Executive Summary
📌 Key Takeaways
- Gatorade delivered hydration packs to 6,400+ Little Leaguers across 50 Urban Initiative programs in 2025
- Each participating league received $1,000 Fuel Tomorrow Community Grants, totaling $50,000 in direct funding
- Partnership marks third consecutive year of Gatorade’s support for Little League Urban Initiative programs
- Program provided 15 squeeze bottles and 45 powder sticks per team at Coach Pitch Division and above
- Initiative operates under Gatorade’s $10 million multi-year Fuel Tomorrow commitment established in 2022
🧠 Youth Sports Industry Takeaway
- Corporate partnership combines product donations with direct operational funding for underserved leagues
- 50 leagues opted into program during 2025 regular season from available Urban Initiative programs
- Grants target operational expenses and equipment needs for families facing financial barriers
Third Year of Gatorade Urban Initiative Partnership Delivers Direct League Support
Gatorade continued its partnership with Little League’s Urban Initiative in 2025, providing hydration packs to more than 6,400 young athletes while distributing $1,000 grants to the first 50 leagues that opted into the program during the regular season.
Every local league affiliated with the Little League Urban Initiative program received the opportunity to participate in the Gatorade Hydration Pack Program. The program provides 15 Gatorade squeeze bottles (20 oz.) and 45 Gatorade powder sticks (1.23 oz.) to each team within participating leagues at the Coach Pitch Division and above.
“The unique opportunity to assist our Urban Initiative program with the longstanding Gatorade Hydration Pack program and direct local league funding through Gatorade’s Fuel Tomorrow initiative plays a crucial role in creating access and experiences for Little Leaguers in under-resourced communities,” said Liz DiLullo Brown, Little League Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing and Business Relationship Officer.
Frederick American Little League Among 50 Grant Recipients
Frederick (Md.) American Little League, chartered with Little League since 1954, received both hydration packs and a $1,000 Fuel Tomorrow Community Grant as one of the 50 participating leagues.
“Thank you to Gatorade and Little League for the hydration packs and for the generous donation,” said Rick Wilson, Frederick American LL League President. “The grant will be an amazing help for our league to get the kids what they need and to help the parents who are struggling to get their kids what they need to play baseball or softball.”
The grants are designed to help leagues cover operational expenses and enhance the playing experience for participants in the Urban Initiative programs.
Gatorade Fuel Tomorrow Initiative Supports Sports Access Programming
The Little League partnership operates within Gatorade’s broader Fuel Tomorrow Initiative, established in 2022 with a multi-year $10 million commitment. The initiative works with organizations across the country to provide access to opportunities in sport for all athletes through programming, resources, and training.
Gatorade serves as the Official Sports Performance Beverage of Little League Baseball and Softball. The company has made supporting the Little League community a specific component of its Fuel Tomorrow Initiative programming.
Little League Urban Initiative Serves 50,000+ Players Across 4,000+ Teams
The Little League Urban Initiative has provided opportunities for underserved communities to access Little League programs since its creation in 1999. The program currently serves over 50,000 players and 4,000 Little League teams.
Since 1999, the Urban Initiative has helped complete nearly 30 field renovation projects around the country, supporting infrastructure development in participating communities alongside programming support.
The program targets underserved communities specifically, providing access to Little League baseball and softball opportunities that have benefited tens of thousands of children and volunteers across the country over its 26-year operation.
Program Structure Allows League-Level Participation Decisions
The 2025 Gatorade partnership used an opt-in structure, allowing each Urban Initiative league to decide whether to participate based on their specific needs and capacity. The first 50 leagues to opt in during the regular season received both the hydration pack donations and the $1,000 community grants.
This structure enabled leagues to access support that aligned with their operational requirements while managing the administrative aspects of program participation at the local level.
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via: Little League
