CARLOS

FORTUNA ORGANIZATION

The Carlos Fortuna Organization is an organization that promotes and facilitates parenting trainings to mothers, fathers, and/or caregivers of youngsters who are enrolled or plan to be enrolled in a baseball academy/program. The organization provides help to families of all different socio-economic levels but will set its priority on low-income families in Latin America.

THE STORY THAT INSPIRED

Carlos Fortuna was a professional baseball player in the Kansas City Royals organization. He died a few days before turning 23 years old after a three year battle against liver cancer. He was an outstanding role model and leader for all players, especially the Latin-Americans . When Carlos found out about his cancer, one of the major reasons that he stayed strong was his newborn son. For almost three years, Carlos battled cancer always maintaining a strong purpose to become a better human, son, brother, and most of all father.

When Carlos took English classes as a minor league player, he was required to attend the specific class according to his level of English. However, his strong desire to learn and to help his teammates motivated him to voluntarily attend all three different levels of classes available. This allowed him to practice more often and to help other players learn English. He was a natural leader.

On several occasions, Carlos would stay until the teacher would finish her last class. He would then wait and talk to the English teacher and apologize for some of his teammates’ disrespectful behaviors in class. Some players were very talkative; some did not work or participate in class. This bothered Carlos greatly, so he would apologize on their behalves, and he would say that their parents should have been stricter or more disciplined with them. He would also explain that many of them grew up without one or both parents. Carlos was not trying to excuse or justify their actions; instead, he just wanted to explain the reality of the situations that most of them experienced in his native Dominican Republic. He was determined to become a major league player, but he was even more determined to develop into a better man for the good of his family, his child, and his own.

VISION

The Carlos Fortuna Organization’s vision is to help parents and caregivers of young men, who are preparing to become professional baseball players in Latin American countries. The organization wants to help create a strong, nurturing environment that will provide opportunities for these great players to develop into great men who will make a positive impact on today’s world.

MISSION

We are a non-profit organization with a mission to provide educational training and support to parents, caregivers, and families of young boys who are working to become professional baseball players.

Monica Ramirez

Director - Carlos Fortuna Organization