Jackie Robinson Foundation
 | |
| Abbreviation | JRF |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1973 |
| Type | 501(c)(3) organization |
| Headquarters | New York, NY, United States |
President and CEO | Della Britton Baeza |
Key people |
|
| Revenue | $8,789,626[1] (2015) |
| Expenses | $8,257,064[1] (2015) |
| Website | www.jackierobinson.org |
The Jackie Robinson Foundation is a national, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, which gives scholarships to minority youths for higher education, as well as preserves the legacy of Baseball Hall of Fame member Jackie Robinson. The foundation was founded by Rachel Robinson, the wife of Jackie, in 1973, a couple of months after his death. The foundation provides four-year college scholarships in conjunction with a comprehensive set of skills and opportunities to disadvantaged students of color to ensure their success in college and to develop their leadership potential. Its hands-on, four-year program includes peer and professional mentoring, internship placement, extensive leadership training, international travel and community service options, the conveyance of practical life skills, and myriad networking opportunities.[2] The foundation's strategic combination of financial assistance and support services results in a nearly 100% college graduation rate. Since its founding, over 1,450 scholars have received scholarships. Support for the foundation comes from various sponsors. Among its supporters are Major League Baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers, General Electric, Goldman Sachs, and Nike, Inc.
Jackie Robinson Museum
On April 27, 2017, the Jackie Robinson Foundation held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Jackie Robinson Museum, located at 75 Varick Street, in lower Manhattan, New York City, US.[3][4][5] The foundation opened the 18,500-square-foot (1,720 m2) museum on September 5, 2022 (Labor Day).[6]
ROBIE Award
The foundation presents the ROBIE award, a tribute to an individual who has promoted and expanded opportunities for minorities in the corporate world. The 2016 awardees were Pittsburgh Steelers chairman Dan Rooney, founder of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics Bobbi Brown, and Vista Equity Partners chairman and chief executive officer Robert F. Smith. Previous honorees have included Mariano Rivera, Bruce Ratner, Thomas Tull, Henry Louis Gates, Tyler Perry, Paul Tagliabue, Sean Combs, Rita Moreno, Robert Redford, George Lucas, Robin Roberts, John D. Finnegan, Joe J. Plumeri, Hillary Clinton, John Thain, Michael Jordan, Ella Fitzgerald, Arthur Ashe, Pete Rozelle, Clive Davis, Magic Johnson, Dick Gregory, and Desmond Tutu.[7]
Funding
In December 2025, the foundation received $20 million, the largest donation it has ever received, from Thomas Tull, co-chairman of TWG Global, and Mark Walter, co-chairman of TWG Global and owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers.[8][9]
References
- 1 2 "Jackie Robinson Foundation Inc" (PDF). Foundation Center. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
- ↑ "Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholars left reinvigorated after visit to MLB HQ". MLB.com. Retrieved 2026-05-22.
- ↑ Newman, Mark (April 28, 2017). "Robinson Museum breaks ground in NYC". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media, LP. Archived from the original on 2017-05-04. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
- ↑ "Rachel Robinson Confident Jackie Museum Will Open In 2015". WFAN Radio. January 14, 2015.
- ↑ "Plans unveiled for Robinson Museum". MLB.com. March 4, 2008. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015.
- ↑ "Jackie Robinson Museum opens in Manhattan". ESPN. 2022-07-26. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
- ↑ "Jackie Robinson Foundation to Honor Tyler Perry, Gerald Hassell and Don Thompson at Annual Awards Dinner". PR Newswire. March 9, 2015.
- ↑ Brown, Maury. "Jackie Robinson Foundation Receives Its Largest Donation From Thomas Tull And Mark Walter". Forbes. Retrieved 2026-05-22.
- ↑ Bloom, Barry M. (2025-12-10). "Dodgers' Owner, Filmmaker Give $20M to Jackie Robinson Foundation". Sportico.com. Retrieved 2026-05-22.
External links
- Jackie Robinson Foundation official website