Major League Baseball and the San Diego Padres are teaming up.
On Monday, MLB Charities and the Padres Foundation announced they will donate nearly $5 million to projects and charities, including many in San Diego and Tijuana. The charitable program is done in tandem with the upcoming MLB All-Star Game, which is taking place in July at San Diego's Petco Park.
A large portion of that donation will fund six All-Star Legacy Initiative projects throughout the region.
Projects include new baseball and softball fields at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego, San Pasqual Academy, and the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA.
MLB's Vice President of Community Affairs Tom Brasuell said the projects are designed to benefit the entire community.
“Not everyone is going to be a Major League Baseball player, but we can certainly develop major league citizens," Brasuell said. "These projects, whether they be at a Boys and Girls Club, at the Monarch School, San Pasqual, all of those projects can affect kids and their families for years to come.”
Other projects include building a multi-use recreation area at Club de Niños y Niñas de Mexico in Tijuana, the first international All-Star Initiative project. There will also be a technology upgrade for REBOOT, which helps veterans transition to civilian life.
Construction on the Legacy Projects is already underway, with plans to finish in time for the All-Star game in July.
