Goals
As the official team charity of the Houston Astros, the Astros Foundation works with the goal of “harnessing the passion of baseball fans to enrich our community.” The Astros Foundation accomplishes this goal through a variety of programs. These programs include initiatives that focus on supporting youth sports and honoring our nation’s military. Other programs address important issues such as domestic violence, homelessness, and childhood cancer.
The Astros Foundation
Programs:
Houston Astros Youth Academy
The Astros Youth Academy (AYA) supports youth in Houston by offering free baseball and softball instruction and training. Included as part of the AYA is the Astros Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program. This program is a free summer baseball and softball league offered to boys and girls between ages 13 and 18. The AYA also hosts free summer baseball and softball camps.
Grand Slam for Youth Baseball
The Astros Foundation’s commitment to supporting the youth of Houston is also reflected in the Grand Slam for Youth Baseball. This program is designed to make baseball more accessible for young people, allowing more children to experience the benefits of the game of baseball. In partnership with Minute Maid, the Minute Maid Grand Slam for Youth Baseball includes a scholarship program that assists Houston-area high school seniors with first-year college expenses. Another initiative of the program includes its sponsorship of the City of Houston Parks & Recreation Department’s youth baseball, softball, and t-ball programs. For these programs, the Minute Maid Grand Slam for Youth Baseball provides equipment and instruction from Astros Foundation staff and Astros’ current and former players.
Run for a Reason
The Chevron Houston Marathon Run for a Reason Program allows the philanthropic community to connect and raise awareness for important issues. Run for a Reason provides the Astros Foundation with an opportunity to attract new supporters, raise awareness of its efforts, and connect with other philanthropic organizations in the community.
Military Appreciation As part of Operation Military Appreciation presented by Occidental Petroleum, the Houston Astros honor veterans and active-duty military members at every home game. Honorees receive tickets behind home plate and are recognized on Minute Maid Park’s video board. First responders and members of the military are also offered tickets at discounted prices. The Astros work with other local organizations to identify military and veterans to participate in their programs.