The Giants Community Fund, the nonprofit arm of the San Francisco Giants, works to empower youth to be Giants on the field, in the classroom and in the community. At the heart of this mission is Junior Giants, a free, noncompetitive baseball and softball program serving nearly 28,000 youth across California, Nevada and Oregon each summer.

For many kids, it all starts with a mitt. Through the Masons4Mitts campaign, the Masons of California are helping place a glove in the hands of young players, removing barriers so every child has the opportunity to step onto the field with confidence. Junior Giants leagues run from June through August and combine baseball and softball fundamentals with lessons in confidence, teamwork, leadership and integrity through the program’s signature “Word of the Week” conversations.

With the support of partners like the Masons of California, a simple piece of equipment becomes something bigger–an opportunity for young people to build friendships, develop life skills and grow into leaders in their communities.