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Three civic organizations, led by the Kiwanis Club of Homestead-South Dade, raised $3,000 to form and support two girls softball teams at J.D. Redd Municipal Park in Homestead.
“This is a fantastic community-wide effort,” said softball coach Carlos Garcia of Homestead Youth Baseball, part of the non-profit Student Athlete After School Program. “This donation will enable us to field two teams to compete with nearby teams in a competitive manner.”
Before the fundraising efforts led by Homestead Councilmember Erica G. Ávila, immediate past president of the Homestead-South Dade Kiwanis and Lt. Governor for Division 26 of the Florida District of Kiwanis, girls competed on co-ed teams, a situation most parents didn’t support.
“The girls should be practicing and competing separately in order to train and play appropriately within their age groups,” Ávila said. “I heard from parents who wanted options for their vulnerable teenage girls to play on all-girls softball teams here in Homestead, but unfortunately there are no other options locally. The nearest team is in Monroe County as far away as Islamorada and some of those parents are currently making that commute for their kids. This gives them an opportunity to play and practice on a team here in Homestead.”
Ávila approached fellow Homestead Councilmember Larry Roth, head of This Is For The Kids Inc, and the Rotary Club of Homestead and the two organizations each donated towards the total of $3,000.
The money, presented at a recent “home plate” ceremony at J.D. Redd, will pay for uniforms, equipment, transportation, field and umpire fees and end of the season trophies/plaques.
“This is a perfect example of the community coming together for a good cause,” Roth said.
For more information on the softball program, visit HomesteadYouthBaseball.org or contact Garcia at 786-302-9426.
