For a fifth consecutive year, the Northwoods League Foundation, in partnership with NWL teams and Official Uniform & Equipment Supplier, Rawlings Sporting Goods, has awarded equipment grants to youth baseball and softball organizations across the Midwest totaling more than $50,000.
“The Share the Glove initiative is a natural extension of the Northwoods League mission,” said Tina Coil, Northwoods League Deputy Commissioner. “Making it easier for kids to participate in youth baseball and softball programs, and hopefully growing these programs, not only enriches the participants’ lives, but the community as well. We firmly believe in the benefits of youth sports participation and appreciate the opportunity to support local organizations across the League footprint.”
Each grant features a collection of Rawlings equipment, including one set of catcher’s gear, ten gloves, eight batting helmets, six bats and one bucket of practice balls.
The Share the Glove initiative supports participation in youth baseball and softball activities throughout Northwoods League communities and was introduced in 2018 as part of the League’s 25th Season Celebration. Annually, Northwoods League affiliates promote the grant and collect applications from youth organizations in their local markets.
The Northwoods League Foundation proudly recognizes the following organizations as this year’s recipients of a Share the Glove equipment grant (local NWL Affiliate listed in parenthesis):
City of Marshall (Battle Creek Battle Jacks – Softball Grant)
Bismarck Rec Council (Bismarck Larks – Baseball Grant)
South Ridge Area Youth Baseball (Duluth Huskies – Baseball Grant)
Proctor Fastpitch Association (Duluth Huskies – Softball Grant)
Bloomer Youth Ball Inc. (Eau Claire Express – Baseball Grant)
St. Peter’s Athletic Club (Fond du Lac Dock Spiders – Softball Grant)
Crivitz Youth Baseball/Softball Association (Green Bay Rockers – Softball Grant)
Alamo Little League (Kalamazoo Growlers – Softball Grant)
Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha (Kenosha Kingfish – Softball Grant)
Russiaville Youth Baseball League (Kokomo Jackrabbits – Baseball Grant)
Coon Valley Area Diamond Club (La Crosse Loggers – Baseball Grant)
Menomonee Falls Little League (Lakeshore Chinooks – Softball Grant)
Farmington Baseball and Softball (Madison Mallards – Softball Grant)
United South Central Education Association/United South Central Baseball & Softball Association –
(Mankato MoonDogs – Baseball Grant)
JP4 Foundation (Minnesota Mud Puppies – Baseball Grant)
Tipton Public Schools (Rochester Honkers – Baseball Grant)
Creston Elementary School (Rockford Rivets – Softball Grant)
Pierz Youth Baseball Club (St. Cloud Rox – Baseball Grant)
Port Arthur Nationals (Thunder Bay Border Cats – Baseball Grant)
Murillo Minor Athletic Association (Thunder Bay Border Cats – Softball Grant)
Traverse Area Girls Softball (Traverse City Pit Spitters – Softball Grant)
City of Dike (Waterloo Bucks – Baseball Grant)
MACCRAY Community Ed and Rec (Willmar Stingers – Baseball Grant)
Halder Community Club Little League Softball (Wausau Woodchucks – Softball Grant)
Pittsville Area Youth Softball (Wisconsin Rapids Rafters – Softball Grant)