Blue Jays ace Chris Bassitt and wife Jessica donate $120,000 to support youth sports program, empowering under-resourced communities

Starting pitcher Chris Bassitt of the Toronto Blue Jays and his wife Jessica have started the Bassitts Pitch In, an initiative to raise money for the Jays Care Foundation.

The Bassitts have made a heartfelt commitment to donate $10,000 for every Blue Jays victory this season when Chris Bassitt takes the mound. Their astounding generosity has already resulted in a remarkable $120,000 donation.

“We are building our family in Toronto and believe strongly in giving back to the community that supports us on and off the field. Sports have an incredibly positive impact on children’s emotional and physical well-being, and we are excited to partner with Jays Care on all the amazing work they do with kids and sports," Chris & Jessica Bassitt said in a statement.

The Bassitts Pitch In program's proceeds will go directly to Jays Care's RBI Summer Edition, a sport-for-development program that aims to improve the mental and physical health of kids in underserved communities all over Toronto.

In 2023, the program will serve over 1,000 students from eight local schools, providing baseball training, cooperative games, arts and crafts, and team-building activities as a supplement to summer school.

Jays Care has hired and trained over 300 community youths to facilitate the program, empowering them to lead and inspire their peers.

Jays Care Foundation Executive Director Robert Witchel expressed his gratitude to the Bassitts for their initiative. Recognizing the couple's desire to make a positive difference in the lives of children, Witchel highlighted the opportunity provided to thousands of youth in underprivileged communities to participate in an inclusive program that fosters fun, a sense of belonging, and essential life skills.

Chris Bassitt and Jessica Bassitt's Relationship

Chris and Jessica Bassitt

Chris and Jessica met during their college years when Jessica visited the family of one of her college roommates and decided to watch Chris play in the Coastal Plain League baseball league near Jessica's hometown in North Carolina.

Chris proposed to Jessica during a vacation in Napa Valley in 2016. The proposal, which took place in the picturesque North Tower of Castello di Amorosa, was made even more memorable by a surprise photographer who captured the precious moment.

Chris Bassitt and Jessica exchanged vows on Nov. 18, 2017, in front of their closest friends and family.

On Sept. 4, 2019, two years after their wedding, they were blessed with their first child, a daughter named Landry Jayne Bassitt.

Jessica is a certified health coach. She is also an ambassador for the healthcare organization Plexus Worldwide, a position she has held with zeal for the past seven years.