By Michael Moran | Development Coordinator
As shared previously, Pitch In For Baseball & Softball was founded in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and remains core to our mission. Over the years, PIFBS has helped dozens of communities and thousands of children return to normalcy following a natural disaster. We have seen firsthand the power of baseball and softball has on a child’s mental health, providing a much needed escape from the chaos. While we have not yet received disaster relief grant requests yet, we have received many emails from partners around the impact of the recent hurricanes along the East coast. However, we unfortunately expect that to change quite soon. With Hurricane Ida wreaking havoc on the eastern United States in the past weeks, there is no doubt that baseball and softball programs have been negatively affected.
Being based out of Pennsylvania, we have seen first-hand the severe flood damage that has affected most of the East Coast. As we watched water rush down the door of our own warehouse, we could only think about the thousands of leagues likely dealing with similar or even worse situations. As seen in the photos provided from local news sources, millions of dollars in damage has put many in a difficult position financially. This along with the challenges already faced from the resurging COVID-19 pandemic, is making this yet another difficult time for struggling baseball and softball leagues. With our strong connections to the East Coast, these disaster relief efforts will be especially meaningful. We are currently collecting information on the extent of the effects on youth baseball and softball, but we anticipate it to be extensive. We will be setting aside all funds received to be used in response to this most recent disaster. By actively working with local contacts in these regions, we will make sure we are supporting the most affected areas. We are prepared to begin helping these programs as early as the end of this year.
Due to the anticipated large scale relief efforts following this hurricane, we have decided to set-up a new project specifically focused on helping these communities. Please check back soon for more information on that fund and how to support the cause. As mentioned, all funds collected here will also be directed to relief efforts in these recently affected regions. With your help, we will be able to minimize the impact of this latest disaster and future disasters on the sports we love. Thank you for your continued support of our mission to ensure no natural disaster keeps children off the diamond.
By Michael Moran | Development Coordinator
By Jonathan Dressler | Director of Development
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