The Padres are proud to support the teachers, volunteers and staff involved in educating youth throughout San Diego. A few of our key initiatives are outlined below.
In 2016, the Padres began their scholarship program for military families. Today three $5000 military scholarship awards, funded by the SD Padres Foundation, and named after our SD Padres Distinguished Alumni, are presented to scholarship recipients chosen and awarded by our military non-profit educational foundation partners. The presentation of these awards were subsequently integrated into and presented at home plate ceremonies during our annual “Salute to the Military Family” Day at PETCO Park.
The Padres’ Johnny Ritchey Scholarship program was created in 2020 to make annual awards to local high school seniors from underserved areas that embody the characteristics and qualities Ritchey displayed on and off the field, including the capacity to overcome adversity and break barriers academically, athletically or in the community. Ritchey, a San Diego native, broke the color barrier in the Pacific Coast League after being signed by his hometown team in 1948. At a time when Major League Baseball was not yet in the Western United States, Ritchey was the first – and often the only - Black player on the field in ballparks throughout the West Coast.
The Padres Foundation in partnership with the California Masons Foundation and Reality Changers awarded 10 scholarships valued at $10,000 ($2,500 renewed annually) to students that have encountered and, more importantly, overcome significant personal adversities in their life and have used these challenges to strengthen themselves in their pursuit of higher education.
In addition, the Padres with the support of SDG&E and the “Going to Bat for San Diego program” created the Breaking Barrier Forum in 2022 as an opportunity for high school students to hear stories of “breaking barriers” and overcoming personal adversity as Johnny Ritchey did in his life from community and business leaders and professional athletes.
The Padres Foundation has been a leading supporter of the Monarch School and its thousands of unhoused students over the years, providing special support and opportunities as they persevere through the trauma of homelessness.
During the Padres Foundation’s annual Back-to-School Shopping spree, presented by Motorola, Padres’ staff, players and alumni give students one-on-one personal shopping support to help them pick out new clothes, shoes and other essentials to help them through the school year. With the support of Walmart and Chick-fil-A, the students also receive school supplies and a great lunch.
The Padres Foundation and the Padres, led by Josh Hader and Trent Grisham, hosted BaseBowl 2023 at the East Village Tavern and Bowl to benefit the Monarch Schools’ effort to provide transportation for its sports teams. Along with generous contributions led by Josh, Trent, SDG&E, and Tom and Jen DeBiasi, BaweBowl raised $70,000 which will provide the student-athletes with transportation to their events.
The Padres recognize the vital role teachers play in our community. In conjunction with the San Diego Office of Education, the Padres annually provide tickets and hold a special pre-game ceremony at Petco Park to introduce each local school district’s Teachers of the Year. In addition, the five San Diego County Teachers of the Year are recognized and deliver the Ceremonial First Pitch.
The Padres Coach of the Year program was created to recognize and honor the positive role baseball and softball coaches play in the lives of San Diego County’s student-athletes. Coaches are selected for making a positive impact on the lives of his or her players on and off the field as a coach, mentor and role model. To date, 41 baseball or softball coaches have been recognized in five years of the program, including 24 high school baseball coaches, 15 high school softball coaches, and two youth coaches. A Coach of the Year is selected annually from among the Coach of the Week honorees. The Coach of the Year receives a $5,000 donation to his or her program while each Coach of the Week receives a $1,000 donation to their program.
