Rays announce COVID-19 relief grant programs

Huge news as the Tampa Bay Rays organization continues to give to the local community.

Specifically, in response to the current COVID-19 crisis, the Rays Baseball Foundation and Rowdies Soccer Fund has established the COVID-19 Relief Grant program, which is now accepting applications.

Additionally, the Rays Baseball Foundation has announced recipients for its Community Partnership Grants and Community Fund Grants, where the Rays Baseball Foundation and Rowdies Soccer Fund is allocating $1 million to nonprofit organizations in the Tampa Bay region in response to the COVID-19 crisis, of which they have already committed nearly $700,000 to this effort.

APPLY FOR A COVID-19 RELIEF GRANT

The Rays Baseball Foundation and Rowdies Soccer Fund has established the COVID-19 Relief Grant program in response to the current crisis.

Organizations with 501(c)(3) status and a focus on hunger relief, shelter and/or health and wellness and that have been impacted by COVID-19 are eligible to apply. For more information or to apply, visit raysbaseball.com/teamingup.

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP GRANTS

The Rays Baseball Foundation is proud to maintain long-standing partnerships with key community organizations throughout the Tampa Bay region.

The Foundation has provided grants to the following established community partners in support of programming focused on the COVID-19 crisis and the critical needs of the community, including hunger relief, health and wellness, shelter and youth programming:

• ALS Association Florida Chapter
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay
• Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast
• CASA St. Petersburg
• Crisis Center of Tampa Bay
• Feeding Tampa Bay
• Florida Holocaust Museum
• Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay
• St. Petersburg College
• Starting Right, Now
• Tampa Metro YMCA
• YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg
• YMCA of the Suncoast

COMMUNITY FUND GRANTS

The Rays Community Fund Grant Program provides separate assistance to local nonprofits in the Tampa Bay region. These grants help enhance and support current programs offered by community-based nonprofit organizations.

The following 2020 Community Fund Grant recipient organizations are focused on providing support to the community in response to the COVID-19 crisis:

• 211 Tampa Bay Cares
• A Kids Place
• Alpha House of Pinellas
• Dawning Family Services
• Eckerd Connects
• Meals on Wheels (9 county region): Citrus County Support Services, Meals on Wheels Charlotte County, Meals on Wheels of Polk County, Meals on Wheels of Sarasota, Meals on Wheels of Tampa, Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee, Mid Florida Community Services, Neighborly Care Network, Pasco County Elderly Nutrition
• Metro Inclusive Health
• Metropolitan Ministries
• Ready for Life
• Salvation Army
• St. Petersburg Free Clinic
• St. Vincent de Paul Charities
• The Kind Mouse Productions
• The Spring of Tampa Bay
• The Thomas Promise Foundation

OTHER COVID-19 RELIEF ACTIVITIES

In addition, the Rays continue to serve the community through the following efforts:

1. Teaming Up Virtual Food Drive — The Rays Baseball Foundation and Rowdies Soccer Fund virtual food drive campaign, which began with a $100,000 donation and a pledge to match donations on the campaign page up to an additional $150,000, has collected $376,500 of its possible $400,000 goal. Charlie Morton and Joey Wendle are two Rays players who are known to have joined the effort. Fans are encouraged to join the campaign by purchasing essential food items or making a monetary donation by visiting donate.feedingtampabay.org/teamingup.
2. Feeding Tampa Bay Mobile Pantry — Lot 4 of Tropicana Field (1st Avenue South and 17th Street) will be used as a drive-thru mobile pantry for Feeding Tampa Bay’s Pinellas clients every Saturday in April, starting at 9 a.m., while supplies last. People in need of food can come to Lot 4 to pick up a pre-packaged box of groceries free of charge—and no ID, papers or pre-screening are required. To honor social distancing regulations, mobile pantries are transitioning to a drive-thru model to eliminate crowds and minimize contact. For any updates to the distribution schedule, visit feedingtampabay.org/mobile-pantries.
3. ONE TAMPA: Relief Now, Rise Together Fund — The Rays Baseball Foundation and Rowdies Soccer Fund, along with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, contributed $100,000 to the Relief Now, Rise Together Fund—a new relief fund for residents and small businesses in the City of Tampa facing economic uncertainty due to the pandemic. For more details, visit tampagov.net/relief-now.