April 18, 2016

SVSU free youth sports clinics receive boost from Michigan Baseball Foundation grant

Saginaw Valley State University will be able to supply new equipment to youths who participate in SVSU’s free, year-round athletics camps, thanks to a Michigan Baseball Foundation grant.

The $6,420 grant will support purchasing sports equipment more suitable in size for youths attending the Community Youth Days clinics SVSU offers in baseball, softball, football, volleyball, basketball, soccer, tennis, golf, and track and field.

“Our goal is to improve the experience of the youth who attend the clinic, which will be enhanced and improved by providing age-appropriate equipment,” said Angela Pohl, SVSU associate athletic director.

For the past seven years, SVSU has hosted 700 K-8 school-aged youths each year. SVSU coaches and student-athletes host the hour-long clinics. The Michigan Baseball Foundation grant — and the equipment it buys — will help SVSU boost continued interest in sports among the participants, Pohl said.

“Instead of trying to hit, catch, kick and swing with equipment that is either not available or too big, youth can experience success with bats, gloves, golf clubs, balls and racquets that are size and age-appropriate,” she said.

“The rate of success with age-appropriate versus collegiate equipment will be dramatically improved, and with an improved experience, a child is more likely to attempt the sport again.”

SVSU Athletics has received numerous awards for its youth outreach programs. The department most recently received the Community Engagement Award from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) for the 2014-15 academic year. SVSU has received the award three times in its seven-year history; three other times, SVSU has been honored by the NCAA for its community engagement.

The Michigan Baseball Foundation was established to bring affordable, family-friendly entertainment to the region. Through the Great Lakes Loons and Dow Diamond, the foundation aims to revitalize and reinvigorate the region as well as promote greater economic and civic prosperity.

The foundation received initial funding from the following sources: Dow Corning Corporation, The Dow Chemical Company Foundation, The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, The Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation, The Charles J. Strosacker Foundation, and The Bill and Linda Stavropoulos Foundation.