Damn Yankees - A Smash Comedic Broadway Hit about Baseball

An associate professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, Joann Baney has a longstanding interest in theater. Joann Baney has participated in off-Broadway revivals with the St. Barts theater group, performing well-loved musicals such as Kiss Me, Kate and Damn Yankees.

Initially produced at the 46th Street Theatre in 1955, the latter show features lyrics and music by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. It stands out as the only successful musical comedy to depict America’s past and is based on Douglass Wallop and George Abbott’s book titled The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant.

The story concerns middle-aged, happily married Washington Senators fan Joe, who signs a bargain with the devil for his soul in order for his hapless team to win the World Series. Suddenly, Joe becomes several years younger and gains magically enhanced athletic prowess that drives his team to victory. Comedic mishaps, including involvement with the seductive witch, Lola, ensue. The inevitable result is that Joe regains his soul and wife, and his beloved Senators fall just short once again. The musical was a smash hit and earned status as one of a select few to attain more than 1,000 performances.

ChildFund International's Childhood and Youth Programs Provide Hope

The co-owner and vice president of the Professional Development Company, Inc., Joann Baney was named the honorary battalion chief of the New York City Fire Department in 2014. In addition to her professional career, Joann Baney gives back to a number of charitable organizations, including ChildFund International.

Dedicated to helping children affected by poverty, ChildFund International was the first organization to use a sponsorship model allowing people to support a single child. Founded in 1938, ChildFund continues to work with local communities and families and provide immediate relief in the face of droughts, hurricanes, or wars. With a presence in 30 countries throughout the world, it has separate programs for infants, children, and youth, ensuring a focus on each group’s development and long-term goals.

For children from birth to 5 years of age, ChildFund’s infant programs address many different aspects of the early years of their lives, from nutrition and health to child protection and education. With programs in countries such as Senegal, India, Bolivia, and Ecuador, ChildFund educates caregivers and parents in childrearing and spearheads initiatives to provide sanitation and safe water.

Designed for children 6 to 14 years old, ChildFund’s primary school and adolescent programs operate in countries such as Timor-Leste, Mozambique, and Honduras. Taking a whole-life approach to children, these programs ensure economic security for caregivers, promote literacy and education, and provide access to necessary health services.

ChildFund’s youth programs, for those aged 15 to 24, focus on ensuring living wage employment in a non-exploitative environment and providing the tools for a healthy sexual and reproductive life. Through these programs, ChildFund hopes to give youth the chance to create positive differences in their communities and forge a prosperous adulthood.