Mission

UMPS CARE Charities, founded through the compassion of MajorLeague Baseball (MLB) umpires, provides financial, in-kind and emotional support for America’s youth and families in need. The UMPS CARE vision is embodied in our established creed, “Helping People isan Easy Call.” Through our youth-based programs, we enrich the livesof at-risk youth and children coping with serious illness by providingmemorable baseball experiences and supporting pediatric medical care.

2017 Accomplishments

* Provided Build-A-Bear Workshop experiences for 1,450 children with cancer or other serious illnesses.* Hosted the 135th BLUE for Kids event, which celebrated the distribution of more than 13,500 Build-A-Bears.* Provided Major League Baseball experiences for over 600 children awaiting adoption or in mentoring programs.* Distributed roughly $30,000 in college scholarship funds in to deserving students adopted later in life.* Awarded more than $5,000 in financial assistance to families in need and financial grants to 501(c)3 organizations.

About BLUE for Kids Hospitals

MLB Umpires and lovable team mascots host Build-A-Bear Workshop experiences for children with cancer and other serious illnesses. Each event includes a supply of pre-stuffed Build-A-Bears, bear-sized outfits, cub condos, birth certificates,and baseball-themed stress balls. Team photographers capture memories for the children at each event. Since the programstarted in 2006, MLB umpires have hosted more than 100children’s hospital events across the country and has distributedover 13,500 Build-A-Bears.

About BLUE Crew Tickets Program

BLUE Crew Tickets offers memorable baseball experiencesfor children awaiting adoption and at-risk youth in mentoringprograms, children with life-threatening illnesses, and militaryfamilies. Major League Baseball umpires and caring corporatepartners provide kids with a VIP experience that includes greatseats to the game, a goody bag of all things baseball, and theunique opportunity to step onto the field for a souvenir baseballand photo. Since the program started in 2006, Umpires have welcomed over 7,000 guests to MLB games.

About All-Star Scholarship Program

Education is an important part of life. In baseball terms, it gives you a healthy lead as you round the bases. But not everyone gets the same opportunity for higher education. The UMPS CARE Charities All-Star Scholarship was created for children adopted from foster care in order to help provide a college education for promising students with a financial need. To date, UMPS CARE has distributed more than $150,000 in funding and will have another student graduating this spring.

About Family Care Program

The UMPS CARE Charities Family Care Program was established to aid former professional baseball umpires who have fallen on hard times and are most in need. Through charitable contributions from corporations, foundations and individuals, the Family Care program is there to assist those with short-term financial needs and helps bridge the gap until a permanent, long lasting solution is in place.

Complete details are available at www.umpscare.com

Umps Care