When does the Empower Softball program launch?

Empower Softball is launching in 2026 in Barahona, Dominican Republic. It will expand Empower Baseball's education-first model to girls in the program.

Why does Empower Baseball run a girls softball program?

Girls in the Dominican Republic face high dropout rates. Empower Softball uses the sport as a hook to keep girls enrolled in school and on track to graduate, the same model used in the boys baseball program.

How can I support the Empower Softball program?

You can sponsor the softball season through monthly or one-time donations. Sponsorship tiers start at a general gift level and go up to $1,000/month for a Monthly Team Sponsor. Visit empowerbaseball.org/softball/ to give.

What does a university scholarship cost for a Dominican student?

A university scholarship for a Dominican student costs $1,000 per year at a 4-year Dominican university.

The Dugout is Empower Baseball's monthly giving community. Donors give a recurring monthly gift that directly funds the baseball and education program for youth in Barahona, Dominican Republic.

How much does it cost per student per month?

It costs approximately $14.50 per student per month to run the Empower Baseball program.

What is the annual program budget?

The approximate annual program budget is $8,000, supporting 46 student-athletes.

What is the high school completion rate?

Empower Baseball maintains a 100% graduation rate among its student-athletes, compared to only about 1 in 3 Dominican adults who complete upper-secondary education.

NEWS

Empower Baseball Joins Walmart Round Up For Good Program

Empower Baseball has been approved for Walmart’s Spark for Good Round Up program.

Here’s why this is such a big deal for our kids in Barahona.

Spare Change, Life Change

Walmart’s Spark for Good Round Up program lets online shoppers round up their purchases to the nearest dollar and donate the change to nonprofits like us.

Think about it: you’re buying groceries online for $47.23. You round up to $48.00. That 77 cents goes directly to keeping a kid in school and on the field in the Dominican Republic.

You’ll never miss the spare change. Our kids will feel the impact every single day.

The Math That Matters

Let me put this in perspective with some real numbers from our program:

77 cents = One day of nutritious meals for a player
$2.50 = A week of tutoring support to keep grades above 70%
$10 = A month of transportation to away games
$25 = A complete school uniform (government-required for attendance)

When I think about Carlos, one of our high school players, I remember the day he almost quit the program because his family couldn’t afford a new uniform after his old one wore out. That $25 uniform kept him in school. Today, he’s maintaining an 85% grade average and dreams of studying engineering.

That’s the power of spare change when it’s directed with purpose.

How It Works (And How You Can Help)

If you shop online at Walmart.com or use the Walmart app, here’s how simple it is:

Shop normally at Walmart.com or through their app
At checkout, look for the Round Up option
Search for “Empower Baseball” and select us
Your spare change automatically supports our mission

Important note: This only works for online purchases through Walmart.com or their app – not in physical stores.

Once you set it up, every online purchase becomes a small act of generosity. Buy school supplies for your kids, and help provide school supplies for ours. Order household essentials, and help us cover the essentials that keep kids in class.

Beyond Round-Ups: The Registry Option

Here’s something even cooler – Walmart also offers Spark Good Registries. Think of it like a wedding registry, but instead of china patterns, it’s filled with uniforms, gloves, and school supplies our kids actually need.

We’re working on setting up our registry now. Soon, you’ll be able to purchase specific items – a catcher’s mask, a set of textbooks, a month’s worth of nutritious meals – and Walmart will ship them directly to our team in Barahona.

It’s like online shopping with a purpose.

The Ripple Effect Starts Now

I’ve learned something over the past four years running this program: the biggest changes often come from the smallest actions.

A $0.77 round-up doesn’t sound like much. But when hundreds of people round up their purchases, it adds up to uniforms, meals, tutoring, and hope.

And hope, as it turns out, is what keeps kids in school when everything else is telling them to quit.

Your Next Step

If you shop online at Walmart, I’m asking you to do one thing: next time you’re at checkout, look for Empower Baseball in the Round Up options.

If you don’t shop at Walmart online, that’s totally fine. But maybe you know someone who does. Share this post. Send them the link. Tell them about Carlos and the 45 other kids who are choosing education over the streets because people like you believe in second chances.

Every round-up is a vote for education. Every small donation is a bet on a kid’s future.

From Barahona with Gratitude

I wish you could see what I see when I visit our teams in the DR. Kids in crisp uniforms heading to school in the morning, then showing up to practice in the afternoon with homework already done. Families who used to gamble everything on a 0.03% chance now watching their kids graduate high school with real opportunities ahead.

That’s what your spare change creates. That’s what this partnership with Walmart makes possible.

Thank you for being part of our village. Thank you for believing that every kid deserves a fair start, no matter where they’re born.

Ready to get started? Questions? Contact us at info@empowerbaseball.org or 801-927-1180.

Empower Baseball is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Tax ID: 85-0947825.