Matt Stillwell
May 4, 2017
Country artist Matt Stillwell, along with 30 members of the LAPD, hosted 200 underprivileged children as part of a youth mentor program uniting police officers with children to strengthen the relationship between law enforcement and today's youth through the game of baseball. Stillwell gave back to the youth community of Los Angeles last weekend on his first stop of the "Badges For Baseball" tour in partnership with the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation. The two-day event kicked off Friday, April 28th at Dodger Stadium with a "Badges For Baseball" training clinic for the children. The following day, Stillwell, Ripkin Foundation staff members, and members of the LAPD brought the "Badges For Baseball" curriculum, as well as Ripken "Quickball," as part of the LA Dodger Foundation's Dodger Day event at Belvedere Park. The weekend closed with an on-field recognition ceremony where Stillwell performed the National Anthem and participated in a check presentation for $5,000 to the LA Dodgers Foundation prior to the Dodgers' home game versus the Philadelphia Phillies.
"When I found out about the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundaion's 'Badges For Baseball' program, I knew I had to be a part of it," said Stillwell. "They've been bringing kids and cops together through baseball for 12 years now, helping to bridge the gap of one of the most socially relevant issues we face in America today. Our hope at the end of the day is that when these kids see a cop, it's a familiar face and not a scary one, and the same goes on the other end. Music and baseball are both fun and healing, and I want these kids and cops to experience both as much as possible." For more information, visit www.MattStillwell.net/BadgesForBaseball.