BTF Funded Youth Field Ribbon Cutting

In 2010, a BTF grant was given to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond to fund the artificial turf and drainage system, infield construction, fencing, earthwork and concrete for a new field to be used by RBI and Rookie League programs.

Cathy Bradley will participate in the ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, September 19 at 4PM. Directly following the ceremony, the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation staff will conduct a youth baseball clinic on the new ball field. Over 100 youth will take part in the clinic. 

“Everyone in attendance will see first-hand how we use the game of baseball to transform attitudes, behaviors and futures of the kids we serve, ” said Chuck Brady, Vice President of Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation. “Baseball provides positive and healthy alternatives to delinquent activities in this high-risk neighborhood.” 

CAL RIPKEN, SR. FOUNDATION PRESS CONFERENCE & RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY AT NEW YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PARK IN RICHMOND

 

 Field to Provide Underserved Youth in the City of Richmond a Clean and Safe Place to Play and Learn

 

WHAT:   Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation will be gifting the new Youth Development Park to the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Richmond – Southside Club.

WHO:    

BILL RIPKEN – 12-year Major League Baseball veteran, MLB Network Broadcaster & Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation Founder

 

STEVE SALEM – President, Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation

 

CHUCK BRADY – Vice President, Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation

 

RICHARD NOVEMBER – Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation

 

TODD McFARLANE – President/CEO, Boys & Girls Club of Metro Richmond

 

CATHY BRADLEY – Executive Director, Baseball Tomorrow Fund

 

BEN TUCKER – Deputy Director, Office of National Drug Control

 

 JANICE WEINMAN – President, Kids In Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.)                             

CHRIS BLAKE – Senior Vice President, Kids In Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.)

 

THE HONORABLE MARLA DECKER – Virginia Secretary of Public Safety

WHEN:  Monday, September 19, 2011

 

                   4 p.m. – Press Conference & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

 

WHERE:  Boys & Girls Club of Metro Richmond – Southside Club

                      2409 Bainbridge Street (Richmond, VA 23225)

 

WHY:  The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation has completed a multipurpose Youth Development Park located at the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Richmond, on the border of the Bainbridge and Blackwell neighborhoods. The field will provide underserved young people in Richmond a safe place to play and participate in character development programs. Kids In Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.) will be providing a truck full of new product during the Richmond ribbon cutting, as well as for additional on-going programs throughout the year.

 

The new complex is designed to host family and community outings and will offer many features to encourage and support daily physical fitness activities for the entire community including a running track and eight exercise stations.

 

This initiative is part of the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation’s “Swing for the Future” campaign, which was developed to provide at-risk youth in select neighborhoods safe places to play and learn.  The goal is to develop several unique, multi-purpose, low maintenance fields with synthetic turf provided by AstroTurf, which will provide a cohesive recreational and educational experience for underserved young people across the United States.