Steward Health Care, the nation’s largest private, for-profit physician-led health care network, today announced a new partnership with Major League Baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks that will establish the company as a participating partner of the D-backs Give Back Youth Jersey Program. This community outreach program will provide branded jerseys and corresponding caps for 110 youth baseball and softball leagues and 65,000 players and coaches across the state of Arizona in 2019.
“Steward is dedicated to giving back to the community and helping keep families healthy and active,” said Douglas Luckett, Arizona Regional President of Steward Health Care. “We are excited to partner with the D-backs to support the growth of this impactful program and ensure that youth athletics continue to thrive across Arizona.”
“We are very proud of how much the D-backs Give Back Jersey Program has grown as we head into year six,” said Derrick Hall, President & CEO of the Arizona Diamondbacks. “This program has had such a positive impact in the community and, in many cases, has saved some of these leagues that did not have the financial means to continue without the help of the D-backs, and partners such as Steward Health Care, in covering the cost of the uniforms. We look forward to working with Steward to take this program to new heights.”
Steward Health Care’s presence in Greater Phoenix includes over 3,500 employees, 30 Steward Medical Group practices, the Steward Health Choice insurance organization, and four hospitals including: Mountain Vista Medical Center in East Mesa, Temple St. Luke’s Hospital in Tempe, and St. Luke’s Medical Center and St. Luke’s Behavioral Health Center in Central Phoenix.
The goal of the D-backs Give Back Youth Jersey Program is to support community youth athletics by offsetting diminishing resources and helping leagues make investments in other key areas. The program enables youth baseball and softball leagues across Arizona to reduce enrollment fees, purchase equipment, perform field improvements, complete facility upgrades, and invest in self-sustaining fundraising.
As a participating partner of the D-backs Give Back Youth Jersey Program, the Steward Health Care logo will be prominently displayed on the sleeve of every jersey provided to youth players and coaches in the program, beginning in the 2019 season. The Steward logo will also be featured on official banners provided to each league and a large banner sign displayed inside Chase Field celebrating the program.
Since launching in 2014, the D-backs Give Back Youth Jersey Program has contributed over 200,000 jerseys and caps, providing more than $2.5 million for leagues in Arizona. Participating leagues represent 58 different cities and towns from every corner of Arizona, and four tribal communities from the Navajo Nation, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Gila River Indian Community, and White Mountain Apache Nation.
