Seattle Mariners Announce Three New Community Impact Grants Advancing Racial Equity

SEATTLE, May 19, 2021 / PRNewswire / – Mariners Care, the Seattle Mariners nonprofit foundation, today announced the award of three new Community Impact Grants to organizations focused on systemic change that lead to positive physical and mental health improvements for teens and equitable outcomes for blacks , Indigenous and Black people accelerate People of Color (BIPOC) communities.

In addition to announcing the three youngest recipients, Mariners Care also announced the opening of calls for proposals for the next round of scholarships, which will be awarded late July 2021.

The $ 1 million The Seattle Mariners Community Impact Grant program was announced last July as part of a series of social and racial justice commitments. These commitments include investing in organizations, programs and partnerships geared towards long-term systemic change that lead to positive health outcomes for adolescents and improve opportunities for economic equity in BIPOC communities.

In addition to a $ 100,000 Grant awarded in March to the Seattle Foundation Fund for Inclusive Recovery, which works to eradicate the growing inequalities in our community exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The uncertainty and concern so many in our communities are experiencing during this pandemic has been compounded by long-standing problems of inequality and inaccessibility. The timeliness of the Seattle Mariners’ efforts to support both the health and wellbeing of our young people and Accelerating Justice The results for black and brown communities and other color communities that have had problems last year could not be better. This is real testament to their commitment to be a valued partner and leader of the community. These are critical investments in our region as we are starting to rebuild, “said Michelle Merriweather, President and CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle.

“The Seattle Mariners value our place in the Pacific Northwest community and strive to improve the lives of the people in our area. By investing strategically to support partners working for systemic change, particularly in BIPOC communities, we believe that we can have one. ” positive effects on the physical and mental health of our youth and contribute to increasing economic equity, especially in communities with limited resources, “he said Fred Rivera, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Seattle Mariners.

Community Impact Grant recipient

• $ 20,000 – You’re going to be a girl !, A Seattle-based program providing psychosocial and behavioral health services to women and families from BIPOC communities.
• $ 20,000 – King County Play Equity Coalition, a network of more than 100 organizations from around the world King County These work together to address the lack of access and resources for all youth, especially from underserved communities, to participate in sports, games and physical activity.
• $ 25,000 – Minority Business Executive Program, University of Washington Foster School of Business, which supports capacity building and access to capital for minority companies.

You grow girl!

The $ 20,000 The scholarship will promote mental health through the You Grow Girl! Therapeutic housing program. support that homeless young women of skin color, especially those who have been harmed by the care systems and juvenile justice system, provide all-round services with the aim of providing them with a path to self-sufficiency in terms of housing and employment as well as positive results in the field of mental health bring to.

Founded in 2002 by Jamila Coleman, You grow up girl! started with a focus on inspiring girls and young women through mentoring, counseling and leadership. Despite The Pandemic, You Grow Girls! continues to provide behavioral health support for girls and families, including services such as online school support, groceries, and other necessary supplies. The goal of You Grow Girl! Is to increase racial justice, improve economic opportunities among underserved populations, and empower young women to become leaders so that they can become self-sufficient and thrive.

King County Play Equity Coalition

The $ 20,000 The grant will catalyze the creation of a youth action team to empower and empower youth leadership and perspective as the King County Play Equity Coalition develops equitable solutions for access to games, physical activity and organized sports across the region.

The Centers for Disease Control recommend adolescents do 60 minutes of moderate activity seven days a week. You are skinny King County are much less active than the national average, with less than one in five meeting CDC guidelines. A study of the University of Washington found that girls, youth from low-income households and youth from color communities have less access to or participate in games, physical activity and organized sports. The coalition and its 100+ members focus on improving equitable access to game and youth sports King County.

Minority Business Executive Program, University of Washington Foster School of Business

The $ 25,000 The grant will award scholarships to five local BIPOC entrepreneurs and their teams, particularly those in the hospitality and general construction sectors, to attend in-depth training to strengthen their ability to recover and thrive despite the challenges posed by COVID-19. Areas of support are the use of financial instruments, strategic plans for growth and sustainability, new technologies, marketing, access to global markets and leadership.

The history of race in America continues to emerge in ongoing issues of inequality and injustice that profoundly affect BIPOC communities and the ability of BIPOC-owned businesses to flourish. The Minority Business Executive Program at UW Foster School of Business focuses on helping business owners strengthen their core competencies and infrastructure, connecting them to capital and contract opportunities. These three areas disproportionately affect the success of BIPOC business owners.

Seattle Mariners Community Impact Grant Program

Proposals for the next late round of scholarships are now being accepted July 2021. The application process is open to non-profit organizations Washington Working in the following areas:

• Physical Activity for BIPOC Youth – Support will be given to organizations and efforts focused on research, advocacy, or programs that encourage youth participation in physical activity with an emphasis on baseball and softball.
• Mental Health Support for BIPOC Adolescents – Organizations working to break down systemic barriers related to mental health needs and improve access to mental health support for adolescents ages 5-18 will be supported, particularly during the COVID crisis and of recovery.

Visit Mariners.com/CommunityImpactGrants for more information.

SOURCE Seattle Mariners