United water & cal ripken, sr. foundation host
end-of-year celebration for the jersey city badges for baseball program
Jersey city, n.j.--(business wire)--the cal ripken, sr. foundation (crsf) and united water hosted an end-of-year celebration for the badges for baseball program in jersey city, nj. two baseball teams from the jersey city reviving baseball in the inner city program (rbi) played a friendly game at jersey city fields. the players received support and instruction from guest managers, including former major league ball players bob tufts, glenn borgmann, jack cullen, john doherty and oreste marrero. the night kicked off with ryan struthers, director of recreation, jersey city and rolando lavarro, jr., council president, jersey city’s city council throwing out the inaugural first pitch and included a barbeque with food donated by united water. “our partnership with the jersey city municipal utilities authority means more than just providing high quality water service to jersey city residents and businesses,” said nadine leslie, president of united water. “it is vitally important for us to help improve the quality of life for people living in jersey city as well, and our partnership with the cal ripken, sr. foundation accomplishes that by providing the city’s youth life-long lessons through its badges for baseball program.” the end-of-year event celebrated the 2013 badges for baseball program in jersey city. the cal ripken, sr. foundation created badges for baseball in conjunction with the u.s. department of justice. the program reshapes the relationship between law enforcement and kids living in underserved communities across the country. it’s a simple concept: pair cops and kids together to play and learn. this program reaches over 400 youth from jersey city and connects them with mentors from the law enforcement community. the partnership teaches youth valuable life lessons, including teamwork, leadership, and the value of preserving the environment, particularly water. “we are very excited about having united water and cal ripken, sr. foundation bring this program to the kids in the city,” said dan becht, executive director of the jersey city municipal utilities authority. “it is a great example of how our unique partnership is providing benefits to the residents of our great city.” thanks to the continuing support of united water, the cal ripken, sr. foundation has provided jersey city rbi with the resources needed to implement badges for baseball. this includes cash awards, baseball/softball and quickball equipment, a character education curriculum and opportunities to send deserving youth to overnight summer camp at the ripken experience complex in aberdeen, md. “the cal ripken, sr. foundation is grateful for the law enforcement agencies and united water, who help bring the badges for baseball program to deserving youth in jersey city,” said steve salem, president of the cal ripken, sr. foundation. “united water’s commitment to youth outreach and community involvement is second to none. thanks to their support we have positively impacted over 400 local youth.” the united water foundation and the cal ripken, sr. foundation began their partnership in 2009. the program started in massachusetts and has since spread around the country, reaching youth in holyoke and springfield, ma; poughkeepsie, ny; jersey city, nj; harrisburg, pa and pontiac, mi. each individual program has impacted up to 100 youth in their respective communities. the two partners are working to build and expand upon the success of the program with the ultimate goal of reaching more youth and helping lead them on a path to success. about the cal ripken, sr. foundation the cal ripken, sr. foundation uses baseball- and softball-themed programs to help build character and teach critical life lessons to underserved youth residing in america’s most distressed communities. founded in 2001 by members of the ripken family in memory of their patriarch cal, sr., the foundation works to create programs that positively impact at-risk youth through active community partnerships with america’s most successful youth service organizations. the ripken foundation uses the baseball and softball field to help teach life’s critical lessons such as perseverance, loyalty, nutrition, hard work and leadership to young people residing in disadvantaged communities. in 2012, the foundation impacted more than 154,000 youth in 47 states around the country through badges for baseball. about united water jersey city united water jersey city provides water service to approximately 250,000 residents in jersey city and supplies wholesale water to hoboken, montville and parsippany. the company operates the jersey city water system through a contract agreement with the jersey city municipal utilities authority. united water is one of the nation’s leading environmental companies, providing water and wastewater services to approximately 5.5 million people in the united states. in addition to owning and operating 16 water and wastewater utilities, united water operates 90 municipal and industrial water and wastewater systems through innovative public-private partnerships and contract agreements. founded in 1869, united water is a subsidiary of suez environnement. www.unitedwater.com
