Charleston RBI creates model citizens

Major League Baseball's Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program, founded in 1989, is a youth outreach program for 13-18-year-olds. According to Major League Baseball's website, the program is designed to increase participation and interest in baseball and softball among underserved youth, encourage academic participation and achievement, increase the number of talented athletes prepared to play in college and Minor Leagues, promote greater inclusion of minorities into the mainstream of the game and teach the value of teamwork. RBI has grown from a local program for boys in South Central Los Angeles to an international campaign involving more than 200 cities and as many as 200,000 male and female participants a year.

The RBI program fosters participation in baseball and softball and encourages academic achievement. Participants learn the fundamentals of the game through hard work and teamwork, and get the opportunity to display their skills in tournaments in various RBI cities.

One night, baseball coach Lerone Johnson was watching television at home in Charleston, S.C., when a commercial about the RBI program caught his attention. After seeing it, he was inspired to bring an RBI program to his hometown.

"I have a passion with working with kids being a former high school baseball coach at an inner city high school," explained Johnson, director of the Charleston RBI program.

Johnson received assistance on writing a grant and sent it to Major League Baseball, who approved the grant to bring an RBI program to Charleston, beginning in 2008.

Harold Craw, who at the time was the Charleston RiverDogs assistant general manager, also played a role in launching the program.

Johnson had contacted Craw earlier that year when he asked for and received some baseballs for his high school team. After getting the news about his grant application, Johnson once again reached out to Craw.

"Man, that sounds like a fantastic idea, tell me how I can help or get involved," recalled Craw, currently the Quad Cities River Bandits general manager.

Just like Johnson, Craw was also a high school baseball coach. They shared many of the same ideals about helping children achieve their goals both on and off the diamond.

Thanks to the efforts of Johnson, Craw and others, the program has flourished.

"We're not putting an emphasis on the kids to make it pro," Johnson said. "Our main emphasis in the program is to create major league citizens."

"The ultimate goal is to build good citizens," Craw said. "The program has given me a different perspective of life, but also has given some kids in Charleston a different perspective on where they can go or what they can be."

Camron Hooks and Kendall Kinard are two examples of how the program has positively impacted its participants.

In 2009, Hooks was one of only 12 RBI players across the country to receive an "RBI (Runs Batted In) for RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) Scholarship." The annual $5,000 scholarships, created by MLB Charities Inc., are awarded to up to a dozen individuals who demonstrate academic achievement, leadership skills and financial need and who plan to go to an accredited two-year or four-year college, university, vocational school or technical school. The actual amount of each scholarship grant is based on the recipient's annual tuition and expenses.

"Definitely a blessing," Hooks stated. "Without the scholarship, I definitely would not have gone to school."

Hooks graduated from The Citadel this month with a bachelor's degree in accounting. He is the first person from the Charleston RBI program to complete college.

"He has a humble character, excellent young man," Johnson stated. "We would like for Camron to be our spokesperson for the program because he's a model citizen."

Hooks plans on going back to school to earn a master's degree and also aspires to earn a license as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). 

This year, Kinard became the second player from the Charleston RBI program to receive one of the RBI for RBI scholarships. He will attend Division II Erskine College in Due West, S.C., on a full baseball scholarship in the fall.

"It's an awesome feeling. Most guys don't get the opportunity to play college baseball," Kinard stated.

Like most athletes, Kendall sees himself playing professionally one day. However, the 18-year-old third baseman, who said he will major in electronic engineering, knows that his education comes first.

"I am a student first, athlete second," he said.

Kinard praised Johnson for his role in leading the RBI program.

"Coach Johnson is a phenomenal guy, great teacher, great motivator and great guy to have to talk to about any situation, not just involving baseball," Kinard stated.

For more information on Major League Baseball's RBI program, click here.