November 30, 2021

Official Toronto Blue Jays News Release

ON GIVING TUESDAY, BLUE JAYS INVEST MORE THAN $2.4 MILLION IN SCHOOLS ACROSS CANADA

Funds will provide students and educators with inclusivity training, baseball equipment, books, and winter clothing

On Giving Tuesday, Jays Care Foundation and the Toronto Blue Jays are pleased to announce an investment of more than $2.4 million in funding for students, educators, and schools in all 10 provinces and three territories. The funds will be used to provide baseball equipment, books, and warm winter clothing for tens of thousands of children and youth across Canada.

“It has been an incredibly challenging two years for teachers and educators across the country, and today’s investment announcement is an opportunity to thank them for the strength and commitment they have shown,” said Jules Porter, Director, Programs, Jays Care Foundation. “We are excited that through this program, students in schools from coast to coast to coast will reconnect, get active, develop life skills through baseball, enhance their love of reading, and be equipped with warm clothing this winter.”

Jays Care’s Affiliate School Program

-Launching in 600 schools nationwide, Jays Care’s Affiliate School Program provides extracurricular programming for children facing barriers, including: girls, youth living with physical and/or cognitive disabilities, Indigenous youth, and youth facing poverty

-Affiliate Schools receive Blue Jays hats and t-shirts, baseball equipment, best-in-class training manuals, and virtual training for educators

Turn The Page, presented by TD

-This week at Rogers Centre, more than 400 educators who teach in priority neighbourhoods in the Greater Toronto Area will attend a two-day event, which includes equipping each teacher with 250 free books to enhance their classrooms and libraries

-Through the generosity of longstanding partner First Book Canada, more than 100,000 books will be distributed

Winter All-Star Hampers

-Nearly 1,000 sets of Winter All-Star Hampers have been delivered to students attending priority schools, and families in Jays Care’s Challenger Baseball and Rookie League programs to help them bounce back from challenges exacerbated by COVID-19

-Items include snowsuits, winter hats, winter gloves, toys, and food gift certificates

Today’s announcement would not be possible without the generous support of valued partners First Book Canada, Gertex, Gusti, Indigo Love of Reading Foundation, Mastermind Toys, Mountain Warehouse, Rogers, TD, and VTech.

Blue Jays fans can support students and educators in their communities by donating to Jays Care Foundation today (jayscare.com/donate).