Pirates Charities, the official philanthropic arm of the Pittsburgh Pirates, today announced the recipients of the "Fields for Kids" matching grant program for the entire 2018 season. Members of area nonprofits that have benefited this year will be recognized tonight in an on-field pregame ceremony at PNC Park.  
The Fields for Kids program is one of Pirates Charities' signature programs and provides financial support to improve youth baseball and/or softball facilities through matching grants ranging from $1,000 to $25,000.   
A total of 34 youth baseball and softball organizations serving over 9,100 youth located throughout three states are impacted by the 2018 grants. Groups in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia were awarded funds to help ensure their programs continue to thrive. In 2018, Pirates Charities distributed the 34 grants over two grant cycles (Spring and Fall) with 22 grants between $1,000 and $5,000 being awarded to area nonprofits, 11 grants of between $5,000 and $10,000 distributed, and one $25,000 grant awarded. 
The positive impact of the grants can be seen throughout western Pennsylvania as 29 of the grants have been awarded over 15 counties in the state, with the remaining five grants awarded in Ohio (2) and West Virginia (3).   
The largest matching grant received this round was awarded to the New Castle Area School District in Lawrence County. The group received $25,000 to assist with the renovation of a 20,000 square foot indoor training facility for use by all students in the district. The project includes the installation of three batting cages, field turf and more.  
"The Pirates Organization has afforded the children of the New Castle Area School District an opportunity of a lifetime," said Debbie DeBlasio, acting Superintendent of the New Castle School District. "Through the kindness of the organization's donation, the New Castle Area School District students will have a training facility that will be state of the art. The facility will be primarily used as a training center for all of our athletic teams. The support means so much, not only to the school, but to the students this is helping." 
Nearly $110,000 in grants were awarded in the $5,000 to $10,000 range to 11 area organizations including the Bridgeville Athletic Association, in Allegheny County, to assist with flood restoration of a field. In neighboring Beaver County, the Central Valley Youth Baseball Association received help to replace an infield, warning track and irrigation system and more; and the Hopewell Youth Baseball Association, will receive assistance for a field lighting project for a field used by nearly 300 boys and girls. 
In Crawford County, the City of Titusville received a $10,000 grant to assist with fence replacement, field leveling and the installation of a scoreboard. In Erie County, the Millcreek Youth Athletic Association was awarded a grant to rebuild dugouts and retaining walls, install drainage, replace dirt, grass, a shed and gate, as well as field grading. Over 1,000 boys and girls participate in this program.   
In Indiana County, two organizations received grants totaling $19,500 as Clymer Little League and Homer City Area Athletic Boosters Club each were awarded grants for fencing, drainage, backstops, benches and more. In Fayette County, South Union Township serves over 350 boys and girls and received assistance with backstop reconstruction, as well as installation of a retaining wall and fencing. 
In Westmoreland County, the Burrell Baseball Association received help to replace a pitching mound and batting cage netting; and in Venango County, the Franklin Little League received a grant to build fencing that will help protect players and spectators.   
In Ohio's Trumbull County, the Newton Falls Youth Baseball and Softball League received a $10,000 grant to help repair and replace fencing on five fields, construct a concession stand, rebuild a dugout, remove trees and repair lighting.  
The remainder of the Fields for Kids matching grants awarded throughout the two grant cycles are in the amounts of $1,000 to $5,000. This season there were 22 of these grants awarded in 15 counties and they include: 
• Pennsylvania
o Allegheny County:  
§ Bethel Park Girls Softball Association
§ Brentwood Athletic Association
§ Elizabeth Forward Youth Athletics
§ Kennedy Girls Softball, Inc.
§ Mount Lebanon Girls Softball Association § Natrona Heights Baseball Softball Association, Inc
o Armstrong County: Leechburg Area School District '
o Cambria County:  
§ Coaches4Kids Foundation
§ VE Arbutas Youth Softball and Baseball League
o Fayette County: North Union Township
o Greene County: Charmichael High School Softball  
o Lawrence County: Shenango Athletic Association
o Mercer County:  
§ Reynolds Rebels Fastpitch Softball
§ Mercer Girls Fastpitch Summer League
o Somerset County: Berlin Youth Baseball and Softball League
o Washington County:  
§ Burgettstown Area Youth Baseball League
§ Union Finley Athletic Association
o Westmoreland County: Central Hempfield Baseball Softball 
• West Virginia
o Doddridge County: Doddridge County Parks
o Hancock County: Weirton Baseball Association
o Monongalia County: City of Morgantown 
• Ohio
o Jefferson County: Toronto City School District 
Grant funds may be used for the upgrading of essential field components such as sod, infield playing surfaces, fencing, dugouts and irrigation systems. Upgrades to the overall facility, including lights, bleachers, scoreboards and concession stands are also eligible.  
Since the Fields for Kids program's inception in 2009, 326 individual grants have been distributed in the greater Pittsburgh region, in addition to 44 grants in the Pirates Spring Training Home of Bradenton, Florida since the program began there in 2011. To find out more information, including a downloadable application, please visit pirates.com/piratescharities.