I am grateful for the opportunity to give back to the communities that have given so much to me. Over the past few years, Melissa and I have lent our support to a number of great organizations. However, we wanted to make an even bigger impact by starting a foundation focused on changing the lives of children in need.
Our Work
SHANE VICTORINO NICETOWN BOYS & GIRLS CLUB
The Foundation was established in the spring of 2010. For our first major project, we pledged nearly $1 million to Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia to renovate their century-old Nicetown unit, which is located in an impoverished area of the city and was in dire need of repair. On September 22, 2011, the facility reopoened as the “Shane Victorino Nicetown Boys & Girls Club” – one of only a handful of clubs named in honor of an MLB player. The updated Club features a media center, after-school study rooms, gym, teen center and game room. Programs include: character & leadership development, education & career development, health & life skills, arts & culture, sports & fitness. In an area lacking in positive after-school options for youth, this renovation will strengthen the community as a whole.
SHANE VICTORINO FOUNDATION BATTING CAGE
On January 29, 2013, a ceremony was held to dedicate the newly constructed Shane Victorino Foundation batting cage at Kanoelani Field in the Waipio Neighborhood Park. The Foundation provided a $25,000 grant for its construction, in recognition of the league’s success at the Little League World Series over the past several years. Numerous local companies also donated materials, supplies and labor towards the project.
“The Hawaiian community has been so supportive of me and my family and I am honored to be able to give back and provide opportunities for children,” said Victorino. “I am especially excited to be able to provide these batting cages that will hopefully help other keiki further develop baseball skills and passion for the sport I love so much,” he added.
FLYIN’ HAWAIIAN ALL-STARS
We have sponsored over 600 children through our Flyin’ Hawaiian All-Stars charity ticket program, by which groups are treated to a day at the ballpark! Kids from Jr. RBI League, Boys & Girls Clubs, PAL (Police Athletic League), Boy Scouts, Boston Children’s Hospital, Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Access Sports, Little League, Special Olympics and others have participated in this program, receiving tickets to a game, t-shirts and concessions. But the highlight of their day is watching batting practice from the field and meeting Shane. Most of the participants would never have had this opportunity, or even the chance to attend a game, without this program.
- After-School All-Stars Hawaii: provides free, quality comprehensive after-school programs that fuel children’s passions in enrichment and sports activities as well as the academic foundation to succeed in school. They operate in public middle schools and offer alternatives for at-risk youth to engage in productive activities within a structured curriculum.
- Adult Friends for Youth: promotes educational achievement and aims to reduce poverty and destructive behaviors among high risk youth, through neighborhood programs, alternative education, and more. The Gang Prevention and Intervention Program addresses issues such as violence, bullying, substance abuse and poor academic performance.
- A Keiki’s Dream: grants the dreams of children in crisis whether through abuse, neglect, homelessness, major personal loss, or major medical problems. Instills hope, confidence and a sense of worthiness through child-directed dreams which remind them that they are special and loved, and empower them for a lifetime.
- Maui Family Support Services: committed to encouraging positive parenting, preventing child maltreatment and abuse, and building on family strengths. Their Early Head Start (EHS) program provides health, nutrition, education and special needs services at no cost to income-eligible families, for children birth to 3 years.
- Ma Ka Hana Ka ‘Ike: a construction skills training program for high school youth. They collaborate with other nonprofits to build and retrofit facilities (including schools, senior and health centers), construct cottages for the elderly, and serve as an emergency response team for community members in urgent need.
- Palama Settlement: a community-based social service agency. Their Pakolea Program serves youth ages 7-17 and uses sports as a motivation to enhance academic performance, while also focusing on socialization skills, goal setting and character development.
- Hawaii Branch of the International Dyslexia Association (HIDA): their mission is to provide support for dyslexics and improve literacy for struggling readers throughout Hawaii. The Maui Odyssey Project provides teacher training and professional development and makes tutoring available to disadvantaged children with persistent reading problems.
- Best Buddies: creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The Middle and High School Friendship Project is administered via extracurricular activities at local schools and matches students with IDD, with students without IDD.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui: their Triple Play program is a health, fitness and well-being curriculum that offers education, physical fitness activities, and interactive peer workshops for youth. It provides the benefits of mentoring, increased self esteem, and improved ability to make positive choices, while subsequently reducing substance abuse, truancy, juvenile delinquency and other high-risk behaviors that are prevalent in this community.
- SVF Tuition Assistance Fund at St. Anthony School: established to provide educational opportunities to student-athletes who display sportsmanship, dedication and commitment to achieve academic as well as athletic excellence. The criteria include maintaining a minimum 3.0 GPA, demonstrating financial need and preference is given to students who demonstrate volunteerism and community service.
TOY DRIVE AND KIDS HOLIDAY PARTY
During the off-season, SVF hosts a toy drive for underprivileged children in Las Vegas. Previous beneficiaries include The Shade Tree women’s and children’s shelter, St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, Toys for Tots, Catholic Charities of S. Nevada and Matthew’s Closet. In addition, the Foundation holds an annual holiday party for youth facing homelessness, poverty and other crisis. The event includes lunch/dinner, toys and a photo with Santa.
YOUTH BASEBALL CLINIC
The Foundation held its 2nd annual Youth Baseball Clinic in December 2013 in Maui, Hawaii. The event brought nearly 175 children together to hone their skills on the field as well as hear from Shane the importance of working hard and dreaming big! Kids ages 8-17 from Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui, Pa’ia Youth & Cultural Center, and Kihei Youth Center also received a clinic t-shirt, lunch (provided courtesy of Zippy’s) and a gift bag.
