SB Receives Grant from the Baseball Tomorrow Fund

SOUTH BEND SCHOOL DISTRICT RECEIVES GRANT FROM THE

BASEBALL TOMORROW FUND

GRANT FUNDS AWARDED FOR CHENEY PARK FIELD RENOVATION

South Bend, Wa. -- October 24, 2017 -- South Bend School District was recently informed it has been awarded a grant in the amount of more than $48,000 from the Baseball Tomorrow Fund (BTF), which will provide funding toward the renovation of the ball field at Cheney Park, located in South Bend.

In the 2016-17 school year, South Bend re-instituted the baseball program after 30 years.  In addition, the district started a girls fastpitch program.  The school district partnered with the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation (CRSF) from Baltimore, MD to complete the renovation of the field at Cheney Park. 

Field construction at Cheney Park located in South Bend, Wa

With major funding from the Ben B. Cheney Foundation in Tacoma, WA, as well as CRSF, the field will feature a synthetic turf infield to accommodate both high school baseball/fastpitch programs and community baseball/softball youth programs.  The BTF grant will provide funding for fencing, field equipment and bleachers.

"We are very excited to be selected for the BTF grant," said Jon Tienhaara, Superintendent of South Bend Schools.  "The Baseball Tomorrow Fund operates a highly competitive grant program, and they do outstanding work all over the United States and around the world."  "SW Washington is known for unpredictable and extremely wet conditions throughout the year, making our new synthetic field vital to our program development."  "We are pleased to partner with BTF to help better the baseball and softball opportunities for kids in South Bend and around the Willapa area."

Field construction began in early October and the major field components are on-track to be completed early November.  

"The Baseball Tomorrow Fund is proud to partner with the South Bend School District to support its efforts to provide quality playing fields and programs," said Cathy Bradley, Executive Director of the Baseball Tomorrow Fund.  "On behalf of Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association, we thank the school district, the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, and the local foundation support of this much-needed project that will serve the young ballplayers in South Bend and the surrounding communities."

South Bend School District is still accepting in-kind and monetary contributions for its baseball/fastpitch programs and facilities.  Those interested in donating to the project may contact Jon Tienhaara at 360-875-6041.

About South Bend School District

Located along the Willapa River in rural Pacific County, South Bend School District serves over 650 students preschool through 12th grade in South Bend, Wa.  In 2016, the South Bend School Board of Directors re-instituted high school baseball and started girls fastpitch, which held their inaugural season with an all-away schedule during the Spring of 2017.  South Bend will open their 2018 season this coming March with the completed home field at Cheney Park located in South Bend, Wa. 

About the Baseball Tomorrow Fund

The Baseball Tomorrow Fund (BTF) is a joint initiative between the Major League Baseball Players Association and Major League Baseball 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 1,000 grants totaling over $32 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 initiatives 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 baseballtomorrowfund.com and follow BTF on Facebook and Twitter.