Why baseball at Pinky Swear Foundation?

An orange baseball hat and a child’s leather baseball glove proudly hang from Pinky Swear’s wall at the office in Edina, Minnesota.

Our founder, Mitch Chepokas, loved baseball. These are his things hanging on our office wall.

Like so many kids, Mitch enjoyed watching the game, collecting baseball cards, and dreaming of making it to the big leagues one day. Even after being diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, his love for baseball didn’t fade. The game represented hope, perseverance, teamwork, and the simple joys of being a kid.

Because of his love for baseball, it became a little piece of our brand.

Here are a few examples of where you see baseball integrated into Pinky Swear’s branding:

• Our All-Stars. In baseball, All-Stars are exceptional players recognized for their talent and determination. At Pinky Swear, all families and kids facing cancer are All-Stars in our book. They are recognized not for statistics or championships, but for their courage, resilience, and strength throughout cancer treatment.
• All-Star cards. To celebrate our featured All-Star kids, we create personalized baseball cards. Just like the baseball trading cards Mitch loved, each one shares a child's photo, quote, and diagnosis. These cards help our supporters remember that behind every donation is a real child and a real family facing childhood cancer.
• All-Star Fund. The Pinky Swear All-Star Fund is one of the core programs that provides financial support to kids with cancer and their families. This program helps families by paying a mortgage or rent payment, car payment, or assisting with utilities 6 months after a cancer diagnosis.

Our baseball themes are never just about the sport. They are about honoring Mitch's life, celebrating every child who receives support, and remembering the promise that started it all.