Tanner Community Resource Center, Inc.
The Jimmy Bland Memorial Baseball Athletic Scholarship (JBMBAS) provides financial assistance to an aspiring minority high school graduating senior who plays baseball/softball in school or with a youth organization.
Jimmy Bland, a Washington, DC native, was a member of the Indianapolis Clowns, a Negro League baseball team. He played second base in his three years with the club, from 1960 to 1962. He lived his life passionately and because of his love for the game, it was always his dream for youth to be involved in the sport. The Jimmy Bland Memorial Baseball/Softball Athletic Scholarship (JBMBAS) has a two-fold purpose:
(1) to be a vehicle to have aspiring young baseball/softball players achieve their goals; and (2) to raise awareness about the Negro Baseball League. Candidates must be a member of a high school baseball/softball team or a youth organization such as the Boys and Girls Club or a youth mentoring organization. The 2023 recipient of the JBMBAS was a student athlete at the Ron Brown College Preparatory High School.
The 2024 scholarship will be awarded to a graduating minority high school senior. An independent review committee composed of family members and members of the community will evaluate candidates based on the published criteria. The essay about the Negro Baseball League and the applicant’s knowledge of it is a critical component of the award.
The Tanner Community Resource Center (TCRC) is the fiscal agent for the JBMBAS. TCRC is affiliated with St Paul United Methodist Church of Oxon Hill, MD and for many years, the church home of the Bland family. The Review Committee will award a $1,000 scholarship, which may be used for tuition, room and board and/or fees. The scholarship will be granted for the academic year following the award. Applications may be found on the TCRC Website: www.tcrcpgmd.org/scholarship
All applications and transcripts must be completed and submitted electronically no later than midnight, April 15, 2024. The application must be completed online using the link below.