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A new program kicked off this month to help at-risk youth.

The Home Run Scholars program was launched by the Jays Care Foundation to help kids stay in high school until graduation and help them make the move to a post-secondary education.

The initiative is a four-year commitment of $400,000 to provide scholarship and support to ensure students graduate from high school and have funds available for post-secondary education with the goal of eliminating the high-school dropout rate and improving opportunities for at-risk youth to achieve a college, university or trade school education.

Pathways to Education was started and implemented by the Regent Park Community Health Centre in 2001.

The Jays Care Foundation has provided funding to Pathways to Education since 2006. The Home Run Scholars program will serve youth in the Regent Park, Rexdale and Lawrence Heights communities.

"The Jays Care Foundation and the Toronto Blue Jays are strong in their commitment as community leaders in achieving results-driven social change," Carolyn Acker, CEO of Pathways to Education Canada said in a press release. "Our partnership will provide further opportunities for youth in low-income communities across Toronto."

The program provides tutoring, group mentoring, financial support and advocacy through student-parent support workers.

The program launched prior to a Toronto-Baltimore Major League Baseball game earlier this month.