Rockwell Riverdogs
The program was established in 2008 by Michael Heltzer with the assistance of Angelo Rodriguez, a SWAT officer with the Chicago Police Department, as a response to the challenges and struggles faced by young athletes in the urban landscape. In response, Michael allocated space at his Rockwell campus to provide young athletes from different ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds with the professional training, financial sponsorship and academic support that gave them the requisite skillset to succeed at the high school and college levels and beyond; both as athletes and positive members of their community. After a decade, Michael and his family had the opportunity to support many great players and their families and see them grow as a result of their commitment to the Riverdogs program and their passion for baseball.
