UCHealth’s “Hit the Mitt” returns for 8th season at Coors Field
Each home run that hits the target will generate $5,000 for Denver youth
Aurora, Colo. (March 30, 2026) – When the Colorado Rockies step up to bat at Coors Field on Friday, a big swing could mean more than another run on the scoreboard. For each home run that strikes the “Hit the Mitt” banner in left field or lands in the left-field tunnel, UCHealth will donate $5,000 to Athletics & Beyond, a Denver-based youth mentoring program that uses sports to empower young people to succeed.
“Sports is the entry point that gets them in the door,” said Narcy Jackson, founder of Athletics & Beyond. “Once they’re engaged, we channel their enthusiasm for competition into lessons about hard work, self-discovery and perseverance. We focus on supporting their academic progress through tutoring, developing life and workforce skills and exploring future career paths.”
Students at Athletics & Beyond can train and compete in a variety of sports, including football, baseball, boxing, wrestling, tumbling and track and field. While sports are central to the Athletics & Beyond identity, its approach also emphasizes academic achievement, exposure to career pathways and equipping students with the tools and mindset needed for long-term success.
“We have had some kids come through this program and actually make it to the NFL,” said Rod Rogers, founder of athlete strategy and former professional football player. “But we also have many other alumni who have used the hard work, discipline and habits they learned here to be competitive in other industries and build great careers as teachers, engineers, businessmen or doctors.”
Each year, UCHealth selects a new nonprofit beneficiary for the “Hit the Mitt” challenge, focusing on organizations that support Coloradans in need. Last season, Rockies players hit the target four times, raising $20,000 for Freedom Service Dogs.
“We’re proud to partner with an organization that is making an impact on the young people in our community,” said Manny Rodriguez, chief marketing, experience and customer officer at UCHealth. “Hit the Mitt is one of many ways we collaborate with the Rockies to give back, and we’re excited to see how many times players can hit a home run for Athletics & Beyond this season.”
About UCHealth
UCHealth is a nationally recognized nonprofit health system that pushes the boundaries of medicine through advanced treatments and clinical trials, improving health through innovation and providing unmatched patient care in the Rocky Mountain West. Investing $1.3 billion in community benefits including $570 million in uncompensated care each year, UCHealth is Colorado’s largest Medicaid provider and dedicated to the communities it serves. With the region’s only adult academic medical center, University of Colorado Hospital on the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, UCHealth includes 37,000 employees, 15 acute-care hospitals and thousands of physicians across Colorado, Wyoming and western Nebraska.
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