Team up with the charitable arm of the Toronto Blue Jays to launch award-winning extracurricular programs in your school!
Jays Care Foundation is looking for teammates as we build a roster of dedicated educators across Canada who are committed to making a meaningful impact in their students' lives. It's easy to become a Jays Care Affiliate School:
- Join us for a virtual training session
- Find at least 10 students interested in participating in introductory softball/baseball programming
- Commit to at least 8 weeks of extracurricular programming (1-2 hours a week)
As a Jays Care Affiliate School, we’ll send you a specialized equipment kit, Blue Jays t-shirts and hats for your students, a best-in-class program manual, and we’ll be there to support you every step of the way. It’s really that easy!
Explore our programs below to find out which extracurricular program(s) your school is eligible to apply for.
Become a Jays Care Affiliate School, and access our award-winning programs that are catered towards children and youth facing barriers, including, but not limited to, girls, youth with physical or cognitive disabilities, Indigenous youth and youth facing poverty.
Challenger Baseball: Challenger Baseball is an adaptive baseball or softball program designed to empower children and youth living with cognitive and/or physical disabilities. This adaptive program is ideal for schools that are motivated to create introductory sport programs specifically tailored to the needs, strengths and hopes of individuals with disabilities. In this program, baseball or softball are used as the vehicle to enhance four main program objectives: connection, courage, independence and love of physical activity.
Girls At Bat: Girls At Bat is an introductory baseball or softball program designed and delivered to create spaces that empower and centre the leadership and voices of girls, while making it easy to build belonging. This program is ideal for schools that are motivated to offer programming for anyone identifying as a girl facing barriers to sport participation. In this program, baseball/softball is used as the vehicle to enhance four main program objectives: connection, courage, leadership and love of sport.
Indigenous Play Ball: In order to answer calls to action around sport and youth programs as laid out in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, Jays Care seeks to amplify the voices of Indigenous children and youth, celebrate their success and achievements, and advocate for their right to equal opportunity. Our Play Ball program brings Indigenous youth together using the power of baseball and softball during or after-school to encourage connection and love of sport.
Rookie League: Rookie League provides a platform for a wide range of children and youth experiencing diverse barriers to join together and participate in highly inclusive, mixed ability, safe and fun softball and/or baseball programming. Rookie League is the ultimate safe-space for any young person looking to find their team, develop new skills and have fun. Rookie League is developed for children and youth who face multiple barriers to participation or who are forced to sit on the sidelines. The goal of Rookie League is to build a sense of community and belonging for children and youth who often opt out of other sport programming. These athletes may face multiple barriers to participation including but not limited to, financial barriers, language barriers, sexual orientation/expression, responsibilities at home, etc.
If you have any additional questions, please visit the FAQ document or email [email protected].
Our Impact
In 2023:
- 577 schools ran 633 different Affiliate School programs
- 21,067 students active across Affiliate School programming
- Affiliate School programs ran in all 13 provinces & territories
FEEDBACK FROM EDUCATORS:
- 97% of educators reported that the Affiliate School program increased students’ confidence to be physically active
- 93% of educators reported that the Affiliate School program increased students’ motivation to try and play different sports
- 96% of educators reported that the Affiliate School program increased students’ positive connections with peers
“I think this is one of the best supported programs I have ever seen in my ten years that I have been teaching.”
“The girls at our school love the program. I have been asked since the first day of school when baseball will begin again. It is great to see the confidence of the participants increase as they gain the skills like hitting and throwing” – Girls At Bat Educator, 2023
“The program has been fun and easy to implement. I had no previous knowledge in baseball, so as a leader for the program it has been great to learn alongside the students!” – Girls At Bat Educator, 2023
“I just want to reiterate how great this program has been for our students and the community. Prior to last year our school never really had much of a baseball unit, but because of the Affiliate School program, resources, and equipment, to has become one of our more popular units!” – Indigenous Play Ball Educator, 2023
“Our school is unique with several students with diverse needs. It has been remarkable to see all of them in one space working together, smiling, laughing, and engaging with one another. There is a constant sense of belonging and acceptance that continues to grow within our school. It is joyful!” – Challenger Baseball Educator, 2023
“This is the first year we've run an Affiliate School program and we will absolutely run it again next year! We can't wait to use everything we've learned this year. This experience has bonded our staff members together and allowed us to network to serve and help more kids.” – Rookie League Educator, 2023
Who We Are
Jays Care Foundation's vision is to create a level playing field for all children and youth across Canada. We know that educators across Canada are facing many challenges this year and many children in your classrooms are stepping up to the plate with two strikes already against them. We use the power of sport and play to co-create reliable programming for children and youth who are most often left out. Our programs cater to self-identified girls, youth with disabilities, Indigenous youth, incarcerated youth, and youth facing poverty.