PIFBS Disaster Relief Fund

Although not a true "Natural" Disaster, COVID has wreaked havoc on the US and the world. Everyday life has changed for us all. Some things will never be the same. People from a lower socioeconomic background have been even more impacted due to loss of wages. The adverse effects of COVID truly seem unbound in many ways. Often neglected, because it's not an immediate glaring economic or social statistic, are the lives of our children. They can no longer just go outside an play. Parks and playgrounds have been closed. Sports and leagues have been canceled. But, we have adapted and evolved. New rules have been created as life presses onward. Children need a safe outlet for physical activity during the pandemic. This is rather difficult with many sports but baseball and softball are different. They provide a more unique opportunity with natural social distancing for the majority portions of respective games. That being said, there are new safety guidelines from the CDC that require children to use his or her own equipment (no sharing) in addition to other proper rules that create a safer, sanitized environment so that children may enjoy baseball and softball.

With all of this in mind, Pitch In For Baseball and Softball has ramped up its efforts to provide the necessary equipment to the kids we support. Our demand has essentially increased three times due to these new restrictions but we have continued to provide a 100% grant rate to any qualified applicant(s). This is a remarkable statistic that we are extremely proud of and grateful to our donors, several who utilize GlobalGiving to double their giving impact. Many organizations and teams that we support were forced to cancel their seasons in 2020 but we have been working with them to ensure they are properly equipped for 2021. Our hope is that because they are equipped with all of the necessary equipment, they will be assured that there will be a season to celebrate this year.

Highlights

Local Philadelphia Drive-Thru Distribution

PIFBS provided more than $100,000 of baseball and softball equipment for 75 schools and teams from the Greater Philadelphia area at a Drive-Thru Event at our offices in Harleysville, PA this past November. Because these teams are now properly equipped and that no players will have to share equipment, they are much more likely to be able to compete and enjoy a season in 2021.

Logan's First At Bat

Logan's Mom, like many of us, needed a safe outdoor activity for him to enjoy. Kids have been unable to enjoy the outdoors like they normally do let alone participate in organized sports. Logan never played baseball and could not afford proper equipment. Thanks to a grant to his local little league in the State of New York, he was able to join a team. Logan not only love it but discovered that he was pretty good at baseball. He even hit a homerun this year! This could have never happened without the generosity of donors that support Pitch In For Baseball & Softball. Providing equipment to kids in need so that they can get outside and safely play baseball or softball in a pandemic environment is our goal for this project. With your help, it has been a tremendous success!