CHICAGO — The Cubs have announced a new program aimed at getting more kids in the Chicago area out on the diamond.
The organization's charitable wing, Cubs Charities, announced Thursday its "Diamond Project," a program to improve baseball fields in needy neighborhoods.
The project is a joint effort between the Cubs and the Local Initiatives Support Corp. Chicago, an organization that links resources to areas in need.
Cubs Charities will award grants to local nonprofits and neighborhood-based organizations to improve baseball fields around the city, according to a statement from the organization.
The grants will fund things like field resurfacing, building indoor facilities and capital projects for local fields and stadiums.
"We're thrilled to invest in our communities and offer the opportunity for children to continue to develop their love and passion for the game of baseball," Cubs Charities Chair Laura Ricketts said in a statement.
An informational meeting for Chicago-area nonprofits, schools and neighborhood organizations will be held at Wrigley Field at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 30.
More information on the Diamond Project can be found here.
The Cubs and Wrigley Field are 95 percent owned by a trust established for the benefit of the family of Joe Ricketts, owner and CEO of DNAinfo.com. Joe Ricketts has no direct involvement in the management of the iconic team.