As the St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals renew their Show Me State rivalry this season, QuikTrip is stepping up to the plate and partnering with both teams on a promotion that turns every game into an additional opportunity to give back.
Through the “I-70 Safe Place Showdown,” QuikTrip will donate $10,000 to the Safe Place partner agency in the winning team’s city for each Cardinals vs. Royals game this season. With six games on the schedule, $60,000 is up for grabs to support youth in crisis through Youth in Need in St. Louis and Synergy Services in Kansas City.
“QuikTrip is proud to support Youth in Need and Synergy Services—two incredible organizations providing life-saving help to young people in crisis,” said QuikTrip Community Relations Manager and National Safe Place Network (NSPN) Board Member Lauren Sherry. “This friendly rivalry is a fun way to raise both awareness and funding for these incredible organizations that help make Missouri communities safer and stronger.”
QuikTrip partners with Safe Place programs in 11 states, working with youth service agencies like Kansas City’s Synergy Services and St. Louis’ Youth in Need to help ensure young people facing crises receive compassionate and professional care. QT also provides financial support to these agencies, helping sustain their programming and outreach efforts.
NSPN cultivates Safe Place communities where youth in crisis can access immediate help and safety. QuikTrip stores in both the St. Louis and Kansas City metro areas proudly serve as designated Safe Place sites, and the company has supported Safe Place programs nationally for over two decades.
“QuikTrip’s commitment to youth safety is unwavering,” said Laurie Padilla, President and CEO of NSPN. “Their support helps ensure young people have access to trusted adults and safe spaces when they need them most.”
The Cardinals and Royals will face off six times in the 2025 season: May 16-18 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City and June 3-5 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
After the season series, QuikTrip will present checks to the Safe Place partners based on the results of the games.
“Support from community partners like QuikTrip makes it possible for us to be there when young people need us most,” said Synergy Services Executive Director Robin Winner. “This generous and creative campaign not only raises vital funds—it also helps spread the word that Safe Place is here, and it’s working, thanks to businesses that care.”
“At Youth in Need, we believe every young person deserves safety, support, and someone to turn to in a moment of crisis,” said Youth in Need President and CEO Pat Holterman-Hommes. “QuikTrip’s support not only helps fund critical services—it shows our youth that their community is behind them, cheering them on to success.”
QuikTrip is a corporate partner of both teams and supports community initiatives like the Royals Literacy League, Cardinals Care Redbird Rookies, the Cardinals Kids Clinics and the Community Cards program that provides safety tips for youth and highlights QT as a Safe Place location. In addition to the monetary donation challenge, QuikTrip and the respective teams will host staff and volunteers from Safe Place partner agencies at select games during the series.
“This series is all about hometown pride—but more importantly, it’s about helping kids in need,” said Luis Maes, Royals Vice President of Community Impact. “We’re grateful to QuikTrip for turning this baseball tradition into something truly meaningful for our community.”
“While we are rivals on the field, off the field we are partners as we strive to support children throughout our communities,” said Michael Hall, Cardinals Vice President of Community Relations and Cardinals Care Executive Director. “QuikTrip helps us to achieve our goals, and this friendly rivalry will bring awareness to Safe Place, and specifically Youth in Need in St. Louis.”
To learn more about Safe Place, visit www.nationalsafeplace.org.
