The Reds Community Fund's Rookie Success League has grown to serve 1,500 underprivileged kids in five locations. This is week three at the camp and the young athletes are learning much more than baseball.
The players are bused in from all over the city; from Cincinnati Recreation centers, YMCA's, Boys and Girls clubs. This league gives the kids a chance to learn baseball and life skills from the Reds coaches and staff.
"Once you break down the simple movements, and find a way to relate and connect, a lot of the kids picked it up just like that," said Reds outfielder Chris Dickerson.
"The goal of this program is to use baseball as a hook to get them in, and then to really teach them a character message," said Charlie Frank, Executive Director of the Reds Community Fund.
This six week league is centered around building character. There's free lunches, Reds games, math and science lessons and even on-site medical screenings.
"We try to offer these children a service that otherwise they may not have the resources or ability to receive," said Greg Lynn, Manager of Sports Medicine for Tri-Health.
Each week the Rookie Success League focuses on one of its six stars of success: cooperation, integrity, respect, education, determination and spirit.
Reds pitcher Daniel Ray Herrara told the kids after lunch, "When I was your age, my determination was in the class room."
"The most important is education for these kids because baseball is not going to last forever, even for me," said Dickerson.
They're teaching these kids it is about hitting the home run on the field and in life.
"Just seeing their faces and the interest that they have and really dedicate the time and energy to fueling that of becoming the future generation of the Cincinnati Reds," said Dickerson.
