LONE TREE INSTITUTE INC Information

The Lone Tree Institute supports youth and young adult community baseball teams that help kids, teenagers and young men develop a sense of achievement, both individually and as a team, essential for a strong community. To players, baseball and soccer represent a supportive and organized activity, and a source of pride, sense of achievement, and fun. Between 2005 and 2010, we supported six teams from the semi-rural areas near the Richard B. Gladstone community library. We sponsored the 25-player teams with new uniforms, baseball equipment, cleats, and a stipend for travel to and from games or matches. The cleats and equipment are donated by individuals, companies, and the nonprofit Pitch in For Baseball. We involve the community in each project and encourage community initiative. For example, the manager, coaches and support staff are usually community volunteers. They are therefore invested in the program and have a positive effect on the players. We also choose which teams to support based on the team's initiative to seek sponsorship and it's effort at self-organizing. During 2010-11, we supported two teams simultaneously for the first time. In the near future, we hope to support multiple local teams of different age levels. We were able to do so becuase we began a working relationship with the nonprofit Pitch In For Baseball. Based in the United States, the organization donates new and lightly-used baseball equipment to players in need around the world.