The Cincinnati Reds are committed to utilizing our platform to spotlight resources that help our communities. Each month we will highlight a cause or topic and partners working to benefit our community in that area.
Unity in the Community
The Cincinnati Reds are committed to promoting positive initiatives in our community and for fans throughout Reds Country. Below you will learn more about efforts by Reds players and other activities the organization is a part of to help our communities and bring everyone in Reds Country together.
REDS COUNTRY CARES
NEWS AND EVENTS
Reds & Guardians Families Recognized as ‘Child Advocates of the Year’ by Ohio CASA
At the 30th Annual Celebrate Kids! Conference in Columbus on September 25, Ohio CASA presented its highest honor, the Child Advocates of the Year Award, to the families of the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians.
This award is given to a person or group that has gone above and beyond to support CASA programs and the children in need they serve. In addition to creating awareness for CASA and its programming, the two teams combined to raise $18,500, with $11,000 raised by the Reds families. Their support will provide aid to local CASA programs and get much-needed volunteers.
The Reds families, led by Jordyn Pagán, were recognized through a video featuring Molly Lux, Autumn Littell, Erin Suter, Ellie Anderson and Brooklyn Barnett.
Austin Hays Presents $20,000 Scholarship
Outfielder Austin Hays, in conjunction with the Cincinnati Reds and Bold.org, brought back the Austin Hays “All Your Heart” Scholarship, which awarded Ohio student Gloire Mujanama $20,000 to further his education.
As part of a September 24 pregame ceremony, Mujanama received the scholarship check, presented by Hays and his wife Samantha.
Reds Host “Peanut Butter Jam” Food Drive
The Reds and Hope Emergency Program teamed up for the first-ever “Peanut Butter Jam” food drive. For the Reds vs. Cubs game on September 21, fans had the opportunity to donate a 16-oz plastic jar of peanut butter and receive a View Level ticket to one of the Reds vs. Pirates games during the season’s final homestand. The inaugural initiative saw fans donate over 600 jars of peanut butter.
Peanut butter is one of the most requested items at many food pantries because it is a shelf-stable, protein-rich food that has a variety of uses and is popular with people of all ages.
Reds Celebrate Hispanic Community Month with Fiesta Rojos
To honor Hispanic Heritage Month, the Reds held their annual Fiesta Rojos celebration in the community and at the ballpark on September 19.
The P&G MLB Reds Youth Academy hosted over 100 students for a Q&A with Reds players, baseball drills, salsa dancing and lunch. Players in attendance were Miguel Andujar, Elly De La Cruz, Santiago Espinal and Noelvi Marte.
At the ballpark, pregame and in-game ceremonies centered around Cincinnati’s Hispanic community.
Suter Named Reds’ Roberto Clemente Award Nominee
For the second straight year, Reds reliever Brent Suter earned the team nomination for the Roberto Clemente Award. Suter was honored during a pregame ceremony on September 1.
The annual honor is given by Major League Baseball to one player “who best represents the game of Baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.”
Reds Raise Awareness for Childhood Cancer
In honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and this year’s MLB’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Day on September 7, pregame ceremonies focused on raising awareness for this important cause.
With players and coaches from both the Reds and Mets lining the baselines, six kids either cancer-free or in remission ran the bases, receiving high-fives from the MLB personnel.
Pregame festivities also featured representatives from Cincinnati Children's Hospital, CancerFree Kids and the Dragonfly Foundation, with an 11-year-old cancer survivor throwing out a first pitch.
On September 2, catcher Will Banfield and pitcher Zach Maxwell visited Seacrest Studios at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. The Reds players had the opportunity to meet patients, take photos and sign autographs. And as part of September being Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, the Reds, in partnership with Major League Baseball and Starlight Children's Foundation, donated a Nintendo Switch to Cincinnati Children’s!
2025 COMMUNITY ADVOCATE AWARD WINNERS
Each year, PNC and the Reds present a series of Community Advocate Awards to members of our community who make a positive impact in promoting diversity and inclusion.
Please join PNC and the Reds in congratulating the 2025 Community Advocate winners below.
African American Community – Kathy Wade
Kathy Wade is a beloved entertainer, producer, arts and education entrepreneur, CEO, and community bridge-builder. The winner of multiple regional Emmy awards, she co-founded the nonprofit Learning Through Art, Inc. more than three decades ago. Kathy became one of the first Black women to earn a master's degree in arts administration from CCM and embarked on a prestigious singing career. Kathy has also been a recipient of the Ohio Arts Council's Governor's Award for the Arts in Ohio. It is the most prestigious recognition for the arts in Ohio, and the only award conferred by the governor.
Jewish Community – Heldman Family
As major benefactors, the Heldman family supports a wide array of organizations, from the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra to Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio, the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, WCET, and the Mayerson JCC. Their legacy includes the Heldman Food Pantry, established on the campus of Hebrew Union College.
Pride Community – Evan Millward
Evan started visual storytelling at the Columbus Dispatch as a videographer and web producer in 2011. That September, he moved to Missouri to launch the Jefferson City bureau for KMIZ-TV where he was promoted to weekend anchor and spent two years in that role before leaving in July 2014 for WCPO 9 where he shared the news locally in Cincinnati until 2024. Evan has been an active member of the LGBTQ+ community since he first began calling the Queen City home. Evan is a regular volunteer and participates in the Hot Mess Sports leagues, and most importantly gives visibility to the LGBTQ+ community.
Hispanic Community – Jon & Dr. Anya Sanchez
As part of the Reds’ Hispanic Heritage celebration, Jon and Anya were honored for their involvement and work with The Joseph House, which serves Great Cincinnati’s veteran community. The nonprofit received a $30,000 Major League Baseball Military Grant on behalf of the Reds.
YOUTH AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
REDS MAKING AN IMPACT WITH RCF SCHOLARS
The Reds Community Fund (RCF) is focused on developing student-athletes into Major League Citizens, which is the objective of its newest program, RCF Scholars.
REDS YOUTH ACADEMY
The P&G MLB Cincinnati Reds Youth Academy is a state-of-the-art facility that supports thousands of kids and coaches in the Greater Cincinnati area. The academy serves as the home for the Cincinnati RBI (Reviving Baseball in the Inner Cities) program, along with year-round baseball and softball clinics and activities for players and educational sessions for coaches. In addition to on-field instruction, academy programs also provide academic tutoring, mentoring and life-building opportunities for the young people who need it most.
MURALS WITH A MISSION
Launched in 2022, “Murals With A Mission” powered by PNC Bank is an initiative that aims to create a mural at high school campuses across Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky that elevates positive social messages relevant to each school’s student body. Local artist Brent Billingsley works with student organizations to develop the message and artwork.
MLB INITIATIVES
The Cincinnati Reds partner with Major League Baseball on a number of programs and initiatives throughout each season that promotes diversity and inclusion.
2025 MLB CALENDAR OF EVENTS
- April 15 – Jackie Robinson Day
- May – Mental Health Awareness
- May 11 – Mother’s Day
- May 17 - Armed Forces Day (Military Appreciation)
- May 26 – Memorial Day
- June 2 – Lou Gehrig Day (5th Anniversary)
- June 13-15 – PLAY BALL Weekend
- June 15 – Father’s Day
- September 7 – Childhood Cancer Awareness Day
- September 11 – September 11th Remembrance
- September 15 – Roberto Clemente Day
- October 16 – Spirit Day