YMCA Inner City Youth Baseball and Softball Program and the Whitecaps Community Foundation From
players
and
coaches
“The Little League kids had on
to volunteers and parents, the
all of their uniforms, they looked
positive impact of the YMCA Inner
fantastic and were playing on a field
City Youth Baseball and Softball
that was perfectly maintained,”
Founded in 1995, the Whitecaps
program can be felt throughout
she said. “Just over the fence on
Community Foundation has helped
Grand Rapids’ neighborhoods.
the other side were our inner city
more
kids who were playing on a field
participate in the YMCA Inner
Jessica Muzevuca, who works
that wasn’t maintained and rarely
City Youth Baseball and Softball
with the program as the Whitecaps’
did the kids have matching shirts.
program,
Community
Manager,
It was an eye opener. I realized
to teach the fundamentals of
remembers attending an event at
at that point, how are these kids
sportsmanship, and the positive
Riverside Park several years ago
going to take themselves seriously
values of respect, responsibility,
and noticing the stark difference
if they’re not getting the same
honesty and caring.
in equipment quality between the
quality of materials?”
Relations
players from the Inner City program
years and, as a result, the program is stronger than it’s ever been.
than
30,000
which
is
children
designed
The program is open to 1st – 8th
and a Little League game being
That hasn’t been an issue for
held on an adjoining field.
program participants in recent
grade boys and girls each summer