Hall of Fame to Introduce ‘First in Class’ Experience with a Championship Education Ring in 2027

(COOPERSTOWN, NY) – The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum has announced a major expansion of its educational outreach initiative, extending its collaborations with Lincoln Avenue Communities and Fairview Housing Partners to serve students in 30 cities and in Cooperstown over the next three years.

The initiative will launch in March 2027 and provide students with access to the Hall of Fame’s recently debuted First in Class curriculum. In addition, every participating child will receive a custom commemorative education ring produced through a partnership with The Champions Collective.

Following the success of previous multi-year educational experiences for residents in affordable housing communities, this afterschool program will again reach additional students across the United States, bringing the Hall of Fame’s inquiry-based, student-centered learning model to new audiences.

The expansion represents a scaling of the Hall of Fame’s mission to provide equitable access to museum-based learning. The initiative expands the Museum’s capacity to serve students from modest-income households and communities with limited access to educational resources and opportunities beyond the classroom.

“This ongoing investment recognizes the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum as a first-in-class educational institution, whose resources deserve to be enjoyed by students even if they cannot visit Cooperstown,” said Josh Rawitch, President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. “This substantial joint venture allows us to extend our unique learning environment to children and families well outside of Upstate New York.”

“We are incredibly grateful for our partnership with the National Baseball Hall of Fame,” said Thom Amdur, Executive Director of Fairview Housing Partners. “This new and expanded curriculum builds on the success of our multi-year partnership with both the Baseball Hall of Fame and Lincoln Avenue Communities to deploy high-impact afterschool programming at affordable rental communities around the country. The unique program leverages the Hall of Fame’s educational programming, exhibits and artifacts to engage students in a curriculum that develops problem solving and life skills to help them grow as learners.”

“Championship rings have always represented achievement, perseverance and excellence. Through this partnership with the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, we’re proud to extend that tradition beyond the playing field and into the learning environment,” said Chris Poitras, SVP & GM of The Champions Collective. “Education is a core value at Jostens, and providing every participant with a ring recognizes not only their accomplishments today, but also their potential for the future.”

First in Class: Learning, Leadership and Discovery emphasizes active learning, accessibility for diverse learners and the development of 21st-century skills grounded in the Museum’s stories and collections. Based on the research of Kathy Hirsh-Pasek of Temple University and Roberta Golinkoff of the University of Delaware, the experience is built around six core competencies: Collaboration, Communication, Critical Thinking, Creative Innovation, Confidence and Content, aligning with national learning standards and New York State’s Portrait of a Graduate framework.

About Lincoln Avenue Communities
Lincoln Avenue Communities (LAC) is one of the nation’s leading developers, investors, and operators of affordable and workforce housing, providing high-quality, sustainable homes for lower- and moderate-income individuals, seniors, and families nationwide. LAC is a mission-driven organization with a presence in 34 states and a portfolio of 200+ properties comprising 37,000+ units housing over 100,000 residents.

About Fairview Housing Partners
Fairview Housing Partners is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to expanding access to quality, affordable homes where they are most needed. Fairview’s work includes owning and developing affordable housing properties, including through joint ventures with industry partners; facilitating capital investments that improve the quality, sustainability, and resilience of properties; and providing resident services to support the health and well-being of its communities.

About The Champions Collective
With more than 100 championship ring programs across the NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA, WNBA, MLS, IndyCar and NASCAR, The Champions Collective has told stories of more champions than any other organization. The Champions Collective is Jostens’ newest division, created to continue this legacy of excellence in the professional sports space. The “Collective” represents both a home for champions and a network of artists, designers and jewelers collaborating with the division to define what comes next.

For more on The Champions Collective, visit thechampionscollective.com, the new home for the Pro Sports Championship Experience.

Founded in 1897, Jostens is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. For more information, visit jostens.com.