The Keokuk School District recently received a $75,000 Baseball Tomorrow Fund grant to defray the cost of building an indoor baseball/softball practice facility at Joyce Park, Keokuk. Construction is set to begin this spring.
The 80-by-112-by-16-foot facility will feature indoor hitting tunnels and insulation. This will provide athletes with a place to practice during inclement weather, and year-round. It also will support camps and clinics to attract young players and those who are unable to travel for practice and play opportunities, thereby benefiting the entire community in addition to the school district.
“The Baseball Tomorrow Fund is pleased to support the many baseball and softball teams in Keokuk,” said Cathy Bradley, BTF executive director. “On behalf of Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association, we thank the Keokuk Community School District for its efforts to provide the athletic teams a much-needed practice facility and equipment that allows players to succeed and enjoy the game.”
The district is still accepting in-kind and monetary contributions for the project. The Keokuk Community School Foundation has agreed to run fundraising efforts through its organization, allowing monetary donations to be tax deductible.
For more information or to donate, contact Athletic Director Jason Yessak at 524-2542. Checks can be made payable to the Keokuk Community School Foundation, P.O. Box, 431, Keokuk, IA 52632.
About BTF
The Baseball Tomorrow Fund is a joint initiative between the MLBPA and MLB, designed to promote the growth of youth baseball and softball throughout the world by awarding grants to support field renovation and construction projects, equipment and uniform purchases, coaches’ training material, and other selected program expenses.
Since its formation by the MLBPA and MLB in 1999, BTF has awarded more than 900 grants totaling over $30 million to non-profit and tax-exempt organizations in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa and Asia. BTF also facilitates league-wide initatives, including the collection and distribution of new and gently-used equipment to organizations in need as well as field maintenance education clinics.
For more information, visit www.baseballtomorrowfund.com and follow BTF on Facebook, Twitter and MLBLogs.
