United States Attorney, Boys and Girls Club, HIDTA, Ripken Foundation Announce Badges for Baseball In Roanoke Valley

ROANOKE, VIRGINIA – In cooperation with officials from the Washington/Baltimore HIDTA, the Cal Ripken Senior Foundation [CRSF] and the Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Virginia, United States Attorney John P. Fishwick Jr. announced today the launching of Badges for Baseball in the Roanoke Valley.

“This program is about more than just baseball, it’s about building trust between our community and law enforcement,” United States Attorney Fishwick said today. “If we can strengthen the relationship  the community has with law enforcement, through mentorship, through relationship building and use baseball as a conduit to strengthen that trust, it’s a huge first step in the right direction for Roanoke.”

Badges for Baseball is a juvenile crime prevention program created by the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation in partnership with the United States Department of Justice. The program’s goals are to pair police and children together to play and learn.

“We want to build relationships with the community but also teach the fundamental lessons of the program, including respect, teamwork and communication,” United States Attorney Fishwick added. “We are very excited to partner with the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, the Washington/Baltimore HIDTA and the Boys and Girls Club to bring such a wonderful opportunity to so many deserving children in Roanoke.”

Badges for Baseball is a nationwide initiative run by the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation in 177 communities in 18 states, including communities in Virginia such as Fredericksburg, Newport News and Richmond. The program has impacted more than 25,500 youth with the help of 1,365 law enforcement officers and professional youth mentors.