The Cincinnati Reds are committed to utilizing our platform to spotlight resources that help our communities. Each month we will highlight a cause or topic and partners working to benefit our community in that area.
UNITY
The Cincinnati Reds are committed to promoting positive initiatives in our community and for fans throughout Reds Country. Below you will have the opportunity to hear from voices within the Reds organization, find out what initiatives we conduct to promote positive change and inclusiveness, learn more about how you can get involved and make a difference in your community and much more.
Let’s unite so that we can raise awareness and education and change our society together.
NEWS AND EVENTS
Lou Gehrig Day - June 9
Join the Reds in honoring MLB’s fourth annual Lou Gehrig Day on Sunday, June 9 vs. the Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park.
The Reds are supporting three local ALS charities — Chair Force 1 Foundation, Always Lifting Spirits, and Operation Ramp It Up — through the “ALS Triple Play Initiative.” These charities focus on providing services and equipment that insurance does not cover for the ALS community in Greater Cincinnati. The ALS Triple Play Initiative promotes teamwork in the fight against ALS, aiming to enhance the quality of life for patients and caregivers. The Reds encourage fans to support these charities, which strive to promote freedom, independence and accessibility.
Pregame ceremonies on June 9 will recognize Lou Gehrig Day partners, and fans in attendance will receive a Hunter Greene baseball card, honoring the Reds pitcher as the team’s nominee for the Lou Gehrig Award, while supplies last.
Click below for discounted tickets to Lou Gehrig Day at GABP!
3 schools create meaningful art through Murals with a Mission
This spring, the Cincinnati Reds and PNC continued their partnership away from the field with three additions to their program, Murals With A Mission, powered by PNC.
Armed with the talents of local artist Brent Billingsley, the organizations launched the initiative in 2022 with the intention of creating lasting works of art at high school campuses across Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky that elevate positive social messages relevant to each school’s student body.
The first four participating schools included Princeton, Mason, Loveland and Dixie Heights. In 2024, they have been joined by Colerain, Madeira and Sycamore.
“Both the Reds and PNC believe in giving back to the community and creating a culture where everyone is welcome, included and valued,” PNC president of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Warren Weber said. “When we talk about our best days in banking, sometimes it has nothing to do with banking and everything to do with community. To have partners like the Reds and Brent just brings that out and we connect with the community in a way that sometimes we can’t duplicate in banking.”
Colerain Becomes Newest High School to Participate in Reds and PNC “Murals With A Mission” Initiative
On April 19, students from Colerain’s Hope Squad and Art Club unveiled the newest entry in the “Murals With A Mission” powered by PNC program.
“Murals With A Mission” travels to high schools across Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky to develop murals that elevate positive social messages relevant to each school’s student body. Under local artist Brent Billingsley's guidance, members of Colerain’s Hope Squad and Art Club orchestrated a step-by-step creative process that empowered the students to lead the mural project from its inception, through design and painting. The group had the idea to have students painted on the different panels of the mural wearing shirts that spelled out COLERAIN while also using sign language to spell Colerain. They presented the completed mural to the student body during a school-wide assembly. Earlier that day, about 150 Colerain students participated in a custom T-shirt making session as part of the festivities.
Since 2022, Billingsley has worked with student organizations at various schools in the Greater Cincinnati area to build relationships which translates into the artwork. Colerain joined Princeton, Mason, Loveland and Dixie Heights as the fifth school to take part in the program. Madeira and Sycamore are set to reveal their murals in May.
Jackie Robinson Day School Visit
In honor of MLB’s Jackie Robinson Day which officially took place on April 15, when the Reds returned home this weekend three of their players made a special visit to a local school.
On Friday, April 19, Reds players Hunter Greene, Will Benson and Bubba Thompson visited Woodward Career Technical High School to discuss the impact of Jackie’s legacy with some of the students there.
Reds Youth Academy Hosts Annual Joe Morgan HBCU Classic
In continuing the celebration of Jackie Robinson Day earlier in the week, the P&G MLB Cincinnati Reds Youth Academy hosted its third annual Joe Morgan HBCU Classic on April 17. The game featured Kentucky Sate University vs. Wilberforce University. Players from both teams wore authentic replica Negro Leagues jerseys and received custom, limited-edition baseball cleats from Nike. Kentucky State took this year’s Classic with a 12-7 victory.
Among the special guests in attendance was seven-time All-Star and Reds Hall of Famer Dave Parker who addressed the crowd and players before the game. Pregame also featured a ceremonial first pitch from Chuck Harmon Jr., son Chuck Harmon who broke the color barrier for the Reds.
“Today is the 70th anniversary of him becoming the first Black player, April 17, 1954, so it’s a great honor to be out here today,” Harmon Jr. said.
Reds Annual High School Showcase Honors Jackie Robinson
The Cincinnati Reds are joining with all of Major League Baseball to commemorate Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson breaking Baseball’s color barrier on April 15, 1947. On April 13 and 14, the Skyline Chili Reds Futures High School Showcase presented by Cincinnati Children’s Sports Medicine & Orthopaedics celebrated Jackie Robinson Day by hosting eight games featuring Cincinnati Public Schools baseball and softball teams. In honor of Robinson, all participating players wore “42” jerseys provided by Nike.
The Reds will continue celebrating Jackie Robinson all week long in the community and at the ballpark.
YOUTH AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
The Reds Community Fund (RCF) is focused on developing student-athletes into Major League Citizens, which is the objective of its newest program, RCF Scholars.
The P&G MLB Cincinnati Reds Youth Academy is a state-of-the-art facility that supports thousands of kids and coaches in the Greater Cincinnati area. The academy serves as the home for the Cincinnati RBI (Reviving Baseball in the Inner Cities) program, along with year-round baseball and softball clinics and activities for players and educational sessions for coaches. In addition to on-field instruction, academy programs also provide academic tutoring, mentoring and life-building opportunities for the young people who need it most.
The Reds are proud to celebrate diversity and inclusion at the ballpark. Our Community Nights are one of the ways we like to honor our city's rich culture and heritage.
Launched in 2022, “Murals With A Mission” powered by PNC Bank is an initiative that aims to create a mural at high school campuses across Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky that elevates positive social messages relevant to each school’s student body. Local artist Brent Billingsley works with student organizations to develop the message and artwork.
MLB INITIATIVES
The Cincinnati Reds partner with Major League Baseball on a number of programs and initiatives throughout each season that promotes diversity and inclusion.
2024 MLB CALENDAR OF EVENTS
- April 15 – Jackie Robinson Day
- May – Mental Health Awareness
- May 12 – Mother’s Day
- May 17-19 – Armed Forces Weekend (Military Appreciation)
- May 27 – Memorial Day
- June 2 – Lou Gehrig Day (4th Anniversary)
- June 14-16 – PLAY BALL Weekend
- June 16 – Father’s Day
- September 1 – Childhood Cancer Awareness Day
- September 11 – September 11th Remembrance
- September 15 – Roberto Clemente Day
- October 17 – Spirit Day
SOCIAL JUSTICE
The Cincinnati Reds are committed to turning words into action as we all look for ways to promote equality and social justice in our society. We can all come together to drive positive change and make a difference in our communities.
KEEP THE DISCUSSION GOING
While we strive to be a leader in making positive change, we also understand that we do not have all of the answers. Please let us know any feedback you have or suggestions for what we can do better as we look ahead to make a difference.
We also encourage you to keep the conversation going however you can. Get involved by discussing your thoughts and opinions with others on social media. Plan events in your community to bring people of all backgrounds together. It’s only through education, sharing and understanding that we can create true, lasting change.