Central Valley RBI

About Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) presented by KPMG
 

Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) presented by KPMG is a youth outreach program designed to:
1) Increase participation and interest in baseball and softball
2) Encourage academic participation and achievement
3) Increase number of talented athletes prepared to play in college and minor leagues
4) Promote greater inclusion of minorities into the mainstream of the game
5) Teach the value of teamwork

KPMG (presenting sponsor), the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, Nike, Majestic, Outdoor Cap, and Rawlings are supporters of the RBI program.

As the presenting sponsor, KPMG contributes both on and off the field.  Their national and local offices provide KPMG volunteers, develop financial literacy and other life skills courses, sponsor RBI Regional Tournaments and the RBI World Series, and contribute $1 million annually to help fund program costs and a scholarship program.

RBI programs have been started in more than 200 cities worldwide, and annually provide more than 100,000 boys and girls the opportunity to play baseball and softball.

Typical RBI leagues operate from May to August and provide five divisions of local league play for older participants: Freshman Boys (13-14 year olds), Junior Boys (15 – 16 year olds), Senior Boys (17 – 18 year olds) and Girls Softball (14-and-under and 18-and-under). Tournament play for these divisions typically begins in late July with Regional qualifying tournaments for advancement to the RBI World Series in early August.

RBI programs have been started in more than 200 cities worldwide, and with the launch of the Jr. RBI playing divisions for baseball and softball player’s ages 5-12, 2010 projections are for nearly 300 leagues and 175,000 participants.

MLB and its Clubs have designated more than $30 million worth of resources to the RBI program and all 30 Major League Baseball Clubs have supported RBI programs. 

Since the inception of the RBI program in 1989, MLB Clubs have drafted more than 170 RBI participants, including 7 players selected overall in 2009.

RBI alumni on MLB rosters during the 2009 season included Carl Crawford (Rays), Covelli “Coco” Crisp (Athletics), James Loney (Dodgers), Jimmy Rollins (Phillies), CC Sabathia (Yankees), Yovani Gallardo (Brewers), Justin Upton (Diamondbacks), and James McDonald (Dodgers).


The RBI program features educational and life skills components.  Local RBI programs have the opportunity to conduct a variety of courses, including:

Breaking Barriers: In Sports, in Life, a multicultural character education program developed by Major League Baseball
BGCA’s SportSMART! program, a condensed version of BGCA’s award-winning SMART Moves program designed to assist young people in learning how to resist alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and premature sexual activity
KPMG’s Fair Ball, an interactive ethics and integrity course
KPMG’s Skills that Pay the Bills, a basic business principles course
KPMG’s Keeping the Books, a personal finance skills course
KPMG’s Career Course, an online system helping RBI participants determine their strengths and desired college majors and potential career paths