THE PHILANTHROPIST
Ripken has always placed a strong focus on giving back to the community. In 2001, he and his family established the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation in memory of the family’s patriarch, longtime coach, and mentor, Cal Ripken, Sr.
For the last 20 years, the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has worked tirelessly to implement youth development programs and create parks that directly address the problems facing at-risk youth in distressed communities across the country.
1.5M Kids Impacted Annually
100 Youth development parks across 23 states
CLEAN & SAFE PARKS
The Ripken Foundation’s Youth Development Park Initiative creates clean, safe places for kids to play on multipurpose, synthetic surface fields that promote healthy living in an outdoor recreational facility. Since 2009, the Ripken Foundation has more than 88 completed parks across the country in 23 states. In 2018, the Ripken Foundation impacted over 1.5 million kids nationwide through its Youth Development Park and mentor programs.
YOUTH BASEBALL AMBASSADOR
Ripken has traveled the world celebrating the game he loves at the grassroots level and continues to work with Major League Baseball to keep kids from all walks of life engaged with the sport of baseball.
In December 2015, Ripken was named Special Adviser to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred on youth programs and outreach. In this role, Ripken advises the Commissioner and MLB’s Youth Programs Department regarding strategies and initiatives designed to grow the sports of baseball and softball at the amateur and youth levels. A particular focus will be placed on ways to provide access to quality playing opportunities for children in underserved communities and getting kids more energized and engaged with baseball.
INTERNATIONAL GOOD WILL
In the fall of 2007, Ripken was named as a Special Public Diplomacy Envoy to the U.S. State Department. In that role he traveled the globe and uses baseball as a tool to spread goodwill. In October of 2007, he traveled to China with former teammate B.J. Surhoff in this role and in November of 2008, he visited Nicaragua with former teammate and Nicaraguan native Dennis Martinez. In November of 2011, he and former teammate Brady Anderson visited Japan and spent time with the children impacted by the great earthquake and tsunami that devastated much of Japan in March of 2011.
RECENT TRAVELS
Ripken’s most recent diplomacy trip came in March of 2018 when he visited Prague and surrounding areas in the Czech Republic to advance the cause of baseball and help its meteoric rise in that country.
HONORING CAL Ripken, Sr.
A Lasting Legacy
Cal’s philanthropic and business efforts pay homage to his father, Cal Ripken, Sr., and the values and priciples he instilled in Cal throughout life. These values shine through in every aspect of Cal’s life and remain the driving force in his efforts to give back and grow the game of baseball the Ripken Way.
Cal Ripken, Jr. is baseball’s all-time “Iron Man”, Hall of Famer and now … American business leader. Raised in a baseball family Cal's playing career spanned 21 seasons, all with his hometown Baltimore Orioles. After retiring from the game in 2001 he remained dedicated to baseball through the establishment and growth of Ripken Baseball and the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation. Over the years he has served as a spokesman for numerous brands, has been a national broadcaster and evolved into one of the most sought-after corporate speakers and authors in the country.
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