June 12, 2024
Location
Nationally
Major League Baseball and the Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic and the sport of baseball have a history that extends back to the 19th century, when foreign-controlled sugar mills sponsored baseball teams for their workers. Today, the country maintains a special relationship with Major League Baseball, which has experienced a growth spurt in recent decades. All 30 MLB teams have invested in creating baseball facilities and academies in the DR. These academies represent the first stop for many Latin Dominicans who aspire to play in the Major Leagues. In 2010, Dominicans represented more than 10 percent of players on MLB's 25-man rosters and more than half of the foreign players in the Minor Leagues. MLB-DDA was established to contribute to Dominican society through community development project initiatives and to strengthen the relationship baseball has with the country.
Mission
Leverage the influence of baseball in the Dominican Republic, along with the financial and human resources of partner organizations, to carry out community development projects focused on education, health, youth development, and economic development in marginalized communities.
Project Description
The Dominican Alliance for Development with Major League Baseball (MLB-DDA) is an innovative cross-sector alliance between Major League Baseball, the United States Agency for International Development, Batey Relief Alliance, Esperanza International, the Dominican Institute for Integral Development, Plan International Dominican Republic, Save the Children Dominican Republic, and World Vision Dominican Republic. The Alliance channels funds from USAID and matching resources from baseball fans, Major League teams, local organizations, NGOs, and baseball players. Twenty-four projects are being implemented in almost all of the Dominican territory, but with more emphasis on areas where the teams have their academies, in the south-central part of the country. The IDDI is the umbrella organization for the MLB-DDA.
MLB-DDA has worked with active and retired players, teams, and team owners to establish extracurricular educational programs, improve infrastructure and the quality of education in public schools, provide microcredit and micro-enterprise training, and enhance the quality of and access to medical services.
