About the Ashburn-Kalas Foundation
About Us
The Ashburn-Kalas Foundation was founded in 1998 as the Richie Ashburn Baseball Foundation. Its mission was to honor the life and dreams of beloved Phillies center fielder and broadcaster Richie Ashburn. Richie’s love for the game of baseball was matched only by his love of teaching and watching children play the game. One of the Foundation’s biggest supporters was Richie’s best friend and broadcast partner, Harry Kalas. After Harry passed away in 2009, the Foundation’s Executive Board, with the blessing of the Kalas family, voted to change the name of the Foundation to honor the legacies of both men.
The Foundation is now in its 28th year of providing free baseball summer camps and winter clinics to more than 1,000 Philadelphia-area children and coaches. Along with teaching the fundamentals of baseball, we touch on valuable life lessons such as sportsmanship, drug and alcohol awareness, and the importance of education. Our camps also provide summer employment for more than 20 high school and college students each year.
Letter from Whitey's Family
To the fans, friends, and most of all, the kids:
My father loved baseball. That is why we started the baseball foundation, and after watching the inner city kids that attend our camps, I know we are doing something that would make him very proud. The tireless work of our Director, Rick Mellor; the support offered to us by Penn Charter and the Phillies; and the commitment of the board members of the Richie Ashburn Baseball Foundation have impressed my family to no end.
We are happy to endorse and help support the Richie Ashburn Baseball Foundation.
– Richard Ashburn
Board Members
Founding Board
Rick Mellor
Rich Ashburn Jr.
Ruben Amaro Jr.
Executive Director
Rick Mellor
Executive Board
David Amaro
Jon Cross, Esq.
Melissa L. Shingles, Esq.
Steve McGrath
Aaron Greenfield
SOME OF OUR PARTNERS
