In his short time as a Major League Baseball player, Curtis has established himself as a caring and giving individual: donating time, money and memorabilia to numerous charitable causes throughout the nation. Curtis has represented the MLB as an ambassador to the game in 2006, 2007, and 2008 visiting Europe, South Africa, and China respectively. In 2008, Curtis established the Grand Kids Foundation, a nonprofit organization that enhances the lives of urban students. As spokesperson of the Detroit Free Press Newspapers in Education Program, Curtis visits elementary schools sharing his love of reading and promoting the importance and value of education.

As the spokesperson for the Detroit Tigers “Gloves for Kids” campaign, Curtis helped the Tigers collect over 3,000 pieces of equipment so that more than 700 children could play baseball. Curtis represents the Detroit Tigers as part of the Jackie Robinson Day celebration, and acts as a celebrity judge for the Detroit Tigers Annual Jackie Robinson Art, Essay and Poetry Contest. The contest celebrates the legendary Jackie Robinson's core values and lifelong commitment to education. Curtis supports the Coalition on Temporary Shelters, an organization focused on alleviating homelessness by providing shelter, meals, and services that enable people to achieve economic self-sufficiency and decent affordable housing.

Curtis’ mission is to enforce educational initiatives to youth and to help bring the sport of baseball back to the nation’s inner cities.

About Curtis Granderson

As a freshman at the University Illinois-Chicago, Granderson led the team with seven home runs. He continued to be an outstanding player, ending his college career as the school’s all time leader with 178 scored runs. Granderson has played with the Detroit Tigers since 2004 and led the American league with thirteen triples during the 2008 season.