ACCELERATING CHANGE
Of the 200+ television and radio play-by-play jobs in Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball, fewer than five are currently filled by Black broadcasters. A lack of diversity exists across the play-by-play profession, and The Black Play-by-Play Broadcaster Grant & Scholarship Fund addresses many barriers-to-entry that exist for aspiring Black broadcasters. This fund will lift those who otherwise wouldn't be able to get a start in the field, while pushing the industry to more closely reflect the country as a whole.
OVERWHELMING SUPPORT
The amount of money pledged from across the country exploded past the initial goal for The Black Play-by-Play Broadcaster Grant and Scholarship Fund. Due to that financial backing from people who believed in the cause and the passionate support from broadcasters already in the industry, The Black PxP Fund will have a multi-pronged impact on the future of broadcasting.
One $3,000 grant will be presented annually to a Black broadcaster who accepts a seasonal job in Minor League Baseball. The intent is to supplement low pay and a lack of health insurance to make an entry-level job more realistic for people from all backgrounds.
The scholarship program was created because of the overwhelming response in initial fundraising. While the initial goal was $3,000, that was quickly surpassed and $25,000 was raised over the first three months. As a result, The Black PxP Fund will be able to provide financial support to aspiring Black broadcasters navigating college.
The idea of a mentorship program was born with the enthusiasm received from broadcasters across the industry about wanting to do more than contribute money to this cause. With that, one of the best resources one can have in the industry is a professional network that is willing to answer questions and guide you toward success. All applicants- regardless of whether they are awarded a scholarship or grant- will be connected with professionals in the industry through this mentorship program.
NATIONAL RECOGNITION
From its launch, the idea for The Black Play-by-Play Broadcaster Grant & Scholarship Fund was embraced nationwide. In the first 48 hours, the initial tweet received +180,000 impressions as part of a tweet thread that was seen +250,000 times.
Media outlets such as The Ringer, Baseball America and MiLB.com wrote stories amplifying the support received and the impact that the nonprofit would have on the future of the entire industry.
Regional television in New England featured The Black PxP Fund on New England Sports Network (NESN) and ABC6 Providence helping spread the word across the region.
EXPERIENCED LEADERSHIP
The six member board of The Black Play-by-Play Broadcaster Grant & Scholarship Fund brings decades of broadcast experience to the table. The two Black play-by-play voices in MLB, Dave Sims (Seattle Mariners) and Robert Ford (Houston Astros) have carved a path for the current generation of aspiring Black broadcasters, and have been committed to lifting these voices for years.
In addition to these two important voices in today’s broadcast landscape, the Board of Directors is a diverse group with eclectic broadcasting backgrounds. They bring the combined experience of having called thousands of professional baseball games and sports at the Division-I level on regional and national television — and they’re ready to use that experience to help young broadcasters.
“When I finally stepped back and surveyed the room, everyone looking back at me looked just like me — and that needs to change.”
— Adam Giardino, President
Black PxP Broadcaster Grant & Scholarship Fund