For kids in Detroit and surrounding communities, access to quality sports equipment can make a big difference in learning the games they love. The Detroit Tigers are proud to support the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan in its effort to work across southeast Michigan communities to improve access to sports equipment and do-it-from-home skills development drills for children. A program called Project Play Kits, which provides sports equipment, directions and links to guided videos, allows kids to participate in fun activities without the need for communal spaces. Launched by the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, The Aspen Institute and Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, the Project Play Kits initiative serves 2,400 children weekly, and features a different sport every week.

The Detroit Tigers and Detroit Tigers Foundation joined Major League Baseball to help adopt the Project Play Kits “baseball week” from Aug. 17–23.  In total, more than 2,400 Baseball Project Play Kits were donated and distributed throughout seven counties in southeast Michigan. Each kit included MLB Play Ball bat and ball sets, as well as instructional videos and drill sheets from the Tigers to give kids a safe way to learn and play. The Tigers mascot, Paws, distributed many kits to youth at a recent event at the Boys & Girls Club in Highland Park, Mich.

Project Play Southeast Michigan believes that every child should reap the benefits of a lifestyle that’s active, healthy and fun. To learn more about their work at and see the Project Play Kits baseball instructional videos, visit ProjectPlaySEMI.org.