Pirates Charities announces “Fields for Kids” second round grant recipients for 2012

Pirates Charities, the official philanthropic arm of the Pittsburgh Pirates, today announced the recipients of the “Fields for Kids” matching grant program for the summer of 2012. This marks the second of three grant cycles for the program as the first round of grants were distributed in June and the third and final round of 2012 grants will be issued in September.

A total of 25 youth baseball and softball organizations located in Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio have received grants from Pirates Charities in 2012 to help ensure their programs continue to thrive.

“We are proud to match the efforts of local community organizations and to raise funds to pull these high impact projects together,” said Bob Nutting, Chairman of both the Pirates and Pirates Charities. “We have now issued more than 100 grants to deserving youth organizations in the four years since we launched our ‘Fields for Kids’ program. These grants not only improve playing facilities, they help to ensure that thousands of area youth have the opportunity to focus on productive activities and positive interaction with their peers, coaches and parents.”

The positive impact can readily be seen in Allegheny County, as 13 total organizations received “Fields for Kids” matching grants to this point in 2012.

2012 Second Round Grantees in Allegheny County are:

The Cobra-Carrick Overbrook Baseball Recreation League will utilize funds to renovate a field that has not been usable since 1999. The group, in partnership with the Birmingham Foundation, will overhaul the field and complete work including tree removal, infield maintenance, batting cages, fencing and replacing dugout benches.

Bellevue Avalon Baseball Association will replace dirt with sod on infields, install a new backstop and do general maintenance to upgrade fields to comply with safety standards. More than 160 players take part in the 11-team league.

The Pitcairn Borough will utilize their grant to upgrade drainage and purchase new bleachers and fencing for their 10-team league. And the Kennedy Baseball Association will add outfield fencing where there currently is none in order to improve safety for the more than 220 players who take part in the league.

A total of 10 other counties throughout Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio were recipients of second round grants, including South Union Township in Fayette County, which is home to more than 50 teams and over 600 children. The group will receive a grant to assist with renovations to infields at the four-field complex.