501(c)(3) Nonprofit · Barahona, DR

Baseball is the hook.
Education is the mission.

Empower Baseball keeps Dominican youth in school by making education a non-negotiable requirement to play. 100% of our players are enrolled and maintaining grades.

The Reality

0%

of Dominican kids who chase a baseball contract never sign one.

0%

of kids in Barahona never finish high school.

0

plan B. When the dream dies, they have nothing.

Every year, thousands of boys across the Dominican Republic drop out of school to train full-time for a baseball contract. The odds are worse than the lottery. And when it doesn't happen — no diploma, no skills, no options. The cycle of poverty locks in for another generation.

Who takes care of the 98%?

We do.

Most organizations are building better players.

We're building better futures.

And if we keep telling that story clearly — and backing it up with real lives changed — we won't just compete.

We'll lead.

— Brian Straley

Founder, Empower Baseball

Piratas del Sur team photo
Barahona, DR
Our Mission

We flipped the model.

Most baseball programs in the DR ask kids to choose: school or baseball. We made them the same thing.

Every player signs a written commitment. Stay enrolled. Maintain a 70% average. Show up to class every single day. No grades, no game. It's that simple.

Baseball becomes the incentive — not the escape. And it works. 100% school enrollment. Zero dropouts. Kids who were about to quit school are now graduating and heading to university — the first in their families to do it.

100%
Enrollment
0
Dropouts
3
Teams
365
Days / Year

Why You Can Trust Us

Your donation, fully accounted for.

100%

of donations go to DR

Zero US overhead taken from donations

Locally Led

Dominican staff run the program

Ulises, Bernarda & Rosa are on the ground daily

501(c)(3)

Fully tax-deductible

EIN: 85-0947825 · Verified nonprofit

25 Years

of community trust in Barahona

Founded on relationships built since 1998

How It Works

Simple rules. Real results.

The model is straightforward. The results speak for themselves.

Step 01

Sign the commitment

Every player and their family signs a written commitment: stay enrolled in school, maintain a 70%+ grade average, and show up every day. No exceptions.

Step 02

Grades earn game time

Our local staff — Ulises, Bernarda, and Rosa — track every player's attendance and grades weekly. School comes first. If grades slip, practice stops until they recover.

Step 03

Graduate. Then dream big.

A high school diploma opens doors that baseball alone never could. Higher income, real choices, and the ability to break the cycle of poverty — for themselves and their families.

Our Programs

Three teams. One standard.

View All Programs

High School Team

Our flagship program for teens 14–18. Year-round competitive baseball paired with academic tutoring, mentorship, and life skills.

Middle School Team

Building fundamentals early. Players ages 10–13 learn the game while developing study habits and discipline that last a lifetime.

T-Ball (Ages 5–9)

Where it all begins. Young kids get their first taste of baseball, teamwork, and the joy of showing up every day.

On the Ground

Real kids. Real impact.

Piratas del Sur team photo — Empower Baseball players in Barahona, Dominican Republic
Young Dominican catcher in full gear ready behind home plate
Empower Baseball player at bat during a game day in Barahona
Empower Baseball players sharing a meal together after practice
Dominican youth baseball player pitching on the mound during a game
Empower Baseball team sitting in the dugout with their coach before a game

Watch & Listen

Stories from Barahona

Real voices. Real impact. Hear from the players, families, and community who live this mission every day.

Families in Barahona share what Empower Baseball has meant for their children and their future.

Former NCAA Softball player Meredith Wells shares why she believes in the Empower Baseball mission.

Former NCAA Softball player Alyssa Lavdis on why education-first programs like Empower Baseball matter.

From the Community

Heard on the ground

More videos on YouTube →

“Before Empower Baseball, I was thinking about dropping out. Now I'm on the team and my grades are the best they've ever been. Baseball made me take school seriously.”

Empower Baseball Player

High School Team, Barahona

“As a parent, I was worried my son would chase baseball and forget his studies. This program changed everything. He goes to school every day and comes home talking about both.”

Parent of a Player

Barahona, Dominican Republic

“I've seen a lot of baseball programs in the DR. This one is different. They actually check grades. They actually care if the kids graduate. That's rare.”

Community Member

Barahona, Dominican Republic

Quotes reflect real sentiments shared by players, parents, and community members in Barahona. Names withheld to protect privacy.

20+

Kids waiting

We're at capacity. Kids are on the waitlist.

More than 20 kids in Barahona want in — but we don't have the funding to hire more coaches. Your sponsorship directly determines how many kids we can serve this year.

100% Goes to Barahona

Change a life for less than a coffee a day.

Every dollar you give goes directly to keeping a Dominican kid in school and on the field. Not one cent covers US overhead.

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Get Involved

Ways to give

Whether you give monthly, sponsor a player, volunteer your skills, or donate gear — every action keeps a Dominican kid in school.

🏟️
$15/mo
to start

Monthly Giving

Join The Dugout

Become a monthly supporter and give these kids the stability they need. As little as $15/month keeps a player in school and on the field all year long.

Join Monthly →
🤝
100%
goes to DR

One-Time or Recurring

Sponsor a Player

Make a direct gift to fund a player's season — uniforms, equipment, coaching, and academic support. Every dollar goes straight to Barahona.

Sponsor Now →
🙋
6
open roles

Give Your Time & Skills

Volunteer

Coach, tutor, photograph, fundraise, or coordinate camps. We're a small team doing big things — and there's a real place for you here, remote or in-person.

See Open Roles →
⚾
50+
kids need gear

Gear for the Field

Donate Equipment

Bats, gloves, helmets, and training gear go directly to players in Barahona. New or gently used equipment makes a real difference for kids who have very little.

Contact Us →
🚀
Any
amount helps

Peer-to-Peer

Start a Fundraiser

Rally your friends, family, or coworkers around a cause that matters. Create your own fundraising page and help us reach more kids in Barahona.

Start Fundraising →
🎁
50+
kids served

Support a Campaign

Give to a Fundraiser

Someone you know is fundraising for Empower Baseball. Give to their campaign and double the impact — your gift goes directly to programs in the Dominican Republic.

Find a Campaign →
🏢
$250+
to get on the wall

Corporate Sponsorship

Become a Brand Partner

Get your logo on the outfield wall at Empower Baseball Field. Align your brand with education, youth development, and a mission that makes a real difference.

See Sponsorship Tiers →

Monthly Giving

Join The Dugout

Your recurring gift gives us the stability to show up for these kids all year long. 100% goes directly to programs in Barahona.

$15 per month

Keep a Player in Class

Covers school supplies and part of a player's academic support so they stay focused in the classroom.

Sponsor Now
$35 per month

Power a Full Season

Supports uniforms, shared equipment, and field time for one player in our Piratas del Sur program.

Sponsor Now
$75 per month

Back a Whole Team

Funds coaching, mentoring, and academic tracking for multiple players across our three teams.

Sponsor Now
$150 per month

Champion Level

Provides comprehensive support including staff wages, equipment, and expansion to serve kids on the waitlist.

Sponsor Now

All donations are tax-deductible. EIN: 85-0947825

Stay Connected

Get Updates from Barahona

Monthly impact stories, game results, and field reports — straight to your inbox. No spam. Just real stories from real kids.

Get updates from Barahona

Monthly impact stories, program updates, and field reports — straight to your inbox.

No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime.

Baseball players training on a Dominican Republic field at sunset
Coming Summer 2026

International
Baseball Camps

Train where the pros come from. Our 2026 camps bring US high school and college players to the Dominican Republic for world-class baseball training, cultural immersion, and community service — all while funding our education-first programs.

Learn About Camps
Girls playing softball on a sunny field in the Dominican Republic, representing the 2026 program expansion
Expanding in 2026

Girls' Softball
is Coming

Education-first isn't just for boys. In 2026, we're launching a girls' softball program with the same non-negotiable academic standards. Every girl will earn her spot on the team by staying in school and keeping her grades up.

Latest Posts

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Follow us on social media — and let Zuckerberg and Elon pay for our program one algorithm at a time. 😄

Every like, share, and follow helps us reach more donors and keep more kids in school.

📸

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