In the spring of 2009, Michael Richerson founded the Special Needs Baseball Foundation (SNBF). Richerson sensed a void for special needs athletes, especially children, to participate in sports in West Tennessee. In a matter of weeks, a baseball league was formed that catered to these under-served athletes.
The overarching mission of the Special Needs Baseball Foundation is to provide support and opportunities through baseball for special needs individuals and their families. Across all walks of life, baseball is more than simply a game played between two teams for nine innings. It's an experience for everyone to take in; athletes, families, and casual fans alike. The SNBF hopes to not only provide athletic opportunities for special needs athletes, but also provide a family-friendly atmosphere that encourages camaraderie amongst families, friends, and athletes partaking in the action.
Special needs athletes from 4 years of age and older now have the opportunity to play organized baseball, without the fear of ridicule or steep disadvantage. No one sits the bench or strikes out in this league. Everyone fields, throws, hits, and rounds the bases, with as much or as little assistance as is necessary. Coaches and volunteer teammates provide on-field assistance. Many volunteers participated in helping out the children this year. High school and college baseball teams, family members, and volunteer groups donated time and hard work to make the program possible, which the kids greatly enjoyed.
This past year, an average of 80 special needs kids played in each of the spring and fall league games. All games were played at Tobe Bailey Field located in Jackson, TN. Families drove in from as far as Dyersburg, Selmer, Alamo, and Henderson to have their children participate in the baseball league. Parents and children alike showed up to the games with smiles and eagerness to play.
Richerson sensed that lot of high school age kids were left out of the program, so he decided to expand the league to include another age group of athletes. Starting in the spring, athletes ages 16 and up had the opportunity to play in the Special Needs Baseball Foundation. Richerson's dream is to provide an opportunity for every person who desires to be able to play organized baseball in West Tennessee.
As a part of this dream, Richerson and his team of volunteers are currently in the process of raising money to build a half million-dollar synthetic rubber baseball field. They have received a generous donation from the City of Jackson including a piece of property measuring one acre within the West Tennessee Healthcare Sportsplex. The sportsplex is currently made up of 17 baseball and softball fields and the goal is for the SNBF to have its own field in the sportsplex.
In his passion in running and volunteering with the SNBF, Richerson is hoping to expand the foundation and branch out to other cities and demographics. With the success of the third season, SNBF is growing strong and building to new heights. The SNBF gives kids and now adults an equal opportunity to play, learn, grow, and succeed in life.
The Special Needs Baseball Foundation is a nonprofit organization, under the West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation, supported by the generosity of private donations.
