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Once John Moores and his family assumed stewardship of the San Diego Padres in January 1995, active participation in the community has been at the heart of the franchise's philosophy and philanthropy. Padres' players, staff, management and ownership know how important it is to give of themselves - their time, energy, concern and creativity -- as well as of their financial resources. The magic of baseball, coupled with a commitment to get personally involved, contributes to the community in a multitude of ways -- large and small, publicized and private. The Padres' active participation in the community has included major initiatives in education, youth recreation, and health throughout the region, as well as support of literally thousands of charitable and community organizations on both sides of the border. The Padres Scholars, the Little Padres Parks program, and the Cindy Matters Fund to fight children's cancer are three pillars of a far-reaching community effort.

Padres Scholars

The Padres Scholars program provides bright but financially challenged students a $7,000 scholarship to attend a four-year college or university. Students are selected as middle schoolers based on the premise that they, who invariably face dangerous temptations, might opt for the straight and narrow route through high school if they had a guarantee that their good efforts would be rewarded with a college education. More >>

Teacher Appreciation

For the eighth consecutive year, the Padres will honor exceptional San Diego County schoolteachers at PETCO Park. In 2008 the Padres are honored to partner with Ashford University to present Teacher Appreciation Night. During pre-game ceremony on May 20, the Padres will pay tribute to the reigning County Teachers of the Year and the District Teachers of the Year.

Little Padres Parks

To help celebrate the 60th anniversary of professional baseball in San Diego, dating to the 1936 Pacific Coast League Padres, Moores suggested providing 60 diamonds where youngsters throughout the region (including Baja California) could play ball in clean, safe settings. All Little Padres Parks have grass infields, big-league landscaping, scoreboards, and signature palm trees in the outfield. More >>

Coaches Clinics

The Padres are proud to host Amateur Softball Association (ASA) coaches and managers clinics at PETCO Park on Saturday March 1st. This clinic will meet the ASA requirement for All Star managers. There will be no walk-up registration so please contact your District Commissioner to pre-register or for more information. On Saturday and Sunday January 12th & 13th the Padres hosted free coaches clinics at PETCO Park for all youth baseball and softball coaches. Training sessions were led by world-renowned Al Price of Al & Al Baseball and coaches had the opportunity to learn fundamental coaching techniques through hands on training on the field at PETCO Park. The Padres are committed to supporting youth baseball and softball and will continue to build upon our coaches clinics programs. Please check back for more information about coaches clinics for 2009.

Youth Baseball Clinics

Every season the Padres team up with several organizations to encourage youngster's interest and participation in baseball and softball. During the 2008 baseball season the Padres will again provide several free youth clinics at various Little Padres Parks throughout San Diego County. In the off-season the Padres will host coaches clinics at PETCO Park for local Little League, Pony League and ASA Softball coaches.

Kids Run the Bases

Following several Sunday home games this season, thousands of youngsters will have the opportunity to come down to the field where their heroes play and "Run the Bases" at PETCO Park.

Youth Baseball & Softball Days

In 2008, the Padres are proud to host Little Leaguers, ASA Softball players and PONY leaguers from all over Southern California at PETCO Park to take part in our annual youth baseball & softball days. On their selected dates each group will have the opportunity to participate in a warning track parade, and representatives will throw out the ceremonial first pitch, and sing the National Anthem as part of the festivities. Softball day is Sunday, April 6. Little League day is Sunday, April 27. PONY League day is Sunday, May 11. A special ticket discount is available to all youth baseball & softball teams that are part of a group of 25 or more for selected games throughout the 2008 season. For more information please contact the Padres group sales department at (619) 795-5500.

MLB Pitch, Hit & Run

The Pitch, Hit & Run Competition is the official skills competition of Major League Baseball. This grassroots program, initiated in 1996, is designed to provide youth across North America with an integrated competition that recognizes individual excellence in core baseball skills. Major League Baseball's Pitch, Hit & Run features local, sectional and Major League Baseball Team Championship competitions and culminates with the National Finals held annually as part of the All-Star Game festivities in July. The Padres will host the San Diego Team Championship on Sunday, June 22, 2008. For more information, please contact LEJ Sports Group at 770-641-7519 or click here.

Madres

The Madres were formed in 1972 and at that time were very proud to sponsor two youth baseball teams. Nearly 23,000 kids played organized ball this last year because of the Madres organization. These kids play on teams in more than 84 leagues including teams in 10 Challenger Divisions throughout SD County. For more information, please call the Madres Hotline @ 619-286-3216.

CIF Baseball

For the first time ever the Padres hosted five official CIF baseball games at PETCO Park on April 11th & 12th. The games featured ten teams from five of the seven conferences in the San Diego Section. Teams were each selected by their respective conference. Friday April 11 La Costa Canyon High School vs. Rancho Bernardo High School Granite Hills High School vs. Grossmont High School Saturday April 12 Montgomery High School vs. Eastlake High School Calexico High School vs. Brawley High School Mission Bay High School vs. University City High School

Baseball Tomorrow Fund

The Baseball Tomorrow Fund (BTF) is a joint initiative of Major League Baseball and the Players Association. Created in 1999, BTF is designed to promote and enhance the growth of youth baseball and softball throughout the world by funding programs, field construction and renovation projects and equipment purchases. Since 2005, BTF has partnered with MLB clubs, including the Padres, on the BTF/MLB Equipment Day, an initiative to organize equipment collections at Major League ballparks throughout the country. BTF news, information and application guidelines ».

FriarFit

The San Diego Padres and The California Endowment have announced a new fitness initiative, FriarFit. FriarFit was designed in collaboration between the Padres, The California Endowment (a statewide health foundation) and SportService (PETCO Park concessionaire). FriarFit's long-term goal is to improve the health and fitness of San Diegans. More >>

Cindy Matters Fund

The Cindy Matters Fund is the Padres' vehicle for reaching out to children battling cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. Named for an inspiring young woman who demonstrated remarkable spirit before succumbing to colon cancer on January 18, 1997, the fund was established less than three months later and over the past 11 years we raised $1,100,000 for the UCSD/Children's Hospital Cancer Center. More >>

VIP Kids

The Padres roll out the red carpet for children facing serious illnesses throughout the season. These "Very Important Padres," recommended by local support organizations and health caregivers like Make-A-Wish Foundation and Children's Hospital, get to come down to the field before a game, meet their favorite players, and watch a Padres game from special seats.

San Diego Blood Bank/Padres Blood Drive

The San Diego Blood Bank and the Padres established a Blood/Marrow/Stem Cell Drive in 1997, which has collected 3,730 pints of blood and typed 2,445 marrow donors through 2008. This year's Blood Drive was held during Friarfest on Saturday, January 26 and Sunday, January 27 at PETCO Park from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and collected a Padres Best - 525 pints.

Prostate Cancer Foundation's Home Run Challenge

The Padres, along with the other 29 Major League teams, players, managers and owners, we will once again team up with the Prostate Cancer Foundation to fight the most commonly diagnosed non-skin cancer in America in June. During Father's Day week 2008, Major League Baseball will raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer research. Since 1997 more than $28 million has been raised by MLB specifically for improving the process of medical research and improving research progress against all forms of cancer. For more information, please visit www.prostatecancerfoundation.org or call 1- 800-757-2873.

Celebration of Champions

The Padres have supported San Diego Children's Hospital's Celebration of Champions event since it's inception in 1996. To view photos from past Celebration of Champions event, please click here.

The Padres Foundation for Children, established in 1995 by Padres Chairman John Moores, is the primary source of funding for the club's health, education and youth baseball/softball initiatives. The Foundation raises funds through a number of programs in which the fans can participate including Scoreboard Surprises, an online charitable auction and Shirts Off Their Backs fundraiser.

The Padres Foundation is a fund of The San Diego Foundation, a not for profit public charity. We thank our 2007 generous corporate partners that helped make our community programs a success.

Sycuan Resort and Casino QUALCOMM Teammates for Kids Union Bank Point Loma Nazarene University Genentech AFLAC WeissComm Partners

King's Seafood Dick's Last Resort General Mills Mesa Distributing Kyocera Bank of America Wells Fargo Coca-Cola

Padres Foundation... live, learn and play.

Scoreboard Surprises

Commemorate a special occasion by displaying a message on the PETCO Park out of town scoreboard during a Padres home game. Scoreboard messages must be purchased online for a cost of $55. Payment and requests must be made 48 hours prior to your requested game date. Your credit card will be charged upon the Padres approval of the message.

Shirts Off Their Backs

Since moving to PETCO Park this exciting interactive program has raised more than $202,000 for the Padres Foundation. Ticket sales for the 2008 Shirts Off Their Backs Fundraiser will begin Monday, Sept. 8 and continue through Sunday, Sept. 28 or while supplies last. Tickets will sold at each home game when gates open and continue through the 3rd inning. Tickets will be sold at the Homeplate Gate, Gaslamp Gate and East Village Gate and from the Padres Foundation volunteers in blue aprons. Proceeds from this event benefit The Padres Foundation.

Donate Your Tickets

Not using your tickets? This season-long program enables Padres season ticket customers to return tickets to upcoming games for distribution to various non-profit organizations and deserving families. In 2007, 4,900 tickets were donated to disadvantaged youth in San Diego. Season Ticket Holders can bring in unused future game tickets to the Padres Ticket Office at PETCO Park, Monday thru Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Or mail them along with your name and address and at least 10 days in advance to: The Padres Foundation, Attn: Ticket Donation, 100 Park Blvd. San Diego, CA 92101.

Palm Court Plaza Brick Program 2004

The SD Ballpark Brick Program was a success, raising more than $260,000 for the Padres Foundation. Nearly 11,000 bricks were installed in Palm Court Plaza in 2004 as part of this sold-out program.

Tony Gwynn Brick Plaza

Installation of personalized bricks which surround a stunning bronze statue of Tony Gwynn in celebration of his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame is complete. Locator maps and Certificates of Ownership have been sent to brick purchasers. Thank you very much for your participation in this meaningful program. Congratulations to the fans that purchased these very special commemorative bricks. Your personalized brick is located at Park at the Park, located at PETCO Park, home of the San Diego Padres. The entrance to the park is located on J Street between 7th and 10th Avenues (a ticket is not required if it is not a game day). Locate your brick >>

Player Programs

Baseball thrills us, lifts our spirits, and connects us to our community in very special ways. Padres players understand that this connection is personal and precious. It is the privilege and responsibility, of Padres players, management and staff to be involved in the community in a positive way -- from greeting fans at the gates to Photo Day to participation in Autograph Alley, community caravans and many programs embraced by individual players. More >>

Donations

We believe the Padres, and all baseball clubs have a special opportunity to contribute to the community and we are committed to doing so. Every year, the Padres support thousands of organizations by making donations to fundraising events. To request a donation for an upcoming fundraising effort, please send a request in writing, on organizational letterhead to: San Diego Padres Community Relations, Attn: Charitable Donation, P.O. Box 122000, San Diego, CA 92112. More >>

Charity Ticket Programs

The Padres Charity Ticket Program provides complimentary tickets to non-profit organizations that serve disadvantaged children who would otherwise not be able to attend a baseball game. The Padres are proud to have again teamed up with our Players and corporate partners Nokia, ViaSat, Wells Fargo and Major League Baseball's "Commissioner's Initiative" to donate complimentary tickets to these deserving non-profit organizations During the 2008 season, the Padres will provide more than 40,000 tickets to over 250 deserving groups, including after-school clubs, inner-city youth recreation programs, education and literacy projects, shelters and other culturally diverse youth organizations -- all who focus their efforts on helping the youth of San Diego. To be considered for the 2008 Charity Ticket Program please download the '08 request form and follow the instructions listed on the application. For more details, please call our Community Relations Information Line at (619) 795-5275, and select option "4" for Charity Ticket Programs.

Speakers Bureau

Rarely does a day go when at least one member of the Padres family, including players, coaches, alumni and staff, cannot be found reaching out to fans somewhere in the San Diego area. Our Speakers Bureau is an important part of the Padres on-going community outreach effort. If your community organization is looking for a speaker for your next meeting or group function, please fill out a Speakers Bureau request form and mail it to: San Diego Padres Community Relations, Attn: Speakers Bureau, P.O. Box 122000, San Diego, CA 92112. Downloadable Request Form >>

Military

The San Diego Padres are unique in Major League Baseball as the only team with a designated Military Marketing Department. This dedicated military marketing effort was begun in 1995 and has grown stronger over the subsequent years. Today, the Padres provide more military programs and support to the military than any other professional sports team in the country. The relationship established between the Padres and the military in San Diego has earned them the title of "The Team of the Military." More >>

Multicultural

Historically, baseball has been America's national pastime, but it has become an increasingly global game. The Padres' fan base reaches across the border to Mexico and across the ocean to the Pacific Rim. San Diego is a diverse community, and the Padres reach out to Native Americans, New Americans, and fans of all ethnicities. Publications and radio/television programming are produced in English and Spanish, and there is a multicultural dimension to almost all of the club's marketing and community relations efforts.

PETCO Adoption Sundays

Every 2007 Sunday home game at PETCO Park is Pet Adoption Day. PETCO and the Padres partnered with six San Diego County animal shelters to feature a Pet of the Week at the ballpark in the hopes of finding it a loving home. Once adopted, PETCO and Science Diet provide each Pet of the Week with a one-year supply of food.

Team Greening Program

Throughout its rich history, baseball's greatest moments have been played out on its lush fields of green. Now thanks to an unprecedented partnership, the national pastime is embracing the color green in a whole new way. More >>