As part of the club’s “Calling All Kids” effort to connect baseball to the next generation of fans, and to mark the extension of a partnership that began in 2009, the Red Sox and JetBlue today distributed over 40,000 Red Sox baseball hats to Boston Public School children and staff in 104 schools throughout the City of Boston.

“Every child in Boston should have a Red Sox hat,” said Red Sox President Sam Kennedy. “That was the simple thought behind this donation, and there is no better time than a week before Opening Day to get them to these deserving kids as we eagerly await the return of baseball.”

The hat distribution was launched earlier today when Red Sox President Sam Kennedy, Red Sox Foundation Board Member Linda Henry, JetBlue Executive Vice President Martin St. George, and Boston Public Schools Superintendent Tommy Chang joined Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh at the West Zone Early Learning Center and Hennigan School in Jamaica Plain. The group handed out hats to students and surprised kids with a visit from Wally the Green Monster and his sister Tessie.