Ryan Vilade, a Tampa Bay Rays outfielder entering his tenth professional season, has turned his on‑field presence into a catalyst for community outreach, especially for children with special needs.
The initiative is anchored by the Keeper of the Game Foundation, a nonprofit launched in 2014 by his father, James Vilade. Inspired by his mother, a special‑needs teacher, James Vilade sought to replicate the joy he saw in her classroom by giving children with disabilities the chance to experience baseball in a supportive setting.
A centerpiece of the foundation’s work is the Magic Mondays program, a signature offering of the Rays that invites children with unique abilities to attend home games, meet players, and participate in adapted baseball activities that emphasize fun and inclusion.
A Season of Giving
Ryan Vilade personally greets each participant, sharing stories and encouraging them to see baseball as a game for everyone. He also uses his profile to drive donations, directing supporters to keeperofthegame.org, where contributions fund equipment, mobility devices and travel costs for families eager to join the program.