Royals legends join presenting sponsor Blue KC at the fourth annual Royals Charities: Queens of the Diamond softball tournament to benefit the Kansas City MLB Urban Youth Academy

KANSAS CITY, MO. (September 1, 2021) – George Brett, Alex Gordon and other Royals legends will join presenting sponsor Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) for fun on the field benefiting a worthy cause at the fourth annual Queens of the Diamond fundraising event on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021 from 7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. The event will take place at the Kansas City MLB Urban Youth Academy (KCUYA), an initiative of Royals Charities that the Royals launched in 2018.   

The Queens of the Diamond event will feature 22 teams of Kansas City women leaders from local businesses and organizations, such as Blue KC, CommunityAmerica Credit Union, Price Chopper and The University of Kansas Health System, competing in a charity softball tournament at KCUYA, located in the backyard of the historic 18th & Vine District at 1622 E. 17th Terrace in Kansas City, MO.

Several of the teams will be coached by some of the greatest names ever to wear a Kansas City Royals uniform, including George Brett, Alex Gordon, Jaime Bluma, John Wathan, Brian McRae, Al Fitzmorris, Jim Eisenreich, Jamie Quirk, Mike Macfarlane and Dennis Leonard. The Royals alumni will be participating either as coaches, pitchers or umpires. Royals General Manager Dayton Moore will speak to the teams before they take the field. Staff from the KCUYA will also attend, including Executive Director Darwin Pennye.

Funds raised through Queens of the Diamond sponsorships and event purchases benefit girls softball, academic enrichment and mental health programming for Kansas City’s underserved youth ages 6-18 at the KCUYA—ensuring Kansas City youth have the opportunity and foundation to be tomorrow’s leaders.

“A strong community starts with strong leaders,” said Jenny Housley, event chairwoman and Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Blue KC. “At Blue KC, we recognize the importance of mentorship and teamwork in building a healthy community. Through this partnership with Kansas City Urban Youth Academy, we’re able to support the next generation of strong leaders with the opportunities and resources needed for a bright future.” 

Housley will serve as coach of the Blue KC team called, “Blue Belles.” Queens of the Diamond will also include networking, a raffle and an awards ceremony. Blue KC Vice President and Chief Communications Officer Christa Dubill will serve as the event’s emcee.

Blue KC is dedicated to cultivating a healthier Kansas City. In addition to inspiring leadership among young members of the community, Blue KC is a longstanding partner with the Royals, recently working together to Shut Out the Stigma around behavioral healthcare and recognizing first responders who are advancing behavioral health conversations in the community.

The event is closed to the general public. To learn more about Queens of the Diamond and KCUYA, visit https://www.mlb.com/royals/academy/support/queens-of-the-diamond.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, the largest not-for-profit health insurer in Missouri and the only not-for-profit commercial health insurer in Kansas City, has been part of the Kansas City community since 1938. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City provides health coverage services to more than one million residents in the greater Kansas City area, including Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas and 30 counties in Northwest Missouri. Our mission: to provide affordable access to healthcare and to improve the health of our members. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information on the company, visit its website at BlueKC.com. 

About Kansas City MLB Urban Youth Academy

The Kansas City Urban Youth Academy empowers Kansas City’s youth through baseball and softball, as well as academic and social opportunities, to be leaders of tomorrow. The Academy is committed to providing a positive environment, while educating our Academy participants on what it means to be a “professional” on and off the field. We surround them with coaches, mentors, and role models who can teach them how to play the games of baseball and softball while also serving as examples of good citizenship. Through our training, education, and character development programs, we build a strong foundation for Academy participants, based on work ethic, leadership, responsibility, accountability, and moral principles. This foundation will allow Academy participants to acquire that unwavering strength of purpose that is the keynote of all individual success.

About Royals Charities

Royals Charities strives to support children, education, youth baseball and softball field renovations, and military families in and around the Kansas City area. The foundation accomplishes this mission through financial grants of life-changing projects and programs.