When does the Empower Softball program launch?

Empower Softball is launching in 2026 in Barahona, Dominican Republic. It will expand Empower Baseball's education-first model to girls in the program.

Why does Empower Baseball run a girls softball program?

Girls in the Dominican Republic face high dropout rates. Empower Softball uses the sport as a hook to keep girls enrolled in school and on track to graduate, the same model used in the boys baseball program.

How can I support the Empower Softball program?

You can sponsor the softball season through monthly or one-time donations. Sponsorship tiers start at a general gift level and go up to $1,000/month for a Monthly Team Sponsor. Visit empowerbaseball.org/softball/ to give.

What does a university scholarship cost for a Dominican student?

A university scholarship for a Dominican student costs $1,000 per year at a 4-year Dominican university.

The Dugout is Empower Baseball's monthly giving community. Donors give a recurring monthly gift that directly funds the baseball and education program for youth in Barahona, Dominican Republic.

How much does it cost per student per month?

It costs approximately $14.50 per student per month to run the Empower Baseball program.

What is the annual program budget?

The approximate annual program budget is $8,000, supporting 46 student-athletes.

What is the high school completion rate?

Empower Baseball maintains a 100% graduation rate among its student-athletes, compared to only about 1 in 3 Dominican adults who complete upper-secondary education.

NEWS

Empower Baseball Joins Smith’s Food & Drug Inspiring Donations Program

We’re excited to share some amazing news — Empower Baseball (Formerly DBA The Straley Project) has officially been enrolled in the Smith’s Food & Drug Inspiring Donations Program!

That means every time you shop at Smith’s, you can help empower youth in the Dominican Republic — at no extra cost to you.

How It Works

Smith’s Inspiring Donations Program allows you to link your Smith’s Rewards Card to a nonprofit of your choice. Once you’re enrolled, Smith’s will donate a percentage of your eligible purchases directly to Empower Baseball.

It’s that simple — shop for your groceries, and Smith’s donates to us.

What is Smith’s Inspiring Donations?

Smith’s Inspiring Donations is a simple way to support Empower Baseball while doing something you’re already doing – buying groceries. When you link your Smith’s Shopper’s Card to Empower Baseball, Smith’s automatically donates 0.5% of your eligible purchases to our program.

The math is beautiful:

Spend $200/month on groceries = $12/year donated to Empower Baseball
Spend $400/month on groceries = $24/year donated to our kids
Zero extra cost to you, but real impact for boys in Barahona

Why This Matters for Empower Baseball

Those automatic donations add up to real impact:

$12/year = Baseball gloves for two players
$24/year = School supplies for one student for a semester
$50/year = Partial uniform sponsorship
$100/year = Nearly two months of academic tutoring support

Remember, we require every boy to maintain above 70% grades and 100% school attendance. Your grocery shopping helps fund the academic support that makes this possible.

Step 1: Create or Log In to Your Smith’s Account

👉 Visit: www.smithsfoodanddrug.com/inspire
👉 Click “Sign In” (or “Create an Account” if you don’t have one yet).

If you don’t already have a Smith’s Rewards Card, you can pick one up for free at the customer service desk of your local Smith’s store.

Step 2: Choose Empower Baseball

Once logged in:

Go to Inspiring Donations.
Search for: Empower Baseball (Formerly/DBA – The Straley Proje)
Or enter our NPO number: ND997
Click Enroll ✅

Step 3: Shop and Give Back

Every time you shop at Smith’s, swipe your Rewards Card (or enter your phone number linked to your account) and a portion of your purchases will be donated to Empower Baseball.

It doesn’t cost you anything extra — but it makes a world of difference to the kids we serve.

Already linked? Share this post with friends and family! The more Smith’s shoppers who link their cards to Empower Baseball, the more boys we can serve in the Dominican Republic.

Why This Matters

At Empower Baseball, we believe in using the love of the game to open doors to education, health, and opportunity for underserved youth in the Dominican Republic.

By simply doing your grocery shopping, you’ll be helping us:

Provide equipment and coaching for kids
Fund mentorship and educational opportunities
Grow a program that can expand into nutrition, health, and community support

Together, we’re not just playing baseball.
We’re building brighter futures.

Every Swipe Counts

In the Dominican Republic, less than 50% of kids graduate high school. But 100% of our Empower Baseball participants are not only staying in school – they’re thriving academically while pursuing their baseball dreams.

Your Smith’s Shopper’s Card can be part of that success story. No extra cost, no extra effort – just the satisfaction of knowing that your weekly grocery run is helping boys like Julio, who says, “Empower is giving me the opportunity to play baseball and fulfill my dreams.”

Link your Smith’s card to Empower Baseball today. Because changing lives should be as easy as buying groceries.

Ready to Enroll?

👉 Enroll today: www.smithsfoodanddrug.com/inspire
👉 Search for Empower Baseball or enter ND997

Thank you for supporting our mission every time you shop. Your everyday actions are helping us create extraordinary change. ⚾🌍

Ready to get started? Visit Smith’s Inspiring Donations and search for Empower Baseball (NPO #85-0947825). Questions? Contact us at info@empowerbaseball.org or 801-927-1180.

Empower Baseball is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Tax ID: 85-0947825.