With the start of approximately 340 games on ESPN Platforms kicking off on July 19, Little League® International is excited to announce the launch of its new Text to Give Campaign, giving supporters of the Little League program the chance to step up to the plate to provide the necessary funding to enhance future opportunities and experiences at the Little League World Series as well as Little League International’s Disaster Relief efforts for its local leagues and communities.
“For nearly a century, we have been trusted to positively impact communities all around the world, but we still have so much work to do in order to bring the benefits of participating in youth sports to more children and families,” said Pat Wilson, Little League President and CEO. “Through our centralized philanthropic efforts, we can help tackle the diverse challenges and seek new opportunities in an effort to expand our reach and support programs that provide direct resources to local leagues, participants and families, and local communities. While we have terrific partners, including ESPN, and we are extremely grateful for their support, our philanthropic efforts like this new Text to Give campaign will allow us to complement the support we receive from our corporate partners and bring the added level of enhanced support that our local leagues, volunteers, and communities deserve.”
Running through September 15, 2025, the Text to Give campaign is focused on two key strategic initiatives of the organization’s Philanthropic efforts:
Little League World Series Tournament Experience (Text LLWS to 345345)
Funds raised through this campaign are dedicated to enhancing all resources in the Little League program and creating new opportunities for participants and their families, from supporting local leagues to enhancing the tournament experience all the way through our seven World Series events. Each year, Little League International pays for the housing, travel for international and domestic teams, meals, and accommodations for all teams who compete at all seven World Series tournaments. The cost of operating all of Little League’s Region Tournaments and the seven World Series Tournaments totals more than $12.5 million annually, with the Little League Baseball® World Series in Williamsport costing approximately $7.5 million alone, as part of Little League’s overall annual operating budget. Ranging anywhere from $5,000 to $60,000, the average cost to travel teams to the LLBWS each year is approximately $30,000 per team while the average cost to run a U.S. Region Tournament (both Baseball and Softball) each year, is approximately $450,000. In Williamsport alone, there have been a total of 11,025 players across 811 teams competing in the 77 years of the Little League Baseball World Series. The organization continues to look for ways to enhance the overall experience for not only the players, coaches, and umpires, but for all fans and families who make the bucket-list trip to the birthplace of Little League each summer.
Disaster Relief Support (Text RALLY to 345345)
Year over year, Little League continues to see local leagues experience devasting effects from natural disasters. Funds raised through this campaign are focused on helping programs impacted by disaster to receive the support they need to rebuild, recover, and continue providing children with the life lessons learned through youth baseball and softball. Whether it’s repairing fields or replacing equipment, the Disaster Relief Fund allows Little League to provide support to local communities during times of greatest need. Unfortunately, disasters occur every year in communities all around the world, and the Little League fields are many times the first place that families and neighborhoods turn to.
Throughout the course of the Region and World Series tournaments in 2025, the Text to Give campaign will showcase a variety of informational assets, including on-site signage, digital advertisements, social media efforts, and a PSA that will air across ESPN Platforms.
As a mission-driven nonprofit, Little League’s revenues are used to not only fund the service-driven operations to nearly 5,500 leagues and 1 million volunteers worldwide, but to also extend benefits like grant funding, volunteer training and experiences for kids to experience the Little League baseball and softball program.
Little League Baseball, Incorporated is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, and every donation is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. To learn more about Little League’s overall philanthropic efforts, including what has been already done to date and what you can do to support, visit LittleLeague.org/Impact.