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The 11-time World Champion St. Louis Cardinals of Major League baseball is a major community figure. Cardinals Care, the St. Louis Cardinals Community Fund, was established to give fans a way of teaming up with Cardinals players and the organisation to help children in the St. Louis community. Cardinals Care has invested over $22 million to support St. Louis area children.

Established in 1997, Cardinals Care has provided over $13 million in grants to non-profit youth organisations and built 24 youth ball fields in local under-resourced neighbourhoods in both Missouri and Illinois. Since 2004, Cardinals Care has also orchestrated the innovative Redbird Rookies program. Redbird Rookies is a free baseball league for kids who otherwise might not have the opportunity to play. In addition to providing all the uniforms, gloves, bats, balls and other equipment needed for each team, Redbird Rookies also provides extensive off-field support in the areas of health, education, mentoring and the cultural arts for each of the nearly 4,500 kids who participate in the program each year.

1. What does the presence of a club bring to a city such as St. Louis?

The St. Louis Cardinals are one of the most storied franchises in all of baseball. Since joining the National League in 1892, the Cardinals have won more than 10,000 games and finished in first place 27 times, winning 3 National League Eastern Division Titles, 12 National League Central Division Titles, 19 National League Pennants and 11 World Series Championships. There are 51 former Cardinals players, managers and executives enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

The St. Louis Cardinals organisation contributes to St. Louis economy by attracting thousands of visitors that patronise not only Busch Stadium and Ballpark Village but also neighbouring restaurants, bars and hotels. The Cardinals help bring more than 3 million fans downtown each year.

A $260 million expansion of Ballpark Village is near completion, adding 700,000 square feet of new dining, entertainment, hotel, residential, retail and lifestyle amenities in downtown St. Louis. Ballpark Village’s second phase completes a full build-out of Clark street, transforming it into one of the most unique city streets in all of major league sports and a vibrant 24/7 neighbourhood for downtown St. Louis. The expansion, developed by The St. Louis Cardinals and The Cordish Companies, includes a 30-story luxury high-rise residential tower, an 11-story Class A office building, an upscale hotel, a spectacular three-story glass retail pavilion, 75,000 square feet of new ground floor retail space, and a new 40,000 square foot outdoor plaza.

2. How is the club involving itself within the local life and how does it give back to the community? What do inhabitants and fans expect from it?

The St. Louis Cardinals gives back to the community through several initiatives and programs provided through Cardinals Care and Community Relations. These initiatives include Cardinals Care Grants; Youth Baseball Fields; Redbird Rookies; Support for the RBI Baseball Initiative; Community Ticket Programs; Educational Programs; Annual Blood Drive; Player Ticket Program; and Support of Player Charitable Initiatives.

3. What kind of specific measures and programmes have the Cardinals taken to participate in the effort to fight against the Covid-19 pandemic? Will some of these actions be perpetuated?

COVID-19 is impacting all of us. The St. Louis Cardinals are committed to supporting the community during this unprecedented time. We are fortunate to work with a number of amazing partners who are providing critical resources and aid to those most impacted in our region. We have compiled some information on ways fans can help, resources to educate fans on COVID-19, where fans can go for support, and additional resources that fans may find helpful at cardinals.com/support.

Additionally, Cardinals Care has partnered with St. Louis Area Foodbank, Royals Charities and Harvesters-The Community Food Network in the “Step Up to the Plate” initiative. The goal of the initiative is to raise $15,000 for each food bank, which would fund 100,000 meals for the St. Louis Area Foodbank and Harvesters-The Community Food Network combined.

Cardinals Care also continues to offer support to its Redbird Rookies participants. The team has set up a resource website, where participants can find interactive material, learning opportunities, and videos from the Cardinals, our partners and Major League Baseball. Cardinals Care also provided backpacks full of school supplies and PPE to Redbird Rookies participants at a drive-thru distribution event held in August.

Cardinals Care awards grants to non-profit organizations during two grant cycles – one in the Spring and one in the Summer. The grants will be used to fund tangible items, one-time capital expenses and special supplies or purchases that directly benefit children.