Mike Trout, George Springer Highlight Pledge It Charitable Campaign
The on-field statistics of 15 big league players carries with it weight for a mix of international charities. As players perform on the field, fans donate money to causes selected by the player as part of the Pledge It charitable campaign, a performance-based crowdfunding platform.
So far through the 2017 season, the 16 different campaigns featuring 15 players and one team (the Angels), has netted more than $334,000 for charitable causes.
In the Pledge It program, fans can pledge a donation for every home run, hit or strikeout recorded to help make an impact.
“We’re proud to help so many MLB players earn support for such compelling causes through the first half of baseball season,” said Scott Shirley, the Pledge It CEO and former Penn State football and baseball player. “Our community of athletes believes in the power of sport for social good.”
Pennsylvania-based Pledge It works with all levels of athletes, but highlights its effort with MLB players, such as Carlos Martinez of the Cardinals who has dedicated his 2017 season to improve the lives of the impoverished in the Dominican Republic.
“I founded the Tsunami Waves Foundation in 2015 with the goal of helping children in need,” he said. “This cause is very close to my heart as I was once one of those children. It is my hope that through Tsunami Waves I can help make a difference in the lives of under-privileged children both locally and in the Dominican Republic.”
Other MLB 2017 Pledge It campaigns include Mike Trout supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County; George Springer assisting the Stuttering Association for the Young; Albert Pujols and his Homers for Hope to support children and families who live with Down Syndrome; Adam Wainwright Striking Out Poverty: and a mix of other efforts from Eric Hosmer, Danny Duffy, Liam Hendriks, Colby Rasmus, Andrew Bailey, Dee Gordon, Justin Dunn, Gregory Polanco, Brad Ziegler and Chase Anderson.
— Tim Newcomb covers gear and business for Baseball America. Follow him on Twitter at @tdnewcomb.
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