McCormick Tribune Foundation grants more than $1 million through Cubs Care to Chicago area non-profit organizations

04/21/2008 3:09 PM ET

MLB.com

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs and the McCormick Tribune Foundation today announced more than $1 million in grants to non-profit organizations serving the Chicago area.

Cubs infielder Ryan Theriot helped present the grant checks while broadcaster Len Kasper served as the luncheon's master of ceremonies.

The 2008 grants include more than $600,000 in funding for youth sports programs, including Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) Baseball, a premier summer league baseball program involving approximately 300 mostly minority youths from disadvantaged community areas.

The grant fully funds the RBI program, run by the Union League Boys & Girls Clubs, and covers the cost of equipment, uniforms, transportation, coaches and staff salaries and administrative costs. Rookie League baseball, also fully funded by a Cubs Care grant, is an instructional baseball program for more than 8,000 children ages 6 - 12 and is provided free of charge.

"Today is about honoring the incredible work these agencies do every day of the year, whether it's baseball season or the middle of winter," said Mike Lufrano, Cubs' senior vice president community affairs. "We are proud to support the hard work of these agencies and to help them help those in need throughout Chicago."

"The Chicago Cubs and the McCormick Tribune Foundation are privileged to have the support of so many generous donors and fans who make our partnership successful. Together, we are able to tackle some of Chicago's most pressing social issues," said Don Cooke, Senior Vice President of Philanthropy at the Foundation.

Since 1991, the McCormick Tribune Foundation, through its fund Cubs Care, has granted more than $13 million to Chicago non-profit organizations. Cubs Care is a fund of the McCormick Tribune Foundation. Grants help support non-profit organizations which aid children with special needs, provide youth sports programs, assist victims of domestic violence and serve the Lakeview community.

Annual Cubs events and activities - such as the Cubs Convention, Tours of Wrigley Field, "Meet the Team, Have a Ball", "Hey Dad, Wanna Have a Catch", Cubs.com online auctions and private donations - help raise the funds that make these grants possible.

Organizations receiving Cubs Care grants include:
Advocate Charitable Foundation - Lake View High School and Amundsen High School health centers
Between Friends - General operating support
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago - Site-based mentoring program
BUILD, Inc. - General operating support
Center on Halsted - Youth fitness program
Chicago Abused Women Coalition - Greenhouse Shelter
Chicago Park District - Cubs Care Rookie League & Therapeutic Recreation
Chicago Park District - Thillens Stadium
Chicago Park District - Inner City Youth Baseball
Chicago Park District - Cubs Care Special Olympics
Chicago Women's Health Center - General operating support
Children's Memorial Hospital - Literacy program
Children's Memorial Hospital - UPLIFT School Health Center
Counseling Center of Lake View - Latino family violence program
Crisis Center for South Suburbia - Children's Services
Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America - Camp Oasis
Lakeview High School - Chicago Cubs scholarships
Emergency Fund - Financial Assistance
Family Rescue, Inc. - General operating support
Girls in the Game - General operating support
Greater Chicago Food Depository - Children's Programs
Hephzibah Children's Association - Ryno Kid Care
House of the Good Shepherd - General operating support
Howard Brown Health Center - Domestic violence program
Keshet - Buddy Baseball
Korean American Women in Need - General operating support
Lake View YMCA - Cubs Care after school program
Lakeview Pantry - General operating support
Lincoln Park Community Shelter - General operating support
Little City Foundation - Project Connect
Merit School of Music - Bridges: Partners in Music
Midtown Educational Foundation - Midtown sports program
Mujeres Latinas en Acción - Domestic violence program
Naperville Area Humane Society - Canine Coaches
National Runaway Switchboard - Thanksgiving Dinner for Homeless Youth
Neighborhood Boys & Girls Club - Youth Leadership & Development program
Neopolitan Lighthouse - Women's & Children's Residential Shelter
North Side Housing and Supportive Services - General operating support
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago - Wheelchair Cubs & Caring for Kids
REST - General operating support
Saint Joseph Hospital - Lakeview Health Center / Saint Catherine Labouré Outpatient Center medication assistance program
Sertoma Speech & Hearing Center - Fantasy Camp for Hearing Impaired Children
SuperSibs! - Sibling Support and Outreach Education
The Children's Place Association - General operating support
The Moyer Foundation - Camp Erin bereavement camps
The Night Ministry - Youth Street Outreach Team
Tuesday's Child - Familias Felices
Union League Boys & Girls Clubs - Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities Program (RBI)
Women's Sports Foundation - GoGirlGo! Chicago

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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