CHICAGO, IL — In a profoundly personal and impactful move, Chicago Cubs star outfielder Seiya Suzuki has officially launched the “Suzuki’s Voice Foundation,” a $1.2 million charity fund dedicated to supporting children who stutter.
The announcement sent a wave of admiration across MLB, highlighting Suzuki’s commitment to using his platform to address a challenge that affects millions of people globally.
The Mission: Giving Every Child a Voice
Suzuki’s Voice Foundation is structured to provide critical financial and emotional resources, ensuring that children who stutter have access to the support they need to develop confidence and communicate effectively.
The Funding: The $1.2 million initial commitment will be used to fund scholarships, cover travel expenses, and organize special events.
The Program: The foundation aims to directly benefit 100 children between the ages of 8 and 18 across the United States. Key programs include:
Scholarships: To cover the costs of speech therapy, specialized communication programs, and equipment.
Summer Camps: Providing safe, encouraging environments where children can interact, practice new skills, and build self-esteem.
Travel Expenses: Ensuring geography is not a barrier to accessing the best available therapeutic resources.
Suzuki’s Personal Inspiration
Suzuki, who is a public figure often relying on interpreters and navigating media demands in a second language, spoke with deep passion about his motivation:
“Every child deserves to have a voice. I hope my story will inspire them and help them believe in themselves,” Suzuki said. “It takes immense courage to speak up when you face obstacles, and I want this foundation to be a source of strength for them.”
The initiative highlights how athletes can leverage their success to support causes close to their hearts, providing a powerful example of leadership and empathy far beyond the baseball diamond. The foundation is expected to grow its network of professional speech-language pathologists and partner with existing national stuttering organizations to maximize its reach.
