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
The Cincinnati Reds are committed to promoting positive initiatives in our community and for fans throughout Reds Country. Below you will have the opportunity to hear from voices within the Reds organization, find out what initiatives we conduct to promote positive change and inclusiveness, learn more about how you can get involved and make a difference in your community and much more.
Let＊s unite so that we can raise awareness and education and change our society together.
REDS COUNTRY CARES
NEWS AND EVENTS
George Foster, Chuck Harmon Jr. Attend Reds Youth Academy Event
On February 6, the Reds Youth Academy hosted its third annual high school season sendoff honoring the RBI program＊s 2025 seniors and all the student-athletes preparing for their high school seasons.
After the seniors participated in a media day during the afternoon, the 125 baseball and softball players, parents coaches and guests gathered on the indoor field to take part in a program centered around Black History Month.
The Community Fund partnered with the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum to conduct a Jeopardy-style game that included questions spanning the Negro Leagues, statistical terms and MLB mascots, among others.
Reds Hall of Famer George Foster and Chuck Harmon Jr., son of the Reds＊ first Black player, Chuck Harmon Sr., served as special guests. The pair added color commentary and shared stories and insight pertaining to many of the questions in the game.
Reds Community Fund Celebrates National Girls and Women in Sports Day
Celebrated annually on February 5, National Girls and Women in Sports Day acknowledges the accomplishments of female athletes, influence of sports participation for women and girls, and continued progress and advocation for equality for women in sports.
This year, the Reds Youth Academy (RYA) hosted a panel discussion for a group of 35 RBI softball players. The panel was made up of four current Nike RBI Softball coaches and instructors, three of which were past RBI players who remain dedicated to giving back to Academy and community.
Panelists shared the importance of their time at the Academy and experiences as women in the sports world. They also fielded questions from the girls which covered a variety of topics, including college, legacy, the mental aspect of sports and so much more.
Brent Suter, Sam Hubbard Host Shoe Drive for Local Children
On February 5, pitcher Brent Suter, the Reds and Shoes 4 the Shoeless teamed up to put brand new shoes on the feet of 79 kids at Xavier Jesuit Academy.
Suter was joined by his longtime friend and Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard for the shoe drive, where they were able to provide sneakers and socks to 48 students and 31 of their siblings.
Reds Players Participate in MLK Day of Service
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a Reds group made its way around Cincinnati for a special service day which included stops at three local organizations: Freestore Foodbank, the Queen City Book Bank and the P&G MLB Cincinnati Reds Youth Academy. Players lent a hand in the community throughout the morning and worked with RBI softball players in the evening.
2024 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 2024 Community Advocate winners below.
Pride Community 每 Michael Cotrell
Michael Cotrell is the current Empress 16 & 26 of the Imperial Sovereign Queen City Court of the Buckeye Empire All of Ohio INC. Since moving to Cincinnati in 2002 to be involved with ISQCCBE, Michael has helped raise over $180,000 for their charities. Heavily involved in our LGBTQ+ community, Michael also served on several boards, including ISQCCBE as President, Vice President and Current Secretary; PFLAG as Vice President and President, Cincinnati Pride as President, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention as the Out of the Darkness Walk Chair.
Jewish Community 每 Bobby Fisher
Bobby Fisher is the Chairman of Quest Star Capital, an investment company dedicated to helping innovative growth companies and start-ups. In the community, Bobby is a board member of PORT Authority and was a founder and past co-chairman of the Cincinnati Regional Business Committee, is Co-Chairman of the Build Our Bridge Now Coalition and serves as a member of the Executive Committee and Champaign Chair at the Jewish Federation as well as on the Board of the Jewish Community Relations Council.
Irish Community 每 Chris Schulte
Chris Schulte comes from a family with a long history of involvement within the Irish American community, particularly Irish American Club, AOH, LAOH, and the St. Patrick＊s Parade. Chris has been on the parade committee since 2005 and served as parade chairman for the 10th year in 2024. In June 2023, Chris was elected as a Director for the Ohio State Board of the AOH, responsible for managing & supporting local AOH division in Southern Ohio. Over the years, he has also worked tirelessly to volunteer and fundraise for the Special Olympics.
African American Community 每 Christie Kuhns
Christie Kuhns is committed to strengthening the civic fabric of our community and disrupting generational poverty by helping people get employed and stay employed. She is actively involved with Hamilton County, the YWCA Board of Directors, and Bethesda Inc. She has been a volunteer with the Avondale Community Council and Avondale Development Corporation for the past 17 years. Christie has been honored as a YWCA Career Woman of Achievement and was recently awarded the Jeffrey Hurwitz Young Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award from the University of Cincinnati. She also received the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus President＊s Award and was named one of the Region＊s Most Powerful Business Leaders by Cincinnati Magazine.
Hispanic Community 每 Nicholas Castro
Nicholas Castro is the Assistant Dean of Inclusive Excellence in the Lindner College of Business at the University of Cincinnati, and throughout his professional career has consistently shown a passion for diversity and inclusion by advocating on behalf of immigrants. Nick was instrumental in bringing a chapter of Latinx en Accion to University of Cincinnati Blue Ash, a group that strives to make positive impacts by serving Latinx students, along with championing a high school mentoring and tutoring program. As the father of five children, the son of a Mexican immigrant, and with over 15 years of being a higher education professional, Nick understands the struggles students must overcome during their college journey and has worked to support Hispanic and other underrepresented communities daily.
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.
2024 MLB CALENDAR OF EVENTS
- April 15 每 Jackie Robinson Day
- May 每 Mental Health Awareness
- May 12 每 Mother＊s Day
- May 17-19 每 Armed Forces Weekend (Military Appreciation)
- May 27 每 Memorial Day
- June 2 每 Lou Gehrig Day (4th Anniversary)
- June 14-16 每 PLAY BALL Weekend
- June 16 每 Father＊s Day
- September 1 每 Childhood Cancer Awareness Day
- September 11 每 September 11th Remembrance
- September 15 每 Roberto Clemente Day
- October 17 每 Spirit Day
SOCIAL JUSTICE
The Cincinnati Reds are committed to turning words into action as we all look for ways to promote equality and social justice in our society. We can all come together to drive positive change and make a difference in our communities.
KEEP THE DISCUSSION GOING
While we strive to be a leader in making positive change, we also understand that we do not have all of the answers. Please let us know any feedback you have or suggestions for what we can do better as we look ahead to make a difference.
We also encourage you to keep the conversation going however you can. Get involved by discussing your thoughts and opinions with others on social media. Plan events in your community to bring people of all backgrounds together. It＊s only through education, sharing and understanding that we can create true, lasting change.