A Home Run Experience
Have you ever taken part in a community initiative affiliated with a major sports team?
Reflect on an experience that was “extra special” or that felt like “once in a lifetime”. Perhaps a trip you went on with family and friends, or maybe this was devoting your time towards a local organization supporting your community. Whatever that rare moment was, it is most likely a lifetime memory that you will never forget.
For us, that experience of a lifetime was partaking in an initiative affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays called the Jays Care Foundation. This opportunity enabled us utilize our leadership skills to help build an inclusive environment for children of all ages to learn baseball skills. Throughout this blog post we will be sharing our memorable experience as being Spring Training volunteers representing the first annual Affiliate School Program, created by the Jays Care Foundation.
What is the Jays Care Foundation?
For all our fellow Canadians out there, most of us are familiarized with the only MLB team in Canada, iconically referred to as the Toronto Blue Jays. Yet, many of us may not be as familiarized with the affiliated charity, Jays Care Foundation founded in 1992.
What truly makes this organization very unique and empowering, is their vision to create and provide sport-based programs for diverse range of youth populations across Canada. Some of which include, young girl populations, Indigenous youth populations, children living in poverty and those with physical or cognitive disabilities. These programs not only teach young children important life skills such as leadership, team building skills, inclusion and perseverance. Additionally, these programs are also overcoming barriers by increasing accessibility for youth to take part in sport.
Did You Know?
The Toronto Blue Jays’ charitable reaches 65,000 kids across Canada every year.
Reference: https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/jays-care-foundation-builds-unstoppable-kids/
Our motivation for becoming Spring Training Volunteers:
When we were initially introduced and educated on the Affiliate School Program, we deeply resonated with this event’s mission to promote inclusion and sport. Being kinesiology students and learning about how to teach sport skills in an adaptive way to increase accessibility for everyone to join in and play, motivated us to devote our time as volunteers. Even further, we were intrigued by the tremendous amount of involvement on behalf of all the schools across Ontario who are opening the doors of opportunity for their students.
In fact, the event had spanned three days, hosting 40 schools of 1,000 students and 300 educators, teachers and support staff.
The Blue Jay Experience:
Being volunteers for this event, was an absolute honour. We grew up watching the Blue Jays play at the Rogers Stadium and had the chance to watch a few games live in person. However, being able to step foot on the baseball field teaching young students and children baseball skills and drills was a breath-taking moment in itself. More specifically, we were part of “All-Star Competitions Station”, in which we lead various baseball/ softball activities on the field ensuring games were inclusive and accessible for all!
The most empowering moment of our entire day was seeing the children bat a baseball for the first time within an inclusive space. As a volunteer, we were able to see their confidence progress each time they picked up that bat and hit the ball.
Major Takeaways from our experience:
1. Go outside your comfort zone and take part in a community initiative
2. Helping your community can change many lives
3. Partake in activities that you enjoy and are most passionate about
For more information visit: https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/community/jays-care
