For more than two decades; the Homerun Hopefuls Foundation has carried out a simple mission: delivering baseball equipment to children and teenagers across the Dominican Republic. What began as student, Brett Kalikowʼs, Bar Mitzvah project is now a U.S.-based nonprofit in its 22nd year, connecting communities across countries where the game is much more than a pastime; it’s a source of opportunity and hope.
Guided by its motto, “Play hard, study hard,” the foundation encourages young athletes to pursue both education and sports. Executive Director Matt Neibart contributed, “Playing baseball is essential, but so is studying and valuing family. Our goal is to promote both.”
This summer, the 2025 delegation visited leagues and clubs, distributing equipment and working with coaches who mentor the next generation. Among this year’s group were two Armonk students, Justin Wolf and Josh Goldman.
Local Students Take the Field
For Wolf, joining Homerun Hopefuls was both personal and meaningful: “I loved the idea of combining baseball, a sport that has always been a big part of my life, with helping kids who don’t have the same opportunities,” Justin said.
Goldman shared a similar perspective: “Growing up as a huge baseball fan, many of my favorite players are Hispanic. When I learned about this organization, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to pass on the game I love to people who needed the help to succeed.”
One moment that stood out to him was in Cotuí: “After hitting batting practice with the older kids, their swings amazed me. They had little access to gear or facilities, yet they were so skilled…some were signed to an MLB team.” Goldman added that the trip wasn’t just about baseball, “for me, I got a much better understanding of their culture, and how hard it really was for all of the Dominican players growing up.”
For Wolf, one of the most powerful moments was the groups first stop in Janicó. He describes that after watching a men’s league game, “the mayor of the town invited us into his home for a delicious home-cooked meal, and sharing Dominican food gave us a chance to really connect beyond just baseball.” Wolf added that his favorite part was seeing the direct impact: “Handing out mitts and bats and seeing the kids’ faces light up made [the impact] real,” and despite the language barrier, “we were still able to connect through the universal language of baseball.”
The Director’s Perspective
Matt Neibart has witnessed the growth of Homerun Hopefuls for twenty years now, but expressed that this year, the most impactful moment didn’t happen on a baseball field, but in a community gym east of Santo Domingo. More than 300 kids waited for Homerun Hopefuls, “cheering like we were rock stars arriving with treasure,” Neibart said. He continued describing how student volunteers add a new dimension to the trip: “Homerun Hopefuls operates on a kids-helping-kids philosophy, so we rely on motivated young volunteers to be successful on our mission. Justin and Josh really embodied that spirit. They were always willing to help, pushed themselves out of their comfort zones, and made a real effort to create connections with the children we were supporting.”
A Season of Giving
As the Armonk community looks toward the holidays, Homerun Hopefuls serves as a reminder that small acts–a donated bat, a packed bag of gloves–can have life-changing effects. With another successful year, Homerun Hopefuls continues to show how sports can bridge countries, communities, and young people committed to making a difference!
