Grand Slam for Youth Baseball

OUR MISSION
The Houston Astros and the makers of Minute Maid partner together in a four-part program designed to bring the benefits of the national pastime to the young people of Greater Houston. Named Grand Slam for Youth Baseball, the program was created to make it easier for boys and girls to play, learn about and experience baseball, thus seeking to foster self-confidence, involvement, teamwork, and fun among youth in Houston and the surrounding areas.

In addition to behind-the-scenes support and coordination, Minute Maid commits over $100,000 annually to Grand Slam for Youth Baseball. The Houston Astros and the Astros in Action Foundation complement the youth baseball program by committing fund-raising assistance, game tickets, player appearances, and use of Minute Maid Park.

HISTORY
On June 5, 2002, the Houston Astros and Minute Maid announced that they had "expanded their relationship to create a long-term marketing and community partnership." The agreement called for the ballpark to be rechristened Minute Maid Park; the continuation of the Minute Maid Squeeze Play; extended pouring rights, advertising, and marketing; and a commitment "to support youth baseball programs in the Houston area."

This commitment to youth by both companies created Grand Slam for Youth Baseball. The program was officially announced on August 20, 2002, on the occasion of the unveiling of the large Minute Maid Park sign in center field.

FOUR-PART PROGRAM
Grand Slam for Youth Baseball is comprised of the following four components:

City League Sponsorship
The 2007 season marks the fifth year Grand Slam for Youth Baseball has sponsored the City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department's and the Boys and Girls Clubs' free youth baseball, softball, and t-ball program for kids ages 4-18. GSFYB provides all t-shirts, caps, equipment, and instruction for the program. More than 3,000 Houston-area boys and girls benefit from the sponsorship each year.

Field Refurbishment
The Astros and Minute Maid, through Grand Slam for Youth Baseball, have pledged to refurbish one youth ball field each year by providing landscaping, renovating facilities or helping with other needs. Employees of both organizations assist in the refurbishment efforts.

Recently, the Astros and Minute Maid completed refurbishment efforts at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston Jim and Barbara Morefield Unit Baseball Field. The field was renamed, “John Havard Field,” in honor of the president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston, who has been a part of the organization for over 30 years. The refurbishment efforts included a completely renovated playing field, complete with all new Bermuda tiff sod; new dugouts and dugout covers; fence covers, refurbished bleachers; a new concrete pad; a new electronic scoreboard; a new sprinkler system, complete with a weather station; full landscaping; new fencing; and a new flagpole. The Astros and Minute Maid joined the Boys & Girls Clubs at a ribbon-cutting ceremony to reopen the field on April 3. Pitcher Brandon Backe took the mound to play ball with thirty boys and girls from Frost Elementary School with a special play-by-play commentary provided by Astros Hall of Fame announcer Milo Hamilton.

Youth ball fields that have been refurbished through the Grand Slam for Youth Baseball program include:

• Settegast Park Ball Field (2003)
• Northeast Family YMCA (2004)
• La Marque Little League’s Bobby Beach Memorial Stadium (2005)
• St. Monica Catholic Church Youth Baseball Fields #1 and #2 (2006)
• John Havard Field (2007)

Download the Grand Slam For Youth Field Makeover Application »

Education
The Grand Slam for Youth Baseball Scholarship program was launched in 2005 to assist Houston-area high school senior boys and girls with college expenses. Through the program, Minute Maid and the Astros will fund and support up to four $2,500 college scholarships per year. In the second year of the scholarship gifts, the college scholarships were awarded to four students in Houston's Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program. The recipients of these scholarships were Bryan Smart (Booker T. Washington High School/Howard University), Samantha Martinez (Sharpstown High School/University of Houston), Oscar Ayala (J. Frank Dobie High School/University of Texas), and James Eaves (North Shore Senior High School/Sam Houston State University). In addition to the four $2,500 scholarships, GSFYB also awarded eight students with $500 college scholarships.

Download the Grand Slam For Youth Scholarship Application »

Fundraising
Through GSFYB, the Astros and Minute Maid offer unique fundraising opportunities to help qualified 501(c) 3 youth baseball and softball teams and leagues raise money for baseball/softball-related expenses. An example is the Grand Slam for Youth Baseball-branded concession stand at Minute Maid Park established in conjunction with ARAMARK. The stand is staffed by youth baseball and softball volunteers (ages 16 and over) during Astros games, with portions of the proceeds going to the teams and leagues. This portion of the GSFYB program has generated over $100,000 in proceeds for Houston area leagues and teams.