Keeper of The Game
“The mission of Keeper of The Game is to provide kids and young adults with special needs and disabilities unique baseball experiences that foster the growth of those individuals and their love of baseball. Keeper of The Game promotes programs that allow these athletes to play, watch and experience baseball at a very personal level. This is all done with a focus on advancing servant leadership.”
The Keeper of The Game Foundation is proud to launch “Justin’s Love” programming to provide financial assistance for medically fragile children who become hospitalized. The initiative is in honor of Justin Nelson, who lost a courageous battle with several ailments at the age of 20 in September of 2022.
Justin’s Love will also be known as “J12” programming because Justin’s favorite number was 12 and the official logo is in his favorite color, maroon.
Justin was a huge baseball fan and was introduced to Keeper of The Game in the summer of 2022 at Sugar Land Space Cowboys game where he met Keeper of The Game Founder James Vilade. Thanks to Ryan Vilade, who was in town playing for the Albuquerque Isotopes at the time, Justin was treated to some new merchandise in the team shop. He later received some Keeper gear.
“As our foundation moves forward to embrace the needs of those who need us most, it is an honor to announce Justin’s Love,” James Vilade said. “The goal of J12 is to provide financial support for the families as they fight with their loved ones to return home.”
The first family to receive support from J12 is the Carlton family (Lionel, Kimberly, Tyson, Toby and Tanyon). Tanyon, who is also known as Tan Tan Superman and has been a Keeper athlete since the foundation’s first day in 2014, has been battling illnesses in and out of the hospital for the past year.
“J12 was inspired from the loving memory of Justin and the continued fight of Tanyon,” Vilade added. “We stand proud to embrace our medically fragile brothers and sisters. Thank you to the Nelson and Carlton families for allowing us to stand by your side. We are a strong team together – Justin’s Love forever.”
Justin’s parents, Jason and Kim, know the impact J12 will have on countless families.
“Typical hospitalizations for medically fragile children tend to be longer than anyone can plan,” Jason Nelson said. “Being familiar with extra costs associated with hospital stays, Justin’s Love will help offset that financial burden by supplying funds to help with meals, parking and other extra expenses that are not covered by insurance or other means. This initiative reflects the heart of Keeper of The Game – using baseball to reach the community and engage special needs families.”
To make a contribution to Justin’s Love programming, please click here.
- Keeper of The Game launches “Justin’s Love” programming
- Andrus named 2024 Keeper of The Game Award winner
- Frisco RoughRiders named 2024 Keeper of The Game Team of the Year
- Fourth annual RP11 Strikes and Scholarships event set for Jan. 7
- Keeper of The Game featured in Afriautism Magazine
- Xander becomes Keeper’s first 1 million views athlete
- Third annual RP11 Strikes and Scholarships set for Jan. 9
- Frisco ISD Baseball Teams Support Local Community through Record-Breaking Strike Out Hunger Food Drive
- Frisco ISD Softball Teams Bless Local Community through Strike Out Hunger Food Drive
- SFA, Keeper of The Game Host Inclusive Baseball Camp
NEXT EVENT:
Frisco Miracle League
Preseason Clinic
Our annual Frisco Miracle League Preseason Clinic is set for Saturday, April 12 from 2-4:30 p.m. at Mike Simpson Field and Rusty Greer Field, located in Bacchus Community Park in Frisco, Texas.
KEEPER SPOTLIGHT:
JR98 Inc.
Keeper of The Game is a great supporter of the JR98 Inc. Foundation, which advocates for mental health and suicide prevention through education and community service. Suffering in silence is not ok. The foundation is run by the Ramirez family, who are winners of the 2022 Keeper of The Game Award. To learn more at JR98 Inc., click here.
REPRESENT KEEPER OF THE GAME!
We have caps, shirts, bracelets and much more. To shop, click here.
AWARD WINNER!
We were honored to win 2020 award for Frisco’s Nonprofit of the Year! Thank you to all our Keepers for helping make it happen.
THANK YOU KEEPERS! This year we raised a record $53,011 for the Ron Patterson Scholarship Fund to help special needs students attend St. Timothy Christian Academy in Plano, Texas. We have raised $218,811 since 2022 because of YOU!
You can always donate directly to the Ron Patterson Scholarship Fund, which benefits special needs students attending St. Timothy Christian Academy in Plano, Texas. Any amount will make an impact. To contribute, please click here. #RP11
Keeper of The Game was recently featured by PiZetta Media for a “Frontliners TV” mini-documentary. It includes interviews with our Founder James Vilade and Executive Director Bryan Hoctor. To watch, click here.
Keeper of The Game Founder James Vilade launched the Vilade Baseball Academy on YouTube on March 21, 2020. Subscribe to the channel for free baseball instruction with professional expertise each week!
Keeper of The Game is a proud supporter of The Miracle League of Frisco. Keeper of The Game hosts numerous clinics for the league and purchased three new wheelchairs for the athletes. To learn more, click here.
SOCIAL KEEPERS
You can keep up with Keeper of The Game on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Make sure to tag us and always use the hashtag: #keeperofthegame. Thank you for your support!