The Play Ball Foundation
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE Play Ball Foundation IS NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THEIR 126TH BOSTON MARATHON TEAM.
The Play Ball Foundation funds school districts in under-resourced Massachusetts cities to create and support middle school sports leagues, which leverage the power of sports and create and deepen school engagement and health for kids in Boston, Lawrence, and Holyoke.
Play Ball was founded in 2007 to address the inequities of accessible school-based sports programs between Boston students and their suburban counterparts. Quality after-school sports leagues are an important vehicle for school engagement and physical activity in middle schools, and while these programs are widely available in suburban schools, they are critically lacking in many urban districts.
Play Ball programs engage over 2,200 middle schoolers every year across the three cities. Sports leagues for both boys and girls include soccer, baseball, volleyball, flag football, cross-country, cheerleading, track, and basketball.
By working with districts to create school-based sports leagues, Play Ball helps to make a difference in the lives of kids. Play Ball works with school districts because they know and work with the range of students in the city. The Play Ball model features teachers as coaches and classmates as teammates, thus strengthening the relationships within the school community which helps students increase school engagement and healthy habits so they can be successful in school and beyond.
Funds raised through the B.A.A. Boston Marathon Official Charity Program will directly support Play Ball’s programming within our partner communities.
The Play Ball Foundation is honored to be a member of the B.A.A. Official Charity Program and we welcome all to apply to become a member of The Play Ball Team.
Officially qualified participants who are already entered in the 126th Boston Marathon that wish to raise funds for The Play Ball Foundation may still do so using the learn more button below.