RBI - News Sentinel
Published on October 7, 2010 - 6:40 pm
by Reggie Hayes
Baseball academy seeking more ‘RBI'
Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities works with the WBA.
By: Reggie Hayes
The World Baseball Academy has plans to generate more RBI output next summer. After a successful first year running the first RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) program in Fort Wayne, leaders of the non-profit organization hope to increase the numbers of participants and partner with others for growth next summer. More than 50 children between the ages of 13 to 15 participated in the RBI program this summer at the World Baseball Academy (WBA) home base at the ASH Centre. "RBI is the heart and soul of our local programming," WBA executive director Caleb Kimmel said. "Everything we're doing is going to be focused on growing RBI. Our goal is to unite the resources and put the leadership in place. There are a ton of good people in the community that want to help." The WBA teamed with the Boys & Girls Club of Fort Wayne to start the RBI program this past summer. Boys & Girls Club officials provided transportation for the young people to participate at the ASH Centre. The eight-week program was followed by a five-week fall program that included 20 participants, including some who were in both sessions. Matt Harmon serves as RBI director for Fort Wayne. He said the focus of the program is on getting to know the young players' personalities and needs. Baseball is a tool to build a relationship, he said. Kimmel hopes to partner with Wildcat Baseball to grow the RBI program next summer and help Wildcat reach more children. "What's neat about RBI from a national standpoint is that it allows each individual chapter to be uniquely developed," Kimmel said. "There are not as many constraints as you would see in Little League or programs like that." "Pitch in for Baseball," a nonprofit organization based in Pennsylvania, donated much of the baseball equipment used for the RBI program in Fort Wayne, Kimmel said. The WBA was also able to team with Southtown Little League to donate some equipment for its program. At summer's end, the WBA also was able to send some excess equipment to some of its contacts in foreign countries.
RBI is a continuation of WBA's goals of reaching young people and addressing some of their relational needs through baseball, Kimmel said. The RBI program was developed by former professional baseball player John Young in Los Angeles in 1989, with Major League Baseball taking the administrative lead in 1991. Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the official charity of MLB, assists with the formation of RBI leagues and programs.
For More Information go to:
www.worldbaseballacademy.com