Reds Community Fund - Field Renovation Grant

Field Renovation and Community Makeover

COMMUNITY MAKEOVER

Update on Avondale Community Makeover – April/May 2020

In February, P&G, the Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden announced that Avondale had been selected for the 2020 Community Makeover.

The 2020 Makeover would have been the most ambitious to date with six project sites across Avondale and more than 500 volunteers scheduled to participate in the day-long service project on August 6.

The health and safety of the volunteers, community partners and local residents is the top priority for the team.

Given the current government and health expert guidelines, as well as the impact of the COVID-19 situation on construction timelines and local community resources, it will not be possible to complete the project in 2020.

Due to the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 situation, the organizers and partners have been forced to put most of the Makeover projects on hold until 2021.

The health and safety of the volunteers, community partners and local residents is the top priority, and given the current government and health expert guidelines it is not possible to complete the project in 2020.

To address the immediate needs of the Avondale community, the Makeover organizers along with the Duke Energy Foundation, have stepped up to secure donations and resources for local agencies that serve Avondale residents and Greater Cincinnati’s urban communities.

The Makeover partners have already approved donations to the following organizations to help the residents of Avondale now:

• Freestore Foodbank & Healthy Harvest Mobile Market

• SOACT (Serving Older Adults Through Changing Times)

• Adventist Outreach Ministry

The team is working to identify additional organizations and projects in Avondale this year and is committed to completing the previously identified scope next year.

About the Community Makeover
The Community Makeover is designed to bring together some of Cincinnati’s oldest and most iconic institutions together with local community partners to make a transformative and sustainable impact on a Cincinnati neighborhood while strengthening youth baseball and softball programs.

Beginning in 2010, P&G and the Reds Community Fund have partnered for the Community Makeover with the Cincinnati Zoo joining the partnership in 2013 bringing a wealth of experience in horticulture, sustainable design and maintenance to the projects. Cincinnati Children’s and Interact For Health became a part of the collaboration in 2013 and Kroger came onboard in 2017.

PAST COMMUNITY MAKEOVER PROJECTS

2019: St. Bernard – Ross Park, Frank Robinson Field and St. Bernard Community Room
2018: Roselawn – New Prospect Baptist Church and the Summit Center
2017: Evanston – Hoffman School, Hoffman Ballfields and Wayne Lurix Memorial Nature Playscape
2016: Lower Price Hill – Evans Field and playground, Community Gardens and Joe Williams Family Center
2015: West End – Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses, Sands School playground and Dyer Ballfields
2014: South Cumminsville – Wayne Ballfields and Millvale Recreation Center
2013: Avondale – Gabriel’s Place, Hirsch Recreation Center and Hirsch ballfields
2012: Cheviot – Memorial Fields, historic grandstand and Cheviot Memorial Fieldhouse
2011: North College Hill – High school field and community center plus youth field in Winton Place
2010: Winton Place – Brandon Phillips Field and P&G Field

2021 FIELD RENOVATION GRANT APPLICATION

Since 2006, the Reds Community Fund has invested more than 6 million dollars building and primarily renovating neighborhood ball fields throughout Reds Country, including the 2015 All-Star Legacy Projects in Cincinnati, Dayton and Covington. Many of these projects represent collaborations with local municipalities and recreation departments. Each year, the Reds Community Fund provides an opportunity for communities and interested parties to apply for a one-time field renovation grant to support their home field.

The Reds Community Fund will evaluate your request based on the following key criteria:

Create new or innovative ways of expanding and improving youth baseball or softball programs
Improve the quality and increase the number of youth participating in baseball and softball programs
Address opportunities for underserved youth
Receive community support
Reach a critical mass of youth in your community

In order to be considered for assistance you must provide photographs, site maps and/or additional narratives to highlight relevant information regarding your project needs. Project must include a minimum of one existing baseball field. Please note, incomplete applications will not be considered.

We will also evaluate each applicant's ability to demonstrate:

Strong partnerships with other organizations, agencies, local business community and individuals with community support and leadership
Thorough planning of the proposed project
Commitment to increase youth participation in baseball and softball and to be inclusive in all areas of its program
Ability to maintain and protect the community project via operational self-sufficiency as well as its ability to maintain community facilities and fields on an on-going basis
Willingness and ability to provide complete and accurate information during the application and review process

GRANT APPLICATION

If you have any questions please e-mail communitymakeover@reds.com