ABOUT YOUR IMPACT: THE LITTLE BIT FOUNDATION
At Big League Impact, our mission is simple: Help people in times of need. Since 2013, our organization has partnered with MLB players and their fans to raise money and awareness for a variety of causes, such as childhood cancer, global poverty, and access to clean water.
During the 2022 holiday season, St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and his wife, Amy, donated $15,000 to The Little Bit Foundation, a St. Louis-based nonprofit working to empower students to achieve their academic goals and dreams for the future by breaking down barriers to learning for students living in poverty.
A portion of the funds was used to provide socks, shoes and underwear for 625 students at Moline and Koch elementary schools in the Riverview Gardens School District. The remaining funds were used to provide coats, hats and gloves for an additional 312 students at Hancock Place Early Childhood Center and Patrick Henry Downtown Academy (St. Louis Public Schools). The items were distributed via Little Bit school boutiques, where kids were able to try on their new coats and shoes to ensure the perfect fit, as well as select new hats, gloves, socks and underwear of their liking.
“I have a student who came to school in tears because his feet were so uncomfortable after walking to school in shoes that did not fit,” said Deborah Rogers, the principal at Patrick Henry Downtown Academy. “He came straight to the office and asked if he could meet with ‘the people who helped him the last time.’ Eventually we connected the dots and realized he was asking for help from The Little Bit Foundation, who got him clothes the previous month. We ordered him shoes and they were there the next day. He literally skips to school now.”
Added Ariel Turner, the social worker at Koch Elementary: “When the kids were getting shoes, some danced — they were so excited about the bright colors that everyone wanted and the bright color shoes, too.”
Thank you to The Little Bit Foundation for sharing this update, and to Paul for introducing us to this wonderful organization. Paul also supported the nonprofit as part of our 2023 #ALLWIN St. Louis campaign, pledging a $500 donation with every Cardinals win.
