THE BUDDY FUND

“COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD”

The Buddy Fund is a non-sectarian 501 (c)(3) charity helping St. Louis area children without regard to race, ethnicity or religion. The Buddy Fund was founded in 1962 by Buddy Blattner, who broadcast St. Louis Hawks and St. Louis Browns games.

It helps supply sports equipment to charities and organizations that use organized sports to help redirect the lives of at-risk kids, including boys & girls clubs, police athletic leagues, homes for kids, community centers and after-school programs. The organization believes there is no better way to have a positive impactful effect on the disadvantaged at-risk youth of St. Louis than keeping them engaged in team sports and learning how to work together in a safe and constructive environment.

The overwhelming demand for new sporting goods and equipment from its recipient organizations exceeds what its annual operating budget can provide. Through increased donations and corporate sponsors, The Buddy Fund board is committed to increasing its income budget to meet increased demand.

Each year the fund provides sports equipment to approximately 45 organizations that are located in low-income neighborhoods. Since 1962, cumulative efforts by The Buddy Fund have helped over 450,000 youngsters and provided more than $3.8 million in sports equipment.