Uniting through education: Giants and Tigers offer CASE Study Program

In a powerful testament to the unifying spirit of baseball, the San Francisco Giants and Detroit Tigers have joined forces with Cubs Charities to expand the Careers as Sports Executives (CASE) Study Program across the country. Designed to empower underrepresented high school students with the skills, knowledge and connections needed to thrive in the sports industry, the program now operates in San Francisco, Chicago and Detroit -- marking a growing commitment to educational equity and sports industry diversity.

The CASE Study Program was created in 2018, pioneered by executives Theo Epstein, Meghan Jones and Scott Harris with the Chicago Cubs who sought to address the disparity in opportunities for youth to pursue careers in professional sports. While Harris was serving as General Manager for the Giants, the program took root in San Francisco in 2022 through a partnership with the Giants Community Fund. Earlier this year, the Tigers launched their own chapter in Detroit with support from the Detroit Tigers Foundation, further broadening the program’s reach and impact.

Together, these partnerships are now shaping a new generation of leaders, united by the belief that the power of sports can transform lives.

“This is a program that goes beyond the game,” said Cassandra Hofman, Program Senior Manager of the Giants Community Fund. “By collaborating with the Cubs, Tigers and other professional sports teams here in the Bay Area, we’re opening doors for students who may have never imagined a future in sports leadership. Each chapter brings unique opportunities tailored to its community, but the shared goal is the same: building confidence, skills and pathways to success in the sports industry.”

The Cubs Charities’ CASE program had another impactful year in 2024, welcoming nearly 60 students for workshops on topics like communications, data analytics and marketing. The program began with a Leadoff Event at Wrigley Field, where students connected with members of the Cubs’ front office through tours and networking. It concluded with an on-field ceremony in April, honoring the students' hard work.

“This program was even more than what I expected,” one Cubs Charities CASE Study Program participant shared. “It gave me so much valuable information and allowed me to connect with incredible people in the sports industry.”

In San Francisco, the Giants Community Fund graduated their third cohort of 46 CASE Study Program students this September -- its largest cohort yet. Students participated in workshops and mentorship sessions led by sports executives from across the industry, exposing students to topics such as marketing, graphic design, youth initiatives, business analytics and live entertainment. Instructors represented seven professional sports teams, including the Cubs and Tigers. Following their final presentations, students were celebrated in a pregame home plate ceremony and featured on NBC Sports Bay Area.

"This isn’t just about jobs; it’s about showing students that they belong in this space and that their voices and ideas matter,” Hofman added.

Similarly, in Detroit, the Tigers have adopted the program’s framework, broadening the horizons of aspiring sports professionals and equipping them with practical knowledge and networking opportunities essential for navigating the dynamic sports industry. The inaugural class of the Detroit Chapter welcomed 22 students from Detroit Public Schools Community District. These students had the unique opportunity to participate in sessions facilitated by sports industry professionals from renowned organizations such as the Tigers, Cubs, Detroit Red Wings and Ilitch Sports + Entertainment.

“You get access to elite minds in baseball and business,” said Mr. Wolford, School Lead at Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School (Detroit). “Hearing those experts share their knowledge could be the spark that inspires a student’s career path.”

Since its inception, the CASE Study Program has engaged 300-plus students across the country. Come January 2025, the New York Mets will be the next team to join in hosting the program.

As CASE continues to grow, the Giants, Cubs and Tigers remain committed to its success. Together, these organizations exemplify how competing teams can collaborate to create lasting change, using the universal language of sports to empower young people to dream big.

For more information about the CASE Study Program and its expanding chapters, visit giantscommunityfund.org, tigers.com and cubscharities.org.