Happy Friday everyone! What a week it has been at BTF – full of field grand openings, site visits, airport terminals and preparation for the upcoming Equipment Day initiative!

We kicked off the week – beating the Monday blues – by heading to Hendersonville, Tennessee for the grand re-opening of the home baseball field of Hendersonville High School (HHS). The school received a grant of $47,366 to help fund the renovation of the field after it was damaged by the region’s devastating flood in May 2010. Over two hundred players from the varsity, JV and middle school teams will benefit from the beautiful, first class field…talk about home field advantage!  It was a wonderful evening featuring past, present and future players from Hendersonville, representatives from the Nashville Sounds and ceremonial first pitches thrown by five HHS Hall-of-Famers. What a perfect way to start the week – gorgeous sunset and all. 

Next, we ventured to Versailles, Kentucky for the grand opening and field lighting ceremony at Woodford County Park. The BTF grant recipient, Woodford Parks Foundation, was awarded close to $70,000 to provide funding for the installation of Musco Sports lighting equipment on a newly constructed softball field. This lighting will help support and progress the growth of softball programs for over two hundred and fifty girls who participate in seventeen summer leagues, middle school, high school and travel teams. In the eyes of BTF, this was the perfect way to celebrate the first official day of spring; softball and celebrating!  

BTF is off tomorrow to Houston for an event with grant recipient South Houston Little League and to Kauffman Stadium for a Field Maintenance Clinic with the Kansas City Royals! Can’t wait to give you guys the full run-down next week but be sure to “like” us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for live updates and photos. 

Have a great weekend!

-Elizabeth

Hi everyone, reporting to you from the intern pod on my second day of work at the Baseball Tomorrow Fund (BTF). I thought it appropriate to introduce myself, as you’ll be hearing from me frequently in the coming months.

Well first of all, my name is Elizabeth and, although I have a million nicknames, let’s stick with Elizabeth. I was born and raised in metropolitan Boston (go Red Sox!) and I recently graduated from Fairfield University in Connecticut where I majored in Communications and French. I managed to keep myself busy at school by participating in service trips, studying abroad in Paris and joining the club hockey and tennis teams. I moved to The Big Apple this September to complete a competitive training program with one of the top PR firms in New York. Although it was a wonderful experience, I yearned for an opportunity that felt more like “me.” So I consider myself extremely fortunate, and am so thrilled, to be here at the Baseball Tomorrow Fund – where my love of sports and philanthropy collide.

I look forward to learning the ins and outs of all the wonderful work BTF does, the grant process, working on projects like the Equipment Day initiative and sharing BTF information on our social media outlets. Make sure to regularly check our Twitter and Facebook  because I’ll be updating you on all things BTF. Fun photos, articles and stories will of course be shared. So here’s to the Baseball Tomorrow Fund…let the games begin!

Talk to you soon!

-Elizabeth

Upcoming BTF events:

- Saturday 3/17 Grant Recipient Field Opening @ Family Christian Academy - Baton Rouge, LA

- Monday 3/19 Grant Recipient Field Opening @ Hendersonville High School – Hendersonville, TX

- Tuesday 3/20 Field Opening @ Woodford County Park for Grant Recipient Woodford Parks Foundation – Versailles, KY

BTF in the News:

http://theadvocate.com/sports/preps/2330572-123/family-christian-to-unveil-new

 http://www.wkrn.com/story/17160836/major-league-baseball-helps-restore-flood-damaged-field

Each year, the Baseball Tomorrow Fund collaborates with Major League Baseball Clubs to supplement their existing equipment collection programs and/or help facilitate the creation of new programs.2012 marks the eighth season of the BTF/MLB Equipment Day program!

Each Club hosts an equipment drive at the stadium and fans are invited to donate new and used equipment, which will benefit a local organization. A list of the confirmed collection dates are below. Visit our website often as more dates are confirmed!

Atlanta Braves (June 30-July 1)

Baltimore Orioles (September 9)

Boston Red Sox (June 22-24)

Cincinnati Reds (August 5)

Colorado Rockies (July 14)

Houston Astros (May 20)

Miami Marlins (June 30)

Milwaukee Brewers (June 29-July 5)

New York Mets (August 25)

Philadelphia Phillies (August 12)

Pittsburgh Pirates (August 24)

San Francisco Giants (June 2)

Seattle Mariners (July 14)

Toronto Blue Jays (May 19)

Washington Nationals (June 3)

Strong wind gusts and rain did not prevent Ferris, TX residents from coming out to Mutz Park to celebrate the official opening of two youth baseball fields on February 28.

Nearly 75 supporters attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony, including City Council Members Dr. James, Starr, Carol Wright, Gary Ross, Jay Walsh, Michael Driggars, and former City Council Members, Bill Dunn and Bill Pardue.

“Without the support and hard work of the many workers, volunteers and parents, this project would not have become a reality,” said City Council Member Dr. James Starr. “We are grateful for the contribution of the Baseball Tomorrow Fund and look forward to many, many kids playing on these fields for years to come”.  

The renovated fields will serve the Ferris Baseball & Softball Association (FBSA) and support its initiative to expand programs to 280 boys and girls. The completion of the project will facilitate the creation of a fall baseball league and will allow FBSA to become the North Ellis County hub for a Challenger Division for children with disabilities. In addition, FBSA will offer a junior girls summer softball tournament for 13-15 year olds.

To view more photos of the ceremony, click here.

Before - July 2010