The non-profit Memphis Redbirds Foundation is the first 501(c)(3) charitable organization in the United States to own a professional baseball franchise (the Memphis Redbirds) and its playing facility, AutoZone Park. The foundation uses its funds to enable children to participate in sports across the Memphis, Tennessee area.
The RBI (Returning Baseball to the Inner-City) program is an instructional baseball and softball summer program for boys and girls ages 6-15. The children form teams that travel throughout the city to play each other.
The STRIPES (Sports Teams Returning In The Public Education System) program runs during the school year, and helps fund baseball and softball teams for middle and junior high schools in the Memphis City School System.
The foundation provides many things above and beyonds sports instruction. Although some emphasis is placed on baseball and softball skills, the primary function at each site is to teach young people teamwork, how to achieve goals, the importance of an education and how to become productive citizens of the city. These programs have given children a positive alternative to the dangers of drugs, gangs and violence that surround them. RBI also stresses the importance of reading by partnering with the library, Junior Achievement and other area programs. RBI is free to any child age 6-16 who would like to participate. The program provides each participant a baseball uniform and supplies lunch each day they are present at the site.