The Atlanta Braves Foundation Commits First Two Henry Louis Aaron Fund Grants to
Focused Community Strategies Entrepreneurship Center in South Atlanta and
Piney Woods School Baseball Field and Program Development in Mississippi
ATLANTA (February 3, 2022) – On the eve of Hank Aaron’s birthday this Saturday, February 5, the Atlanta Braves Foundation will launch the 755 Legacy Club Campaign to build an exclusive group of supporters who are passionate about investing in the legacy of Henry “Hank” Aaron. Supporters are invited to join the inaugural class of the 755 Legacy Club with an annual donation of $755 or more to the Henry Louis Aaron Fund. The campaign will conclude on April 8, the anniversary of Aaron’s record-breaking home run. The first 44 contributors who donate $4,400 or more will receive a commemorative hand painted baseball bat designed by a selection of local Black artists.
In addition, the Atlanta Braves Foundation’s Henry Louis Aaron Fund is announcing its first two grants to further Aaron’s lifelong mission to create access and opportunities in sports, business, education, and social and racial equality.
“We are thrilled to announce our first of many impactful projects under the banner of the Henry Louis Aaron Fund,” said Danielle Bedasse, Sr. Director, Community Affairs & Executive Director of the Atlanta Braves Foundation. “Mr. Aaron moved in excellence, and it is a privilege to support organizations that are serving our communities, entrepreneurs and our youth with both innovative programs and extraordinary care.”
An initial grant of $100,000 will support the Focused Community Strategies Entrepreneurship Center, a projected 17-space affordable small business incubator to generate employment opportunities for South Atlanta residents and neighbors.
The Henry Louis Aaron Fund will also support the revitalization of the baseball field at Piney Woods School in Rankin County, MS, with a grant of approximately $30,000. Piney Wood has a rich history of baseball dating back to the 1920s, but Piney Woods School last fielded a baseball team in 2007. This grant will empower the school to provide access to a quality baseball program for the students in their underserved community.
Hank Aaron’s life-long passion was to increase diversity in baseball, whether that was on the field, in baseball operations, on the business side of a front office or at the Major League office. The goal of the fund will be to provide resources to drive equity by creating access and opportunities in the areas of sports, business, education, and social and racial equality.
The Atlanta Braves established the Henry Louis Aaron Fund under the banner of the Atlanta Braves Foundation in January 2021 and seeded an initial $1 million. Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association added an additional $500,000 each.
Visit [Braves.com/Hank]Braves.com/Hank to learn more about the Henry Louis Aaron Fund and to join the newly established 755 Legacy Club.
