Kernels Summer Reading Program

The Kernels Summer Reading Program celebrated its 27th Anniversary in 2024! The Kernels Summer Reading Program is designed to help encourage students to stay engaged in their education outside the classroom. Reading program scorecards are where students can find directions on how to participate and track their minutes. Just like baseball, students must make their way around the bases to hit a home run in the Kernels Summer Reading Program. To keep everybody motivated to read, we have prizes at each base (benchmark) along the way.

For many years, students in the Cedar Rapids metro and surrounding communities have enjoyed having visits from the Kernels players and our beloved mascot Mr. Shucks to talk about the importance of reading. After 20+ years of the program, we are now hearing from parents who participated as children now have their own kids reading in the Kernels Summer Reading Program. Thank you to presenting sponsor Toyota Financial Services for sponsoring our reading program from day one. We couldn't do this without you!

Nick Adenhart Memorial Scholarship

Nick Adenhart was a bright young pitcher who played for the Cedar Rapids Kernels in 2006, and was a rising star in the Los Angeles Angels organization. Only hours after Nick's 2009 season debut on the mound for the Angels a drunk driver killed him tragically at the age of 22. Nick's family continues to honor him with the awarding of two $1,000 scholarships in his memory. The Kernels Foundation is privileged to administer the scholarships on behalf of Nick's family.

Home Run for Hunger

First Federal Credit Union and the Cedar Rapids Kernels created the "Home Run for Hunger" program in 2017 which is a collaborative initiative to support the Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP) Food Reservoir.

Volunteers from First Federal Credit Union and the Cedar Rapids Kernels visited several farmers' markets over the 2024 summer and collected over 1,900 pounds of food from local vendors for HACAP's food reservoir.

The food collected is distributed right away to 7 surrounding counties and has been used in programs such as "Meals on Wheels". For the second year in a row, First Federal Credit Union and the Cedar Rapids Kernels were awarded "Best Partnership in 2018" by HACAP.

The Kernels Foundation Grant

The Kernels Foundation benefits area youth by supporting nonprofit groups and organizations that effectively and efficiently serve youth through sports activities and programs, baseball instructional leagues, and equipment and facilities engaged in providing that support in the Cedar Rapids Kernels and Waterloo Bucks fan-base geographical areas.

All grant applications must be submitted in accordance with the Grant Application form and accompanied by sufficient supporting documentation (including photographs or illustrations) to enable The Kernels Foundation to clearly understand the entire project.