Saving Softball

Sports and other extracurriculars are often the first lines to be removed from school budgets when cutting costs. Earlier this year Opportunity4Kids was contacted by William R. Sullivan Elementary School to help with their newly formed softball team. After years of not having enough players their equipment and uniforms were no longer acceptable for use. They had one big problem, being a Title 1 School with limited resources, the funds just weren’t available to purchase brand new equipment.

Jason Douvikas, the principal at William R. Sullivan’s Murphy Elementary School, contacted Opportunity4Kids through our friends at Valley of the Sun United Way! He explained that for the last several years not enough players had tried out for the softball team causing them to not be able to form a full team. This year things were different, 20 girls tried out for the team and they needed help getting out onto the field.

The old equipment the school had either out of commission or lost to time, they needed to start from scratch and purchase all new equipment. Without having the funds to go out and buy all new equipment on their own, Jason was researching organizations in the community that may be able to provide assistance. That’s where Opportunity4Kids came into the picture. After hearing their story and learning that most of the youth who attended William R. Sullivan lived at, or below the poverty line we knew we could help.

Opportunity4Kids provided William R. Sullivan Elementary School with a check for $5,000 to help fund their softball team. They were able to buy brand new helmets, cleats for every girl, bats, softballs, practice equipment, and uniforms!

When we traveled to the school to present our donation, the staff informed our Operations Director, Nick Crossley, that without the support recieved form Opportunity4Kids, the softball team would not have been able to participate this season!