF), we believe that the power of sports, mentorship, and opportunity can transform young lives. That belief is fully realized in youth like Julia, a 14-year-old from Flagstaff, Arizona, whose journey with the Boys & Girls Club of Flagstaff (BGC) and our Badges for Baseball program highlights the life-changing impact of our partnership with the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) and the U.S. Department of Justice.
Through her involvement with the BGC and participation in CRSF programs, Julia began to tap into her true leadership potential. Julia’s transformation took root during her time at the CRSF Summer Camp in Aberdeen, Maryland, where she not only honed her athletic abilities, but also embraced leadership, teamwork, and communication challenges. Surrounded by mentors, peers, and law enforcement officers, she stepped confidently into roles that tested her courage and character.
CRSF’s overnight camp is the capstone experience of our Youth Mentoring Initiatives. Kids from our program partner sites from across the country come to Aberdeen, Maryland for an all-expenses paid, weeklong camp. During that experience, they learn baseball “The Ripken Way” while simultaneously being exposed to life lessons that will help them continue on the path to success. These lessons are integrated into all activities including baseball and softball skills stations, roped courses, team building games, and special presentations.
Julia’s growth was recently recognized with the 2025 Junior Youth of the Year award by the BGC, a prestigious title earned through excellence in essay writing, public speaking, and interviews. She credits CRSF Camp with helping her become more confident and capable. “When I think of CRSF, I think of a bigger opportunity, not just to play baseball and softball, but to build friendships and become more confident in myself and with others,” said Julia.
Stories like Julia’s show just how much of a difference these programs can make. Our National Youth Mentoring Initiatives are transforming communities in 43 states by empowering at-risk youth through sports, mentorship, and structured life skills programming. Anchored by our flagship Badges for Baseball program, developed in partnership with the Department of Justice, we connect young people with law enforcement and trained mentors to foster trust, teamwork, and positive decision-making.
Julia’s mentor, Amy, has seen firsthand the impact of these experiences on Julia’s life. “Julia has consistently demonstrated maturity, responsibility, and a natural ability to lead. Her peers look up to her not just because she speaks up, but because she listens, supports others, and leads by example. She brings her many strengths to each and every space she puts herself in,”
Julia’s story is one of many made possible through our strong and ongoing partnership with OJJDP and the Department of Justice, which has played a critical role in the development of young leaders. Over the last 24 years, through this partnership we have hosted 600 events, clinics, college days, and camps, impacting over 500,000 youth.
Since 2019, the Flagstaff BGC has implemented Badges for Baseball thanks to subgrants made possible by our partnership with OJJDP, who has invested over $18 million since 2008. In Flagstaff alone, this collaboration has supported:
- Three trips to CRSF Summer Camp, hosting 11 youth and three mentors.
- Youth programming, impacting 440 youth and 43 mentors, including 16 law enforcement officers.
- Innumerable lessons in resilience, leadership, and community service.
Julia’s achievements are just the beginning. With strong mentors, a supportive family, and the foundation built through Badges for Baseball and other CRSF programming, Julia is poised to continue growing as a role model in her community and beyond. Through our enduring partnership with OJJDP and the Department of Justice, we’re proud to empower young people life Julia to become confident leaders of tomorrow.
~end~
-
Reach and Impact
Reach & Impact
In 2024, the Ripken Foundation collaborated with 1,237 schools, local youth-serving partners and law enforcement agencies in 484 communities in 47 states and Washington, D.C. to impact over 1.4 million youth. The Ripken Foundation Portal, which gives mentors access to our program curriculum guides, impacted 410,738 of those youth. In addition, we now have 739 STEM Centers completed in 25 states and Washington, D.C. giving over 313,000 kids the early exposure and hands-on opportunity to explore Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.
-
Mentoring
Mentoring
In 2024, over 35,000 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 30,289 kids in 122 communities.
-
Youth Development Parks
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 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 -
“”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
Sponsors
The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation is grateful for the support of the generous sponsors who share our vision and make our work possible.
