By Jude 
Cincinnati’s professional sports teams have delivered incredible performances recently, drawing huge crowds and instilling a profound feeling of joy and celebration throughout the city.
At Venue Cincinnati, we want to spotlight the teams’ winning efforts outside their games. Beyond the scoreboard lights and cheering fans, each sports organization gives back to the community with kindness and generosity, helping local youth develop the skills and self-assurance they need to succeed in the future.
Our cover feature showcases the Cincinnati Reds, the Cincinnati Bengals and FC Cincinnati, and the dynamic youth programs and initiatives made possible through each team’s charitable foundation and community partnerships. We are honoured to share with you the following uplifting stories and images.
REDS MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR 150 YEARS
“The Reds have a unique place in our region’s history,” says Charley Frank, Reds Community Fund Executive Director. “Fans have supported the team for 150-plus years and have helped the Reds become one of the most iconic franchises in all of sports. Few fan bases are as loyal, supportive and engaged, which was evident during this surprising and exciting season.”
According to Frank, the Castellini ownership team has prioritized strategic, consistent and authentic community investment since they arrived in 2006. As a result, they led the construction of the P&G MLB Cincinnati Reds Youth Academy and numerous field renovation and Community Makeover projects.
Since its launch in 2001 (and bolstered by the arrival of the Castellini ownership group five years later), the Community Fund has been an essential and integrated part of the Reds business model. Reds staff have supported the Community Fund through fundraising programs such as Split the Pot, Redlegs Run and Reds Authentics.
The Community Fund’s mission of growing the game is also embraced by the Reds organization, as the future health of the game depends on the industry’s ability to connect with a young audience. Reds players, coaches and staff have donated their time and resources to this effort, with many front-office personnel serving as volunteers and mentors. The Community Fund’s daily commitment to underserved kids and its sharp focus on youth baseball, softball, education and community building have become an integral layer of the franchise’s overall culture.
“All of the Reds Community Fund’s programs and initiatives rely on strategic partners,” Frank says. “Major League Baseball, P&G and the City of Cincinnati/Cincinnati Recreation Commission helped make the P&G MLB Cincinnati Reds Youth Academy possible when it opened in 2014. The annual Community Makeover includes a robust collaboration between the Reds, P&G, the Cincinnati Zoo, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, GE Aerospace, the United Way of Greater Cincinnati and other local partners. We also partner closely with PNC, St. Elizabeth Healthcare, Cincinnati Public Schools, the University of Cincinnati and many others.”