In 2009, the Cleveland Indians introduced a new Community Outreach initiative called "Fill the House for Charity". During each home baseball season, thirteen different local non-profit service agencies enjoy the opportunity to raise funds and awareness for its particular cause. Each non-profit organization generates revenue through the sale of discounted Indians tickets for a specific Wednesday game and utilizes Progressive Field to share its goodwill message. The Indians donate $5 per every ticket sold by the agency, as well as an additional $1 for every ticket sold to each designated game.
The Indians also provide charities with in-kind items such as a suite, autographed merchandise, a Batting Practice Experience and media exposure.
The Indians teamed up with The Cleveland Foodbank and Tyson Foods to donate 30,000 pounds of Tyson protein to restock Feeding America affiliate food banks in Greater Cleveland. The Cleveland Foodbank, a member of Feeding America, will help distribute the 30,000 pounds of donated protein to over 30 member agencies throughout the Cleveland area.
The Indians help fight pediatric, adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer through a new initiative called Indians Kick It: a simple concept - raise money for cancer research by playing kickball. Each group that raises $2,500 or more gets to play a kickball game on Progressive Field.
To make it even easier for communities, schools, recreation centers, businesses, colleges, sports teams or just anyone to hold a kickball game; Kick It Kits which include all the basic materials needed to play kickball are sold in Indians Team Shops and online!
"Indians in the Community" is an employee volunteer program that assists area neighborhoods and charitable partners. The Cleveland Indians have completed several major done-in-a-day projects including Rebuilding Together Cleveland and Cleveland Indians Take Over the Cleveland Foodbank.
As a civic leader in the City of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, the Cleveland Indians provide assistance to non-profit organizations to help raise funds necessary to support its missions. In responding to these requests, the department provides in-kind (autographed jerseys, bats, balls, etc) and monetary donations. On an annual basis, the organization donates more than $300,000 and 12,000 items to non-profit organizations.
Tribe players and wives spent thed ay shopping with children from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland on August 11 at Macy's Great Northern Shopping Center. Kids ages 7-15 received $100 gift cards for back-to school shopping. Tribe players were on hand to help the kids make the most of their gift card by purchasing clothes, shoes and many other needed items. Each young shopper was given lunch, gift bags and a keepsake photo of them on the Macy's in-store red carpet with their paired Indians player and wives.
On May 3, Cleveland Indians front office associates and members of the Indians Wives Association battled the Cleveland Browns front office during this exciting rivalry, "The Cleveland Sports Bowl", with funds supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland. Over the 10-year partnership, nearly $50,000 has been raised for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland.
Susan G. Komen For The Cure and Prostate Cancer Foundation: Each year the Cleveland Indians participate in a Mother's Day initiative dedicated to increase awareness for Susan G. Komen For The Cure and raise funds to support breast cancer research. MLB provides pink wristbands and decals to each club and pink bats are used and then collected for auction. Similarly, each year the Indians participate in a Father's Day initiative dedicated to generate awareness and raise funds for the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Each club participates in a special 6th Inning Stretch to symbolically recognize that 1 in every 6 men will develop prostate Cancer.
Participating organizations include: 4♦ALS Awareness; All-Stars Among Us; Aquafina MLB Pitch, Hit & Run; Commissioner's Initiative for Kids; Jackie Robinson Foundation; MLB Player's Give Back; Prostate Cancer Foundation; Roberto Clemente Award; September 11th Remembrance; Stand Up to Cancer; Susan G. Komen For The Cure; Welcome Back Veterans.
