Cape Cod Dad Honors Son with 2025 MLB Tour
- BOSTON and EASTHAM, Mass.— A foundation dedicated to honoring the memory of Jackson Yelle, who passed away in April 2023, will continue its tour of Major League baseball...
- Jackson Yelle, 21, a baseball player at Elon University in North Carolina, died on April 30, 2023, after being struck by a driver. The Jackson Yelle Family Foundation,...
- According to a representative, Helping other young men and women grow through the game he loved is somthing he would endorse wholeheartedly.
Foundation Continues MLB Stadium Tour to Support Youth Baseball
Donations to benefit Nike RBI program
BOSTON and EASTHAM, Mass.— A foundation dedicated to honoring the memory of Jackson Yelle, who passed away in April 2023, will continue its tour of Major League baseball stadiums in 2025 to support the MLB Nike Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program. In 2024, the foundation completed visits to 18 stadiums, donating $1,000 to the local Nike RBI program at each stop. This april, the tour resumes with visits to the first 12 stadiums Yelle visited with his son. The first stop will be at Fenway Park in Boston on April 12.
Jackson Yelle, 21, a baseball player at Elon University in North Carolina, died on April 30, 2023, after being struck by a driver. The Jackson Yelle Family Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, was subsequently established to support causes that would have been critically important to him.
According to a representative, Helping other young men and women grow through the game he loved is somthing he would endorse wholeheartedly.
The foundation will sponsor a workshop for Boston’s Nike RBI, overseen by the Red Sox Foundation, on April 12, accompanied by a $7,000 donation to the Boston MLB Nike RBI. The Center for Healing and Justice Through Sport will lead the workshop. The tour will then continue for two months, revisiting the stadiums initially visited.
The Nike RBI program supports youth advancement through baseball and softball, having served approximately 2 million young people as its inception.Several Nike RBI alumni have gone on to play in MLB, including Jackie Bradley Jr., Hunter greene, Alek Thomas, and Dominic Smith.
Following the Fenway Park event,the foundation will make $1,000 donations in 11 other MLB cities: Colorado (April 20); Oakland/Sacramento (April 22); San Francisco (April 24); San Diego (April 27); Houston (May 9); Washington,D.C. (May 11); Baltimore (May 13); New york Mets (May 14); New York Yankees (May 16); Minnesota Twins (May 25); and Cleveland (May 28).
As part of the donation ceremonies, a representative of the foundation will participate in the in-game experiance. During the previous tour, they were on the field and threw out the first pitch at some ballparks. this year, they will wear special Catch2Heal T-shirts.
Catch2Heal is a fundraising campaign inspired by the book A Year of Playing Catch by Ethan Bryan. It involves a daily game of catch, which will continue during the two-month tour. The tour will also include a stop at the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa, and visits to Nike RBI programs not affiliated with MLB clubs. There are 130 nike RBI organizations worldwide.
According to a representative, It’s appropriate that we visit the baseball field made famous in the movie Field of Dreams as touring all 30 stadiums was our dream. it’s bittersweet that Jackson’s not here physically with us, but he’s definitely here in spirit.
Friends, family, and baseball fans are invited to attend the games.
Donations beyond the initial $12,000 will support the Jackson Yelle Family Foundation’s efforts to provide resources and financial support to help young people thrive.
donations can be made payable to “jackson Yelle foundation” and sent to Jackson Yelle Family Foundation PO Box 86, North Eastham, MA 02651.
Supporting Youth Baseball: A Q&A with the Jackson Yelle Family Foundation
What is the Jackson Yelle Family Foundation and What is Their Mission?
The Jackson Yelle Family Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization established to honour the memory of Jackson Yelle, a 21-year-old baseball player at Elon University, who passed away in April 2023. The foundation’s mission is to support causes that were important to Jackson, with a primary focus on youth growth thru baseball and softball.
What is the Foundation Doing to Support Youth Baseball?
The foundation is continuing its tour of Major League Baseball stadiums to support the MLB Nike Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program. This initiative provides resources and opportunities for young peopel to develop their skills in baseball and softball. In 2024, the foundation visited 18 stadiums and donated $1,000 to the local Nike RBI program at each stop. In 2025 they will visit 12.
How Does the Nike RBI Program Benefit Youth Baseball?
The Nike RBI program aims to advance youth through baseball and softball. It has served approximately 2 million young people since its inception. The program provides a platform for skill development, mentorship, and life skills training, ultimately helping young people succeed on and off the field.Notably, several Nike RBI alumni have gone on to play in MLB, including Jackie Bradley Jr., Hunter Greene, Alek Thomas, and Dominic smith.
Where and When is the Foundation’s Stadium Tour Taking Place in 2025?
The 2025 tour began in April 2025.Here is a list of the cities announced.
Boston, MA: April 12 (Fenway Park)
Colorado: April 20
Oakland/Sacramento: April 22
San Francisco: April 24
San Diego: April 27
Houston: May 9
Washington,D.C.: May 11
Baltimore: May 13
New York Mets: May 14
New York Yankees: May 16
Minnesota Twins: May 25
Cleveland: May 28
The tour will also include a stop at the Field of Dreams in dyersville, Iowa, and visits to Nike RBI programs not affiliated with MLB clubs.
How Can I Support the Jackson Yelle Family Foundation?
You can support the Jackson Yelle Family Foundation by attending games and donating to their cause. Donations can be made payable to ”Jackson Yelle Family foundation” and sent to:
Jackson Yelle Family Foundation
PO Box 86
North Eastham, MA 02651
Donations beyond the initial $12,000 will help the foundation’s efforts to provide young people with resources and financial support.
what Activities will the Foundation be Involved in During the Tour?
The foundation’s representative will participate in the in-game experience, and will wear Catch2Heal T-shirts during the donation ceremonies. Catch2Heal is a fundraising campaign inspired by the book “A Year of Playing Catch” by Ethan bryan.This involves a daily game of catch, which will continue during the two-month tour.
What is the Significance of the “Field of Dreams” Stop?
Visiting the “Field of Dreams” is particularly meaningful for the foundation. As one representative said, “It’s appropriate that we visit the baseball field made famous in the movie Field of Dreams as touring all 30 stadiums was our dream.it’s bittersweet that Jackson’s not here physically with us, but he’s definitely here in spirit.”
Summarized Tour Data
| Location | Date | Donation | Notes |
| :———————— | :———- | :——— | :—————————————— |
| Fenway Park (Boston) | April 12 | $7,000 | Workshop with the Red Sox Foundation |
| Other MLB Stadiums | Various | $1,000 | In-game experience with foundation member |
| Field of Dreams | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | Special stop |