Badges for Baseball

Badges for Baseball was created by the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice to help at-risk youth and prevent juvenile crime. By pairing police and kids together playing baseball and softball, the program builds new relationships between youth and law enforcement. It reached more than 26,000 youngsters in 16 states last year.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine brought the program to Ohio through the Ohio Attorney General's Office commitment of almost $170,000 over two years to complement the $158,000 in goods and services being provided by the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation. Funds from the Attorney General's Office come from fines and penalties received by the Office's Charitable Law Section through its enforcement activities that ensure that monies raised by non-profits in Ohio go for charitable purposes.