Seattle Mariners Contribute Inaugural Steelheads Community Fund Grants
In a monumental step toward supporting and honoring Black baseball, the Seattle Mariners donated their first wave of funding from the Steelheads Community Fund. This inaugural investment contributed over $100,000 through two groundbreaking grants awarded to Baseball & Softball Beyond Borders and the Black Heritage Society of Washington State.
The Steelheads Community Fund was established in January 2026 with a $500,000 commitment to support local Black-led baseball and softball organizations and community initiatives. The fund was launched alongside the reveal of the Mariners' historic Negro Leagues uniforms, which they wear for every Sunday home game at T-Mobile Park.
“We’re thrilled to support two organizations that share our commitment to community leadership with the inaugural investment from the Steelheads Community Fund,” Mariners President of Business Operations Kevin Martinez said in a recent press release. “Removing barriers to the game, while preserving and teaching Black history in our region is at the core of the Steelheads mission, and we are proud to support these programs.”
Former Mariner and Hometown Nine co-founder Dee Strange-Gordon waves at the crowd at T-Mobile Park yesterday before throwing the ceremonial first pitch. (Photo courtesy of the Mariners)
Shaping Future Generations: Baseball & Softball Beyond Borders
Baseball & Softball Beyond Borders has been awarded a $75,000 grant to support a feasibility study for a new youth academy. The academy is designed to enhance baseball and softball access while offering career-connected learning opportunities, mentorship, and personal development for children both on and off the field.
“This Academy represents the kind of investment that can shape a community for generations,” Baseball & Softball Beyond Borders President Bookie Gates said in a press release. “Our vision is to create a community ecosystem where young people can develop as athletes, discover their gifts, grow as leaders, and pursue dreams they may not have imagined were possible.”
Preserving a Priceless Archive: Black Heritage Society of Washington State
The Black Heritage Society of Washington State has received a $30,000 grant to support its ongoing mission to preserve, collect, and share the history of African Americans in Washington state.
“We are forever grateful that the Mariners see and understand the power of legacy and the preservation work we do at the Black Heritage Society of Washington State,” President Stephanie Johnson-Toliver said in a press release. “We are stewards of a priceless archive. The Mariners' investment increases our level of collections care while they also publicly demonstrate their purpose for what it means to be a true community stakeholder.”
This season, the Mariners made history by becoming the first team in Major League Baseball to feature a historic Negro Leagues uniform as part of their regular uniform rotation.
To learn more about the team's historic uniforms and the ongoing work of the Steelheads Community Fund, fans can visit Mariners.com/Steelheads.
Looking to book a space for your upcoming event? Check out Colman Commons for all your event space needs at colmancommons.com
