Founded in 2001 by members of the Ripken family in memory of their patriarch Cal, Sr., the Foundation works to create programs that positively impact at-risk youth through active community partnerships with America’s most successful youth service organizations. Badges for Baseball is a juvenile crime prevention program created by the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice. It’s a simple concept: pair police and kids together to play and learn. The program reshapes the relationship between law enforcement and children living in underserved communities across the country as officers become the coaches, teaching important lessons about teamwork, communication, respect, and leadership that can be used both on and off the field.

Maroon PR has guided Media Relations for the Cal Ripken Sr., Foundation since 2006, and plays a primary role in garnering attention for the Badges for Baseball program in a numerous cities across the United States.

In each city, Maroon PR uses its expertise and its extensive contacts to lead the Foundation and their partners in a variety of initiatives including press conference management, developing media lists, preparing all media materials and securing opportunities for both Cal and Bill Ripken to promote the program through media in each market. Maroon PR also works with the Attorney General’s office in each state to draft and distribute press releases, media advisories and to develop a variety of on-going social media campaigns.

Since the launch of the program, Maroon PR has helped feature the Badges for Baseball program throughout the country in the various daily newspapers, television news segments, radio interviews, including: Chicago, Illinois.; Baltimore, Maryland; Springfield, Massachusetts.; Charlotte, North Carolina; Cleveland, Ohio; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Richmond, Virginia.; Seattle, Washington.; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Washington D.C. The Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation and the Badges for Baseball program were featured last Fall, during the 2011 MLB playoffs on TBS garnering tremendous exposure.

The Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation has impacted more than 26,000 youth in 17 states around the country through Badges for Baseball.