THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE MARLINS BALLPARK
Community Foundation
The Florida Marlins Community Foundation raises money to support education, the arts and baseball in South Florida through our players, special events, corporate sponsorships, grants and ongoing activities.
Cornerstones for Kids
The Florida Marlins Community Foundation is making South Florida a better place to live through it’s Cornerstones for Kids programs. The foundation of every child’s future is a strong mind and a strong body. The educational, arts and athletic components of Cornerstones for Kids provide the tools for Florida’s youth to develop both their minds and bodies in a positive manner.
The Arts
The Marlins recognize that an important part of developing a strong mind is stimulating creativity and imagination.
Marlins Masterpieces Art Series
The Marlins Masterpieces Art Series expands our arts program in South Florida throughout the calendar year.
Spring Series
The Spring Series challenges elementary school kids to create “Marlinized” pieces of work within the theme of Speed, Power and Teamwork.
Summer Series
The Summer Series encourages summer campers to put their creativity to the test by artistically altering a 3–dimensional object into a Marlins Masterpiece.
Holiday Series
The Holiday Series invites elementary, middle and high school students to create the cover of the Florida Marlins Community Foundation’s holiday card.5
Community Involvement
Ballpark Buddies
Over 55,000 tickets were distributed to local charities and underprivileged youth groups during the 2007 season. The tickets are provided by Marlins players, sponsors and supporters.
Community Corner
The Community Corner, located at Section 149, is the gameday headquarters for the Florida Marlins Community Foundation. Additionally, local community organizations are invited to showcase their programs at the adjacent community booth.
Speakers Bureau
The mission of the Florida Marlins Speakers Bureau is to educate fans and convey a positive message about the sport of baseball. The Speakers Bureau encourages front office members to actively communicate the Club’s vision for the future, while listening carefully to the community for feedback.
Community Partners
American Red Cross
The Marlins partner with the American Red Cross to host the annual Hurricane Awareness Night, which encourages all South Floridians to prepare early for the beginning of the hurricane season.
Boys and Girls Clubs of America
The Marlins partner with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, the official charity of Major League Baseball, by providing tickets, memorabilia, promotional items and funding for their programs.
International Kids Fund/Holtz Children’s Hospital
The Marlins and MLB partner with the International Kids Fund at Holtz Children’s Hospital in Miami. Marlins players, as well as players from other teams, visit kids at the hospital.
Make-A-Wish Foundation
The Marlins support the Make-A-Wish Foundation by granting the wishes of children who dream of being a Marlin for a day and by providing funding for their programs.
Hanley Ramirez/Dan Uggla
Ramirez and Uggla have teamed together to promote the Annual Equipment Drive. Equipment collected during the drives is given to disadvantaged ball palyers at the Boys and Girls Club of Miami.
Marlins Wives Fund
The Marlins Wives encourage fans to join them in making a difference in the South Florida community. Through the Wives Grand Auction and the Annual Back-to-School Drive the wives raised $20,000 for the SOS Children’s Village. Additionally, the Annual Dinner on the Diamond benefitted the Daily Bread Food Bank.
All Heart Award
The All Heart Award is presented to the Marlins player who best exemplifies the team’s
commitment to the South Florida community and for his desire to better the community
by making a positive impact and serving as a role model for others.
All Heart Award Winners
- 2000 Ryan Dempster
- 2001 Preston Wilson
- 2002 Mike Redmond
- 2003 Juan Pierre
- 2004 Jeff Conine
- 2005 Dontrelle Willis
- 2006 Dontrelle Willis
- 2007 Miguel Cabrera
The 2008 All Heart Award will be announced in late 2008.
Through Cornerstones for Kids, players and coaches are given the opportunity to make a difference in the community. Many of our players take their commitment a step higher by adding their personal touch.
Education
Adopt-A-Classroom
The Marlins have teamed with Adopt–A–Classroom since 1999. Each $500 stipend enables teachers to purcahse supplies that enhance the learing experience in their classroom.
Educator’s Appreciation Night
The Marlins recognize the Teacher of the Year from Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach counties during a pre-game ceremony. Complimentary tickets are given to every school’s Teacher of the Year nominee.
Get Hooked on Reading
Billy the Marlin encourages early childhood literacy, and he visits classrooms that are Hooked on Reading!
High School Media Day
The Marlins invite high school students from around South Florida to learn first hand about the media coverage that goes into a game.
Marlins @ School
Marlins @ School is an on–line curriculum enhancement program that uses the Marlins to improve the learning experience of children in grades 4 through 6. The lessons are in line with FCAT standards and requirements and are linked to language arts, mathematics, science, geography and health/fitness. Marlins players/personnel annually visit classrooms that utilize the program.
StrikeZone Summer Reading Series
The Marlins encourage kids to hit for the cycle with the StrikeZone Summer Reading Series by reading over the summer.
Teach for America
The Marlins sponsor 4 teachers through Teach for America. The classrooms are located at Little River and West Little River Elementary Schools in Miami. Teach for America is a non–profit organization that trains and places outstanding recent college graduates, of all academic majors, into classrooms in the most economically disadvantaged communities in America.
Baseball
Baseball Tomorrow Fund Equpiment Drive
Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla team up to encourage Marlins fans to donate to the Baseball Tomorrow Fund Equipment Drive. The collected equipment is distributed to disadvantaged ball players in South Florida.
Marlins Youth Baseball Clinic Series
The Marlins Youth Baseball Clinic Series features Marlins players and coaches reinforcing the fundamentals of pitching, hitting and fielding.
Mini–Marlins League
Since 2004, the Marlins have partnered with the City of Miami Parks and Recreation Department to offer the Mini Marlins T–Ball League. Through the league, children ages 7 and under have the opportunity to experience the joy of T–ball. The league has been funded through the Florida Marlins Community Foundation and during 2005–2007 the league was supported by former Marlins All–Star Dontrelle Willis. In 2006, the Marlins and the City of Miami Parks and Recreation Department agreed the time had come to expand the Mini–Marlins program to include a division for coach pitch. As a result, the Junior Marlins Coach Pitch League was created to ensure that young players who began playing T–ball would have the opportunity to progress to the next level with the Coach Pitch League. This league targets youngsters 9 and under. During the 2006 and 2007 seasons, the league was funded through the Florida Marlins Community Foundation by the support of former Marlins All–Star Miguel Cabrera. During the Spring of 2008, the Marlins and the City of Miami Parks and Recreation Department agreed that the time has come to expand yet again. We expanded the league to include a division for kid pitch, targeting children 12 and under. This will be the third and final division for the program. Youngsters that age out of this program will then be eligible to participate in our RBI program.
MLB Pitch, Hit and Run Competition
MLB Pitch, Hit and Run is a grassroots skills competition, for children ages 7–14, that focuses on developing all–around players in the three fundamental baseball elements: fielding/throwing, batting, and base running.
RBI – Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities
Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) is a youth outreach program designed to promote interest in baseball, increase the self–esteem of disadvantaged children and encourage kids to stay in school and off the streets. The Florida Marlins and NIKE supply uniforms, umpires and equipment for the leagues’ participants.
Youth Baseball and Softball Partnership Program
The Marlins invite youth baseball and softball leagues throughout South Florida to become partners. Benefits include access to group rates for tickets, parades for league participants and exclusive league recognition during games.
How Can We Help You?
For information on these programs or to download corresponding forms, visit the Marlins community page.
