Play Ball Foundation Organizational Overview

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. WHY THE PLAY BALL FOUNDATION EXISTS 2. MISSION & VALUES 3. HISTORY OF THE PLAY BALL FOUNDATION 4. APPROACH: HOW WE WORK 5. APPROACH: WHAT WE FUND 6. 2023-24 PROGRAM UPDATE 7. IMPACT - SCALE 8. IMPACT - ENGAGEMENT

W H Y

T H E

P L A Y

F O U N D A T I O N

B A L L

E X I S T S

BELIEF: Sports have a positive impact on middle school students​ We believe that sports done well are vital for middle school students. Team sports help middle school students develop key skills– friendship building, receiving and providing mentoring, school engagement, and healthy habits – which are critically important in the middle school years. ​

CHALLENGE: In high-need communities throughout Massachusetts, there is limited access to middle school sports Youth sports access is severely limited in high-need communities throughout Massachusetts. While widely available in most suburban communities, these opportunities in high-need communities are limited.​

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SOLUTION: Create opportunities for middle school students in high-need communities to play team sports ​ Play Ball partners with school districts in high-need communities to offer schoolbased sports leagues. Currently, over 4,000 students can play sports for their schools because of the funding and partnership from the Play Ball Foundation.​

M I S S I O N

&

V A L U E S

MISSION:

The Play Ball Foundation invests in schools in high-need communities to provide equitable access to team sports, which empower middle school youth.

VALUES:

Equity - We believe that all students should have access to sports programming. ​ Collaboration - We work closely and openly with our community partners.​​ Opportunity - We believe every student should have the opportunity to experience joy in sport.

H I S T O R Y P L A Y

B A L L

O F

T H E

F O U N D A T I O N

INCEPTION & FIRST PARTNERSHIPS

2006

Play Ball founded as a 501(c)(3) –partners with and funds Boston Public Schools to expand middle school sports opportunities through the support of all-volunteer Board of Directors In 2013 Play Ball expands to Lawrence Public Schools - funds middle school sports

2018

Play Ball continues to successfully fund programming in Boston and Lawrence Middle Schools – growing participation and relationships within the school districts

PROFESSIONALIZATION & EXPANSION

2019

Play Ball hires first full time Executive Director (Chris Lynch)​ Play Ball expands to Holyoke Public Schools – funds middle school sports​

2021

Play Ball hires first full time Director of Development (Katie Small)​ Play Ball expands to New Bedford Public Schools – funds middle school sports ​

STRATEGIC PLANNING & FURTHER EXPANSION

2022

Play Ball board and staff create three-year strategic plan (with Game Plan Partners) which defines organizational development and program growth​ As part of strategic plan, Play Ball expands to Lynn and Salem Public Schools – funds middle school sports

2024

As part of strategic plan, Play Ball is in conversations to partner with and fund programming in Lowell, Methuen, and Worcester​

Katie Small, Director of Development - Play Ball, Michelle Macklin - Holyoke Head of ELT, Stephen Mahoney - Holyoke Assistant Superintendent, Josh Garcia - Mayor of Holyoke, Chris Lynch, Executive Director – Play Ball, Anthony Soto – Holyoke Superintendent

A P P R O A C H :

H O W

W E

1. IDENTIFY PARTNER COMMUNITIES

Play Ball identifies high-need communities that have interest and capacity to create and run middle school sports offerings.​

4.

REFINE PARTNER COMMUNITY OFFERINGS

In conjunction with partner districts, determine which sports programs went well and would be repeated, refined, or replaced in the following school year.​

W O R K

2. BUILD PARTNERSHIPS TO CREATE SCHOOL-BASED SPORTS PROGRAMS

Through an MOU application and ongoing communication, Play Ball creates a model of middle school, school-based team sports leagues that work for, and are intentionally run by each district.​

3.

MEASURE & EVALUATE IMPACT OF PROGRAMS

Through scale and youth and partner surveys, Play Ball demonstrates impact of programming throughout our partner school districts.​

A P P R O A C H :

W H A T

W E

F U N D

We partner with and fund high-need school districts in Massachusetts to increase access to middle school sports by funding districts in three key areas:​

1

Coaches Engaged, quality coaches. The vast majority of Play Ball coaches are teachers and school personnel who know and work with the students.

2

Equipment & Apparel High quality sports equipment, apparel, and uniforms make the practices and games more fun and safe.

3

Transportation Providing transportation for students, who otherwise would not have been able to attend, to and from practices and games.

2 0 2 3 - 2 4

P R O G R A M

U P D A T E

The Play Ball Foundation is entering the second year of a three-year strategic plan, which will focus on the following strategic growth by 2025: ​ Expansion to 2-3 more Gateway communities within Massachusetts​ Funding over 5,000 middle school students ​

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Current Play Ball partner communities​ In conversations/connecting with as potential partners​ Gateway communities (Expansion opportunities)​

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LAWRENCE

+

HOLYOKE

+

BOSTON

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+ SALEM + LYNN

NEW BEDFORD

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Existing partner communities (Fall 2023) ​

METHUEN LOWELL

+

+ ++

+ + + + + + WORCESTER ++ + + + + BROCKTON + + + + + + + + + Expansion opportunities​ +

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I M P A C T

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S C A L E

Play Ball Foundation currently funds over 4,000 middle school students each year​

9 Sports are supported by Play Ball - baseball, basketball, cheer, cross country, flag football, soccer, track & field, volleyball, and wrestling.

46 Schools across our partner communities of Boston, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lynn, New Bedford, and Salem have teams participating in middle school sports.​

283 Teams are competing on the fields, courts, diamonds, mats, and tracks across the Commonwealth.​

I M P A C T

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E N G A G E M E N T

"I have always loved being part of something bigger than myself. This flag football team, as well as the basketball team allowed me to join an awesome community and get to build relationships that I might not have been able to have without this sport.”​ -Play Ball Middle Schooler

92 % of middle schoolers on Play Ball teams said that playing on the team made them feel more connected to/proud to go to their school​.

65 % of middle schoolers in our community partner sites said that the Play Ball sports were their only opportunity to play organized sports.​

99 % of middle schoolers said they had or made friends on their Play Ball team​.

W E B S I T E

C O N T A C T Chris Lynch Executive Director clynch@playballfoundation.org 617.275.6470

Katie Small Director of Development ksmall@playballfoundation.org 781.962.0283

THANK YOU!