New Beginning Through Baseball
March 2, 2009
The students of Neuqua Valley are fortunate to have a great facility to call school and a safe environment to grow up and learn in. However, not all children are this fortunate and the Neuqua Valley Baseball team recognizes this through their annual Opportunity Through Baseball organization.
Opportunity Through Baseball raises funds through their annual OTB Banquet for inner city kids from the east side of Aurora and the Aurora Neighborhood Baseball League. Last year, Neuqua students even were able to enjoy a performance by country singer Taylor Swift through a fundraiser OTB organized. This year marked their twelfth year being a part of this effort. “The organization provides positive alternatives to gangs, drugs, and violence. The funds we raise funds that league 100%,” adds head baseball coach Robin Renner. The whole team is involved in this act of kindness. These funds also go towards a camp where fifty kids from the league are brought to Neuqua Valley for a week long baseball camp. The NVHS players coach the 9-12 year olds and their parents help prepare lunch each day of camp. As a final celebration for the kids and the success of the camp, everyone takes a trip to the Cub game at Wrigley field. But this generosity does not end there. The team also donates to Dave Dravecky’s Outreach of Hope, the Aurora Neighborhood Kids Club, and provides pregame meals for the varsity football team at East Aurora High School. “Last year, we were able to provide two $1,500 scholarships to one male and one female East Aurora student,” said Renner.
These acts of giving back to the community what Neuqua knows so well is one of many things that makes a student proud to be a Wildcat and proud of what their school is doing everyday. It is safe to assume that this organization will continue to be a home run in the Neuqua community.
By Hong-Ah Do, staff writer
