LED BY FORMER BASEBALL GREATS, CAL RIPKEN, JR. AND BILL RIPKEN, THE CAL RIPKEN SR. FOUNDATION, INC., THROUGH ACTIVE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WITH AMERICA'S MOST SUCCESSFUL YOUTH SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, TEACHES UNDERSERVED CHILDREN FROM AMERICA'S MOST DISTRESSED COMMUNITIES THE IMPORTANCE OF CHOOSING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AND MAKING SMART, PRODUCTIVE DECISIONS IN THEIR YOUNG LIVES. THE FOUNDATION USES SPORTS TO GRAB THE ATTENTION OF THESE UNDERSERVED CHILDREN WHILE TEACHING THEM THAT EMBRACING LIFELONG CHARACTER TRAITS SUCH AS PERSEVERANCE, COMMITMENT, DEVELOPING GOOD NUTRITIONAL HABITS AND GIVING BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITIES WILL EXPOSE THEM TO OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPERIENCES THAT WILL HELP THEM BECOME SUCCESSFUL, CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. THE FOUNDATION NOT ONLY TRAINS LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS TO BE SUCCESSFUL MENTORS TO CHILDREN AND TO IMPLEMENT THE FOUNDATION'S YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, BUT ALSO PROVIDES FUNDING, CHARACTER EDUCATION MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT TO THESE COMMUNITIES.