Babe Ruth League Named 2019 STRIVE Winner

NCYS and AIG Recognize Exemplary Organizations That Apply Strong Values and Health, Wellness & Safety Initiatives in Youth Sports 

Suwanee (January 22, 2020).  The National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS) and American International Group, Inc. (NYSE: AIG) are pleased to announce that Babe Ruth League has been named the 2019 STRIVE (Sports Teach Respect, Initiative, Values and Excellence) Organization of the Year.

Babe Ruth League, one of the largest youth baseball and softball organizations in the country, serves more than one million players on 60,000 teams in 11,000 leagues.  Babe Ruth League, Inc., a non-profit, educational organization, named after one of the greatest baseball players of all-time – George Herman “Babe” Ruth – has come a long way since its modest start over 60 years ago. Babe Ruth League Baseball has increased steadily from its first 10-team league in Hamilton Township, New Jersey, to its present size of more than 1.5 million volunteers.

Presented by NCYS and sponsored by AIG, the STRIVE Award for Organization of the Year recognizes organizations implementing promising practices and policies to protect young athletes.  This award praises organizations’ commitment to young athletes’ health, wellness and safety. It demonstrates that Sports can Teach Respect, Initiative, Values and Excellence without compromising safety.

Following the passage of the Safe Sport Act in 2018, the Babe Ruth League began to increase its efforts to keep athletes safe.  It partnered with SportsEngine to provide a complete safety solution that included comprehensive background checks, implemented abuse prevention training that fulfills the requirement set forth by the Safe Sport Act, increased its safety resources, revamped its coaching education, improved its risk management approach for concussions and provided educational content for parents.  The organization made a huge investment in time and resources because the safety program is just as important as an investment in equipment and facilities.

“Babe Ruth League has demonstrated a financial and educational commitment to alter the culture of safety for youth sports participants,” said Wayne B. Moss, Executive Director of NCYS.  “Babe Ruth League is a shining example of how to keep young people safe.  It’s impressive to see the organization take ground in vital safety areas.”

“We are delighted that Babe Ruth League has been named as the 2019 STRIVE Organization of the Year,” said Nicole Pitney, AIG’s US Accident & Health Head of Specialty.  “We are proud to help honor an organization that has committed itself to improve its background screening procedures, safety protocols and educational resources to parents so that youth athletes can succeed on and off the field.”

The STRIVE Award for Organization of the Year will be presented to Babe Ruth League at a date and location yet to be determined. Four other organizations were a finalist for Organization of the Year including:

  • ABC Youth Sports (Baltimore, Md)
  • CoachSafely Foundation (Birmingham, Al)
  • US Club Soccer (Frisco, Tx) and
  • US Youth Soccer Association (Frisco, Tx)

 

About National Council of Youth Sports
The National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS) exists to promote the importance of youth sports in America and works to enhance the experience of all participants. The NCYS is nationally recognized as a leading advocate for young people to have full access to sports participation and to ensure that games are played in safe environments. As the largest organization in America serving the industry, NCYS member organizations serves some 60 million registered participants in organized youth sports programs. Members are recognized as gatekeepers, key decision-makers, influencers and advocates for youth sports participation.

 

About AIG
American International Group, Inc. (AIG) is a leading global insurance organization. Building on 100 years of experience, today AIG member companies provide a wide range of property casualty insurance, life insurance, retirement products, and other financial services to customers in more than 80 countries and jurisdictions. These diverse offerings include products and services that help businesses and individuals protect their assets, manage risks and provide for retirement security. AIG common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Additional information about AIG can be found at www.aig.com | YouTube: www.youtube.com/aig | Twitter: @AIGinsurance www.twitter.com/AIGinsurance | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/aig. These references with additional information about AIG have been provided as a convenience, and the information contained on such websites is not incorporated by reference into this website.

AIG is the marketing name for the worldwide property-casualty, life and retirement, and general insurance operations of American International Group, Inc. For additional information, please visit our website at www.aig.com. All products and services are written or provided by subsidiaries or affiliates of American International Group, Inc. Products or services may not be available in all countries, and coverage is subject to actual policy language. Non-insurance products and services may be provided by independent third parties. Certain property-casualty coverages may be provided by a surplus lines insurer. Surplus lines insurers do not generally participate in state guaranty funds, and insureds are therefore not protected by such funds.

Contact:
Wayne B. Moss
Executive Director
National Council of Youth Sports
(470) 719-9091                                                                                                                                     wayne@ncys.org

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