Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation

“I don’t want any kid, no matter who they are, to think ‘I can’t do it.’ The fact is, they can do anything they want to do.” – Henry Aaron1

“We believe an early investment in the life of a child can have a lasting impact.” – Billye Aaron2

 

 

THE MISSION

In a lifetime of accomplishments, baseball’s reticent legend Henry Aaron was also an advocate for social justice and diversity. When he died in 2021, pundits spoke about Aaron’s baseball exploits and his never-ending fight against hatred and racism. A few memorialized Aaron as a figure of “grace.” However, these glowing portrayals failed to acknowledge the pain that racism inflicted upon Aaron. Aaron was much blunter. “It still hurts a little bit inside because I think (racism) has chipped away at a part of my life that I will never have again,” he told American History magazine in 2006.3 After his retirement, his mission became education and opportunity to help the youth he met – kids like he was – overcome the barriers they would inevitably face.

Aaron wanted to find ways to encourage kids to dream their dreams and make them happen by giving a helping hand. The Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation (HACDF) was designed to enable talented students succeed in whatever they want to pursue by creating the mechanisms to help each student work toward their goals. The mission evolved into giving scholarships to attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s) and other colleges. The purpose of the foundation has evolved into a simple statement: “What do you think it costs to save a life?”4

THE FOUNDATION

The Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation was founded by Henry and his wife, Billye, in 1995 to promote youth development by providing grants, scholarships and financial assistance to children 9 to 12 years old from disadvantaged origins and backgrounds.5 The foundation awarded scholarships and funds for a range of purposes to enable the recipient to develop his/her talents and skills. It was created as a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation. “[W]e established the Foundation to give children with limited opportunities a chance to purse their dreams,” Billye Aaron said at its creation.6

The number 755 has been immortalized as the total number of home runs Aaron hit in his major-league career. The experiences he encountered as a child, in baseball, and in his fight for civil rights and against racism influenced the mission of the foundation. In his initial vision, 755 would be the number of children and young teens Aaron would help. The foundation blew past that goal early in its work and now numbers in the thousands.

In 2011 Aaron explained the significance of 755: “The greatest thing, I know people that the home runs, ‘oh you hit 755 home runs,’ but the greatest thing that I feel that the contribution I’ve made since I’ve been out of baseball was to helping 755 in my foundation.”7

The foundation has three primary programs.

THE ORIGINAL HACDF SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

This program was established in 1998 to provide financial assistance to young people in six cities, primarily through the local Boys & Girls Clubs. Three of the cities were where Aaron had lived: Mobile, Milwaukee, and Atlanta. The program currently offers year-to-year scholarships of $1,500.

THE “44 FOREVER” SCHOLARSHIP

Announced at the 2007 World Series and named after Aaron’s uniform number, the program was created with an initial donation of $2.3 million from Major League Baseball and executed in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Each year the scholarships help at least 44 children in the fifth through tenth grades with stipends of up to $2,500. This program was offered to 4,200 Boys & Girls Clubs located in schools, public housing, cities, rural areas, and on Native lands, as well as US military bases worldwide.

“When you think of Hank Aaron, you think of a priceless individual,” Frank Sanchez, the national vice president of sports, entertainment & alumni relations with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, said in 2021. “For Hank, he wanted us to reach every kid possible. So there was Hank the baseball advocate, who, when we brought our kids to a game, would open up all doors so our young kids could have the experience. And there was Hank, the advocate of Boys & Girls Club of America as a board person.”8

Currently the foundation supports 75 boys and girls from across the United States and US military bases overseas. Students who were awarded grants went on to careers including engineering, marine biology, veterinary medicine, and aviation. “I am very proud of the Chasing the Dream program and everything it has done to support talented young men and women from Boys & Girls Clubs of America,” Aaron once said.9

 

 

FOUR FOR FOUR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Launched in 2010, the Four for Four Scholarship Program provided endowments for four-year partial scholarships to supplement loans, grants, and other aid needed to help eligible students meet their financial obligations. The endowments of $100,000 each were initially established at four institutions: Morehouse College, Atlanta; Texas College, Tyler, Texas; Fisk University, Nashville; and the University of Wisconsin, Madison. The latter was established in honor of former Baseball Commissioner and Milwaukee Brewers owner, Alan “Bud” Selig, an alumnus of the University of Wisconsin.

Texas College’s relationship with the foundation began with one endowed scholarship in 2010. (Billye Aaron is an alumna of the college.) For the 2024-2025 academic year, it stood at 11 scholarships. “Receiving the scholarship is both an honor and a blessing,” said Angel Cummings. “It has lightened my financial burden and brought me one step closer to achieving my dream. I am truly grateful for the support as I continue my journey through higher education.” Kaleya Kerr-Ervins added, “I am extremely grateful to be one of the recipients. Through this scholarship, I will be able to excel throughout my music degree program.”10

Since the foundation’s inception, more than 17 colleges have been awarded endowments. Initially, the Four for Four Scholarship Program provided at least $4,000 a year for four years to 12 students at each school. Just like the figure 755, “4 for 4” and “12” were significant to Aaron: they represented the number of times he went 4-for-4 in his career.11 Over 115 are currently receiving stipends in 2025.

THE DREAM FLOURISHES

Aaron received numerous awards and honors from the moment he retired as a ballplayer in 1976. The accolades were warmly received by Aaron. He also tried to find ways to tie these accolades to helping others in need.

On February 5, 1999, at a tribute for Aaron, the commissioner’s office announced the annual Hank Aaron Award to honor the best overall offensive performer in each league. It was created to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Aaron’s breaking Babe Ruth’s career home record. The humbled Aaron accepted the tribute with the following condition: He exacted a promise from the sport and its sponsors to truly honor him by helping children through the Henry Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation. “Yes, the home runs were great – I just love the crack of the bat, but today I just stand here to tell you, I am equally proud of the fact that the money that we are going to raise is going to help children across the world,” Aaron said. “I’m extremely happy to be standing here not as someone who hit 755 home runs, but as someone who is concerned for our children because the greatest commodity we have in this world is our children. We have to be able to help them.”12 Aaron made the baseball world and others listen and act.

Aaron was a longtime financial donor to and board member of the Atlanta Technical College.13 Each year, the college commemorates Aaron’s birthday during the first week of February through multiple initiatives. In 2020, on Aaron’s 86th birthday, it formally renamed its academic complex the Henry Louis “Hank” Aaron Academic Complex.14 On February 1, 2024, during the celebration of Aaron’s 90th birthday, the college celebrated the opening of its Small Business Development Center. According to the college, “the center aims to provide budding entrepreneurs with the resources and tools needed to start and grow successful businesses in the Atlanta community.”15 “Mr. Aaron was an amazing businessman and entrepreneur. Our SBDC continues his legacy and desire to help others to build sustainable careers and income,” said the college president, Victoria Seals.16 On February 6, 2025, the college announced renovation of the Aaron Academic Complex to house the Center for Artificial Intelligence and Manufacturing and the Center for Film and Media Production.17 Annually, the school hosts the Henry Louis Aaron Legacy Scholarship Breakfast to honor the students who have received scholarships through the foundation’s programs.

When Aaron died in 2021, Allan Tanenbaum, a longtime close friend and foundation board member, eulogized Aaron at the funeral service. He observed that Aaron’s life went beyond baseball: “There’s a saying, ‘To save one life is to save the world.’ And I always felt that personified Henry and his wife, Billye’s lives. They taught that to me as a young lawyer, as a young husband, and throughout my life of association with them and their fans.”18 It was never about Aaron, but always about others, Tanenbaum said. How many scholarships could be created. How many kids could be reached. Quiet determined action was the Aaron way.19 It was always about the kids and the right to chase their dreams.20 “We have to remember the man and what he did, and keep applying those life lessons,” said Tanenbaum.21

LUIS A. BLANDON JR., a Washington, DC, native, is a producer, writer, and historical researcher. He has garnered numerous awards, including three regional Emmys® and Edward R. Murrow Awards. He served as the principal researcher for several authors; recently The Mysterious Mrs. Nixon: The Life and Times of Washington’s Most Private First Lady by Heath Hardage Lee. Luis has a master’s degree in international affairs from the George Washington University.

 

SOURCES AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

In addition to the sources cited in the Notes, the author consulted the Georgia Center for Nonprofits, ProPublica, GuideStar, Foundation Directory, IRS’s Tax-Exempt Organization Search, Cause IQ, NonProfit Explorer, the National Baseball Hall of Fame Giamatti Research Center, YouTube.com, Instagram, and MLB.com.

To my wife, Teri Blandón, an experienced nonprofit fundraiser, for providing insight into non-profit fundraising.

Much appreciation to Allan Tanenbaum, Esq., for talking with the author about Henry Aaron’s life beyond baseball, for reviewing the article and for his comments and suggestions that have strengthened this piece.

 

NOTES

1 “How Hank Aaron Helped Others Keep Swinging,” Truist, https://media.truist.com/https-media-truist-com-on-purpose-how-hank-aaron-helped-others-keep-swinging, accessed October 15, 2025.

2 “About the Foundation,” The Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation, https://chasingthedreamfoundation.wordpress.com/about-the-foundation/, accessed October 11, 2025.

3 Michael Lee, “Hank Aaron Fought Racism the Way He Played: Quietly but with Power,” Washington Post, January 23, 2021: D5.

4 “How Hank Aaron Helped Others Keep Swinging.“

5 “Chasing the Dream Foundation” is not one single organization, but can refer to several distinct nonprofits, including the Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation.

6 “About the Foundation.”

7 Joe Henke, “Hank Aaron Chased His Dream on the Ball Field. Then he made sure hundreds of children could reach Theirs,” 11 Alive, January 22, 2021: https://www.11alive.com/article/sports/mlb/atlanta-braves/hank-aaron-philanthropic-work-education/85-d52a36d3-e468-4a44-97b8-f4fef0625d50, accessed October 22, 2025.

8 Henke.

9 Spencer Fortin, “Chasing the Dream Foundation Awards Scholarships,” mlb.com, April 3, 2014: https://www.mlb.com/news/hank-aarons-chasing-the-dream-foundation-awards-scholarships/c-70807052, accessed October 20, 2025

10 “Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation Provides Scholarships,” Texas College, https://www.texascollege.edu/blog/post/hank-aaron-chasing-the-dream-foundation-provides-scholarships, accessed November 1, 2025.

11 Angela Tuck, “Hank Aaron Wants to be Remembered for More than Home Runs,” andscape.com, April 14, 2017: https://andscape.com/features/hank-aaron-remembered-for-more-than-home-runs/, accessed November 1, 2025.

12 Claire Smith, “Aaron Appreciative of a Long-Overdue Tribute,” Orlando Sentinel, February 7, 1999: D-16.

13 Established in 1967, Atlanta Technical College, a public college, is part of the Technical College System of Georgia and provides education services for Fulton and Clayton Counties. The school awards associate degrees, diplomas, and technical certificates of credit, and offers short-term continuing-education courses.

14 Ritu Shukla (Associated Press), “Atlanta Technical College Names Building for Baseball Icon Henry Aaron,” wabe.org, February 6, 2020: https://www.wabe.org/atlanta-technical-college-names-building-for-baseball-icon-hank-aaron/, accessed December 1, 2025.

15 “Atlanta Technical College Honored the Legacy of Hank Aaron and Celebrated the Grand Opening of the Small Business Development Center,” Atlanta Technical College, February 1, 2024: https://atlantatech.edu/atlanta-technical-college-honored-the-legacy-of-hank-aaron-and-celebrated-the-grand-opening-of-the-small-business-development-center-february-1-2024/, accessed November 17, 2025.

16 “Atlanta Technical College Honored the Legacy of Hank Aaron and Celebrated the Grand Opening of the Small Business Development Center.”

17 atltechcollege, “Yesterday, Atlanta Technical College had the Privilege of Commemorating the Enduring Legacy…,” Instagram, February 6, 2025, https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFyWIn1PLIB/?hl=en, accessed November 19, 2025.

18 “Hank Aaron Funeral | Remarks from Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation Representatives,” 11Alive.com. January 27, 2001: https://www.11alive.com/video/sports/mlb/atlanta-braves/hank-aaron-funeral-remarks-from-hank-aaron-chasing-the-dream-foundation-representative/85-bef6efe2-624a-4c9b-a1f2-e9d0b5d724b3, accessed November 24, 2025. Allan Tanenbaum has been a friend and attorney for the family, and helped with many of Aaron’s philanthropic projects.

19 “Hank Aaron Funeral | Remarks from Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation Representatives.”

20 Telephone Interview with Allan Tanenbaum, November 24, 2025.

21 “How Hank Aaron Helped Others Keep Swinging.”

22 Tuck.