Curtis Granderson grew up in the Chicago area and became one of baseball’s prominent African American players. He also spoke publicly about whether young Black athletes saw a place for themselves in the sport. In a 2014 interview, he welcomed the attention being given to Chicago’s Jackie Robinson West Little League team and hoped it would encourage further conversation about participation.
At the University of Illinois Chicago, Granderson developed into a standout college player. He was the Horizon League’s Player of the Year in 2002, when Detroit selected him in the third round of the major-league draft. His first major-league appearance followed in 2004. Over 16 seasons, he played for seven teams, earning three All-Star selections and a Silver Slugger Award. In 2016, he received baseball’s Roberto Clemente Award for community involvement and contributions to the game.
His community work had begun while he was still playing. He established a foundation in 2007, known as the Grand Kids Foundation and later presented as the Curtis Granderson Foundation. Its program account describes baseball and softball clinics, educational activities and scholarship support. Grand Giving, introduced in 2013, added a food-insecurity fundraiser involving local grocery stores and regional food banks. The first Grand Kids fundraiser drew about twenty people and raised $2,000, according to Granderson, who recalled disappointment at its scale while recognizing that it could still help.
A particularly visible project opened at UIC on April 17, 2014. Granderson contributed $5 million toward a $10 million stadium and attended its ribbon-cutting. The university’s announcement described a venue intended for both its college team and Chicago youth baseball organizations, joining a donor’s contribution with the work of university staff, architects, builders and the people organizing community use.
Granderson later explained his continuing connection to UIC in an interview with the University of Illinois Foundation. He recalled choosing the school partly because it offered opportunities in both baseball and basketball. He also described returning for off-season training and working with campus partners to bring local children to activities.
