WITH a deep sense of social responsibility and a willingness to support talented young athletes in The Bahamas, the international Pro Youth Foundation (PYF) proudly announced its baseball and softball equipment drive in conjunction with the PYF HCBU All College Showcase camp to be held on September 26 in Atlanta, Georgia.

The equipment drive will benefit Reloaded Baseball and PYF Bahamas.

For PYF founder Chip Lawrence, this event represents something bigger than collecting baseball equipment - he sees it as an opportunity for young athletes, coaches and the baseball community to give back, as giving back is an important part of growing the game. “Baseball has given so much to so many of us and we believe that we have a responsibility to give something back. Young athletes should have opportunities to participate, develop and pursue their dreams and this should not be determined by financial circumstances or access to equipment," Lawrence said.

"There are talented young players everywhere who simply need access to resources and opportunities that others may take for granted. Supporting Reloaded Baseball in Nassau is another way for PYF to eliminate barriers and grow the game.” 

The upcoming drive collects new or gently used bats, gloves, helmets, cleats, bags and other baseball and softball equipment which will be sent to Nassau for Reloaded.  As the top sports development programme in the country, Reloaded continues to provide aspiring athletes with high-quality athletic training and international exposure to the world of baseball and softball.

Peron Burnside, president of Reloaded, shared his gratitude for the generosity offered to assist Bahamian athletes.

“Reloaded started five years ago to bridge the developmental gap across the country. Fast forward five years later, we have developed and opened doors that were only afforded to the minority in the country," Burnside said. 

"We are humbled and grateful to Chip and the Pro Youth Foundation for acknowledging the hard work that we have put into developing all kids across the archipelago of The Bahamas and shattering boundaries and barriers in the country.”

Burnside said they will continue to be relentless in their pursuit of development and opportunities for all Bahamian kids across baseball and softball. 

"Reloaded is a mindset that we aim to embed across youth baseball and softball in the country, as good is never enough as we are developing tomorrow’s leaders," he said. 

Through initiatives such as the equipment drive, the Pro Youth Foundation will continue its commitment to providing resources and opportunities eliminating barriers and using baseball as a vehicle to positively impact young people and communities.