Chris and Jessica Bassitt generously plan to continue ‘Bassitts Pitch In’ movement in 2024

Not only is he a hound dog on the mound, Blue Jays starter Chris Bassitt and his wife Jessica are pillars in the local community. For every game Toronto wins when he pitches in 2024, the Bassitts will again donate US$10,000 in support of the RBI Summer Edition program to Jays Care Foundation.

After a win in his first home start of the season, the 35-year-old Bassitt took to ‘X” to announce their continued support to raise funds for community initiative RBI Summer Edition, a free sport-for-development program designed as a complement to summer school to enhance the mental and physical health of kids in under-resourced communities across Toronto.

Additional information can be found here (link).

Last year, ‘Bassitts Pitch In’ raised a total of C$279,818 for RBI Summer Edition, with the Bassitts generously donating C$265,668 of that amount after the team went 20-13 in Hound’s 33 starts, and 106 Blue Jays fans contributing the rest.

According to the news release from Jays Care, “This year, [RBI Summer Edition] is expanding by 40% with more than 2,800 students at 14 schools across the GTA participating in the program, which includes baseball training, cooperative games and art programs.”

“Seeing the kids in action last summer and the way in which they embraced sports and felt a sense of belonging and pride was truly inspiring,” Chris and Jessica Bassitt said in the release.

“We have always believed strongly in giving back and helping make a difference in the lives of others, and as we continue to grow our family in Toronto, helping kids through sport is the perfect connection. Jays Care does incredible work, and we are so honoured to be part of it.”

Let’s hope he’s able to make another ~30 starts or so this season and that Bassitt helps lead the Blue Jays to the postseason. We certainly know that local kids across the GTA will again benefit from the generosity of the Bassitts this summer as they give back to the local community and improve the lives of countless kids through sport. Toronto is lucky to have the Bassitts at least through the 2025 season!