12.02.2008 - 09:00am ET

(CSRwire) NEW YORK, NY. - December 2, 2008 – KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax and advisory firm, presented a $1 million check to Major League Baseball (MLB) Charities for the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program at Game 2 of the 2008 MLB World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL.

"RBI presented by KPMG" is a MLB youth outreach program designed to increase participation among boys and girls in baseball and softball, encourage academic achievement and teach the value of team work.

KPMG Chairman Timothy P. Flynn presented the $1 million check to MLB Executive Vice President, Business, Tim Brosnan, and was joined on the field by the members from each of the 2008 RBI World Series Championship teams - the Santo Domingo Girls' Softball team, the Detroit Junior Boys' team and the Los Angeles Senior Boys' team, as well as by RBI alum and Rays' left fielder Carl Crawford.


"The positive impact on the lives of so many kids who participated in the RBI program last year has generated real excitement as the KPMG relationship with MLB and the RBI program has moved into its second year," said Timothy P. Flynn, KPMG Chairman. "KPMG is proud to help further RBI's mission of opening the doors of opportunity for boys and girls through sport, mentoring and education, which remains consistent with the firm's core commitment to serving the communities in which KPMG people live and work."

The $1 million is part of a multi-year sponsorship agreement announced in June 2007 between KPMG and Major League Baseball Properties (MLBP) to enhance and expand RBI. Flynn also presented a $1 million check for RBI at last year’s MLB World Series.

Additionally, KPMG has donated thousands of employee and intern volunteer hours to support the program both on and off the field, helping inner city boys and girls learn how to play baseball and softball while also serving as mentors, tutors and life skills coaches.

"Major League Baseball thanks KPMG for its continued support of RBI," said Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. "Together with KPMG we are helping boys and girls play the game and improve their lives. Since RBI's inception, 170 RBI participants have been drafted by MLB teams. Countless more children have been impacted by the program, going on to college and finding positive ways to contribute to their communities."

Founded in 1989, Major League Baseball's RBI program has a presence in more than 200 cities worldwide, and annually provides more than 100,000 boys and girls with the opportunity to play baseball and softball. RBI alumni currently playing in the Major Leagues include Carl Crawford (Tampa Rays), Jimmy Rollins (Philadelphia Phillies), Covelli "Coco" Crisp (Boston Red Sox), and Dontrelle Willis (Detroit Tigers).



About KPMG LLP
KPMG LLP, the audit, tax and advisory firm (www.us.kpmg.com), is the U.S. member firm of KPMG International. KPMG International's member firms have 123,000 professionals, including more than 7,100 partners, in 145 countries.

About Major League Baseball Charities
Major League Baseball Charities is a not-for-profit corporation that provides support to local, national and international tax- exempt organizations to directly conduct or sponsor activities for the promotion of good health, physical education, public safety, medical research, literacy and educational or charitable purposes. In addition to supporting Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), the Official Charity of Major League Baseball, MLB Charities provides support to a number of other national charitable initiatives, including Little League Baseball, the National Urban League and the Jackie Robinson Foundation. The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball pays all administrative expenses for MLB Charities.

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