Charlie Batch, a former Steelers Quarterback, founded Best of the Batch Foundation in 1999 to give back to his hometown of Homestead, PA. Best of the Batch Foundation offers over 12 educational programs to youth, annually serving over 3,800 children and their families across 8 Western Pennsylvania counties.

Education is core to everything done at Best of the Batch Foundation. They provide a variety of different programs to serve every child who walks through their doors during out-of-school time. The STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) program provides children the opportunity to engage in creative thinking in ways that utilize their strengths—whether that be through coding, 3D printing, robotics, or music production.

Girl Talk engages both middle school and high school girls in a mentoring program where young girls receive accurate information and advice to navigate the challenges of growing up. Homework help and individualized tutoring are offered to every child who attends, which has resulted in an increase in school attendance and homework submission in participants.

Grub Time is the foundation’s out-of-school time meal program, where all children receive a hot meal including a protein, vegetable, fruit, starch, and a healthy snack every day. Functioning as the only completely free clubhouse within a two-bus transfer of their community, the out-of-school time programming Best of the Batch offers reflects the wants and needs of the surrounding community.

Best of the Batch Foundation also provides outreach services through multiple programs, including the back-to-school readiness program BatchPacks, the holiday toy drive Batch A Toys, emergency response programming like the Comfort in a Basket initiative, and EITC, OSTC, Pre-K, and college scholarships.