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Play Ball! 12-Year-Old From Westchester Raises $20K For Youth Baseball

A big-hearted baseball fan from Westchester is making sure that all kids his age have the opportunity to “play ball.”

Scarsdale resident Evan Schiff, 12, raised more than $20,000 to benefit the Mount Vernon RBI youth baseball program.

Scarsdale resident Evan Schiff, 12, raised more than $20,000 to benefit the Mount Vernon RBI youth baseball program.

Photo Credit: Contributed

Scarsdale resident Evan Schiff, 12, raised more than $20,000 to benefit the Mount Vernon RBI youth baseball program.

Photo Credit: Contributed

Scarsdale resident Evan Schiff, 12, is donating more than $20,000 in brand new baseball equipment, including bats, balls, gloves, helmets, catching gear, and more to help build up Mount Vernon’s RBI youth baseball program. 

“I want kids to be able to enjoy the sport as much as I do,” Evan said. “So, I teamed up with an amazing non-profit organization called Pitch in for Baseball and Softball. They’ve helped me locate teams in need of equipment and have supported my efforts in collecting money to get these under-resourced kids what they need to be able to play.”

Schiff raised the money in partnership with “Pitch In for Baseball and softball,” an organization founded by David Rhode, a former baseball coach with “a mission of bringing down barriers that keep kids from enjoying the game of baseball.”

“Pitch In For Baseball & Softball has been helping kids play ball around the world since 2005,” Rhode stated.  “Over the years, we have had the pleasure of meeting and working with motivated kids who love the game and want to make sure equipment is never a barrier to participation. 

“Evan’s vision was to pair the equipment side with the pure love of the game through a generous donation and an informal pick-up game.  Pitch In For Baseball & Softball is honored to have been able to support Evan in his charitable mission and delighted that we could play a part in helping Mt. Vernon RBI get the gear needed to continue to help kids in the community.”

The enterprising fundraiser is part of his bar mitzvah project, which he plans to celebrate in December. According to his fundraising video, he chose this project because he wanted to share his passion for “America’s Pastime,” which he plays every day.

In total, Schiff raised $8,551 - more than his $5,000 goal - from 74 supporters in the past few months. That money translated into $20,000 in equipment through Pitch in For Baseball.

“Desire and love of the game are universal to kids who play baseball,” Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas added. “Access to equipment is not. Evan’s generosity through Pitch in for Baseball fills the gap. Over the last two years, we’ve fought hard to make sure that youth sports in Mount Vernon are available to everyone who wants to play. This wouldn’t be possible without partnerships with great people like Evan. His hard work and generosity are an inspiration to all of us.”

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