Hope and Development Foundation Announces New Partnership

December 2009: The Hope and Development Foundation is pleased to announce its affiliation with the International Baseball Academy of Central America (IBACA). This partnership reflects the Hope and Development mission to use recreational tourism as a vehicle for education, vocational training, job opportunities and community development.

An affiliate of the International Baseball Association, IBACA is focused on the identification and development of baseball talent in Central America in hopes of increasing the flow of quality players into Major League Baseball.

The IBACA program will include intensive player training in baseball fundamentals as well as training for coaches, umpires, administrators, scouts and other essential personnel. In addition to the baseball curriculum, all participants will receive classroom instruction in computing, mathematics, English, humanities, business skills, entrepreneurship and more. This schooling will be essential for players to obtain scholarships to U.S. universities or move into careers in professional baseball. This strong focus on education will enable all IBACA participants to improve their lives and become responsible community role models, even if they are not ultimately successful in baseball.

Moreover, IBACA has committed to working closely with the Hope and Development Foundation to hire administrative and support staff from the local labor force as often as possible, helping to elevate the standard of living of the surrounding community as well as that of the young men who enter the academy to pursue their dreams of playing professional baseball.

For more information on IBACA, visit www.ibaca.org.