Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT IS THE ACTION TEAM?
Administered by the Major League Baseball Players Trust and Volunteers of America, the Action Team program was created to encourage young people throughout the United States to volunteer in their communities. Action Teams of Major League baseball players and high school student Team Captains are working together in cities nationwide to inspire and train the next generation of volunteers.
HOW CAN I START AN ACTION TEAM IN MY HIGH SCHOOL?
It’s easy to launch an Action Team program in your school. All you have to do is fill out the application form and if your school meets the criteria, you will become a member of this exciting national youth volunteer program.
HOW WILL AN ACTION TEAM BENEFIT MY SCHOOL?
The Action Team program takes some of the burden away from the individual(s) in charge of a school’s service-learning and/or community service program. Action Team schools will receive access to motivational and informative materials desired to help promote the importance of volunteering using the celebrity of active Major League baseball players and the valuable resources provided by Volunteers of America. The Action Team website will also serve as a resource center that will make organizing volunteer activities at your school simple and efficient.
HOW WILL THE ACTION TEAM BENEFIT OUR STUDENT BODY?
With the guidance of your school’s Action Team adult coordinator, students from your school selected to serve as Action Team Captains will learn what it takes to plan and make a successful presentation, tips on becoming a more comfortable public speaker, and important leadership skills. Upon the completion of the requisite number of Action Team activities, each Action Team Captain will receive a certificate of achievement signed by Major League baseball players, and Team Captains will be eligible for a college scholarship provided by the Major League Baseball Players Trust. Through the Action Team program, the entire student body will be engaged to support causes important to your community, which will promote unity and bring together students of all backgrounds and interests. The Action Team program will help demonstrate that you don’t have to be a celebrity to make a difference, and that volunteering is fun and personally rewarding. The Action Team program helps students meet community service requirements before graduation, and participation will certainly look good on a college application.
WHAT KIND OF VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES WILL OUR STUDENTS BE REQUIRED TO DO?
Action Team Captains will have to organize a minimum of two school-wide service projects during the school year. These can be food or clothing drives, or other activities such as car washes, bake sales, sports tournaments, etc. Also, Action Team Captains are required to make a minimum of three presentations to groups of other students in their school, where they will distribute the Action Team poster and show the Action Team informational video (both are supplied by Volunteers of America.) [View the video here (link) and download a smaller version of the poster here (link to poster PDF file)]. Before the end of the school year, Action Team Captains are also required to submit a written reflection about their volunteer experiences as members of the Action Team.
WHAT IS THE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYERS TRUST?
In 1996 Major League Baseball Players Association created the Players Trust, a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation. The Players Trust exists to help active Major League baseball players provide the resources of caring to help those less fortunate by volunteering in support of causes close to their hearts and encouraging others to do the same. The foundation became the first of its kind in professional sports established and administered by the players.
WHO IS VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA?
Volunteers of America is a national, nonprofit, faith-based organization dedicated to helping those in need rebuild their lives and reach their full potential. Through thousands of human service programs, including housing and healthcare, Volunteers of America helps more than 2 million people in 400 communities. Since 1896, our ministry of service has supported and empowered America's most vulnerable groups, including at-risk youth, the frail elderly, men and women returning from prison, homeless individuals and families, people with disabilities, and those recovering from addictions. Volunteers of America engages thousands of volunteers as well as professional paid staff in its services.