CommunityThe philanthropic arm of the team, the Red Sox Foundation is committed to using the power of Red Sox Nation to create new and strengthened community partnerships that will improve the lives of children and adults across New England. The Foundation's efforts are primarily focused on improving health, educational and recreational opportunities, as well as social service programs in urban neighborhoods.
Initially funded through generous donations from the team's owners and partners, the Red Sox Foundation is a 501c3 federally recognized nonprofit, and the cornerstone of Principal Owner John Henry, Chairman Tom Werner and President/CEO Larry Lucchino's charitable commitment to this community and families throughout New England. Support from Red Sox players, their wives, corporate partners and fans offered through special events like the first annual "Welcome Home Dinner" and "Picnic in the Park" underscore the community commitment shared by the team and our fans.
Indeed, the strong sense of teamwork shared by Red Sox supporters and the team's corporate partners has helped the Red Sox Foundation generate over $30 million in donations to a wide variety of charities and non-profit programs over the past three years. Although a relatively new player on Boston's philanthropic scene, the Red Sox Foundation has already become the largest sports foundation in New England and in all of Major League Baseball.
The Red Sox Foundation is committed not only to continuing the team's long standing charitable partnerships, like the Jimmy Fund's support for ground breaking research at Dana Farber Cancer Institute, but also to creating news ones, like the Red Sox partnership with the Teen Center at Dimock Community Health Center in Roxbury and the Red Sox Scholars program, which provides college scholarships to academically talented by economically deprived Boston public school students. At the suggestion of John Henry, the Red Sox Foundation has also extended its outreach to children in group homes, or what were once called orphanages, in each New England state.
The Red Sox Foundation also funds a variety of youth sports programs that serve thousands of children, including the Rookie and RBI Leagues and Red Sox Children's Retreats, seasonal weekend camps for hundreds of inner-city children at the Ron Burton Training Village in central Massachusetts.
In addition, the team donates thousands of authentic autographed items and Fenway experiences to nonprofits throughout New England to help them raise funds for their worthy programs. The Foundation also supports charitable programs near the team's winter home in Fort Meyers, Florida and programs in the Dominican Republic, where the Red Sox Academy is based.
Over 300 charities and nonprofits are helped each year through donations from the Red Sox Foundation. The executive director of the Red Sox Foundation is Meg Vaillancourt, the club's Senior Vice President/Corporate Relations.
For more information, please visit the website at redsoxfoundation.org.
