Captain Interviews

Captain’s Interview: Housing for New Hope

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Housing for New Hope

Before our inaugural Durham Softball season, we asked our team captains to answer some questions about their organizations so we can help educate our players on their cause and why their work is important for the Durham community. These are their answers!

Housing for New Hope

Co-Captain’s Name:
Christy Thompson

Job / Title with Non-Profit:
Development Director

Personal Background:
I am a native of North Carolina, having grown up in Tarboro. I attended UNC-CH for undergraduate school and Pfeiffer University for graduate school. I am guardian and primary caregiver for my 13 year old great niece and two fur babies.

Softball Background:
I loved softball in 8th grade. I played in high school a little, and again when employed at a local psychiatric hospital. Since that time, many moons ago, I’ve not had the opportunity to participate in the game. I am an excellent cheerleader though! Heyyy batter batter!!

What do you like most about Housing for New Hope?
I love that Housing for New Hope is bringing awareness and understanding to an issue that can be very uncomfortable to deal with – homelessness. We are responding to the needs of our community by doing outreach to those living unsheltered, helping families move from shelters to a home of their own, and providing necessary supports to those who need to build self-sufficiency skills to live independently. But, my favorite thing is that we are helping to change the common misconception of what homelessness looks like and who it impacts.

Please describe Housing for New Hope and what they do for the Durham community.
Housing for New Hope works to prevent and end homelessness in our community.

What is a specific project/initiative will a contribution from Durham Softball help?
Donations will likely assist one of two programs:

  • Welcoming New Families Home – Help us purchase needed household items for families moving from homelessness to home!
  • Life Skills Management Classes- Provide bus passes and needed class materials (notebooks, pens, binders, etc…) for our tenants add they learn self-sufficiency skills.

Why did Housing for New Hope want to join the Durham Softball League?
We were flattered to be invited to participate in this league. Although we’ve been around for 26 years, we aren’t as well-known as we’d like. Joining the Durham Softball league gave us the opportunity to share our mission with our community and have a little fun in the process!

What would Housing for New Hope do with a $200 donation from Durham Softball? What would they do with a $1000 donation?
A $200 donation would help us purchase 5 welcome kits for families moving into new homes. A $1000 donation would completely furnish a new home for TWO families moving from homelessness to a new home.

Other than your own team, what other non-profit in the Durham Softball League would you want to win the championship? Why?
There are so many wonderful nonprofits in this league. I find value in each of them and feel as though they provide essential services to our community.

Featured Week Donation Item: Bath Towels!

One of the missions at Housing for New Hope is to help the community understand how they can be a part of the solution and be an advocate for our neighbors who have no voice. Things that are often taken for granted by many of us are extremely important to others. Did you happen to get an extra set of bath towels as a present that have been sitting in a closet for months? Re-paint the bathroom and have to get all new matching everything? Order the wrong monogram and/or change your name? We want your new and lightly used Bath Towels! Any new or lightly used bath towels, including hand towels and bath mats, will be accepted.

During one week of the 2018 season, Durham Softball players will have the chance to donate BATH TOWELS to Housing for New Hope. The team that combines to bring the most bath towels will earn a bonus donation for their team’s sponsor! You’ll earn a point per towel and donations will be accepted at the field until the last out of the last game each week.

Thanks for your support!

Captain’s Interview: Girls on the Run of the Triangle

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Girls on the Run of the Triangle

Before our inaugural Durham Softball season, we asked our team captains to answer some questions about their organizations so we can help educate our players on their cause and why their work is important for the Durham community. These are their answers!

Girls on the Run of the Triangle

Co-Captain’s Name:
Mia Xavier

Job / Title with Non-Profit:
Director of Development

Personal Background:
I’ve been a huge baseball fan all my life. Grew up with family tickets to see the Angels, seen many a Red Sox game and their farm team, the Pawtucket Red Sox. Never played softball myself, but my 14 yo son plays baseball and I love being his throwing partner!

What do you like most about Girls on the Run?
I am grateful to be part of a team that helps young girls develop their confidence, grow their character, become more compassionate and caring, and to have an impact on our next generation of women leaders.

Please describe Girls on the Run and what they do for the Durham community.
Girls on the Run of the Triangle is a nonprofit, physical activity-based, positive youth development program for girls in Durham County in 3rd through 8th grades designed to develop and enhance girls’ social, psychological, and physical competencies to successfully navigate life experiences. Our mission is to create a world full of joyful, healthy, and confident girls acting on their values and opportunities. As the name implies, running is a part of the program, but our primary focus is empowerment. Our experience-based curriculum is designed to help girls across the Triangle activate their limitless potential.

What is a specific project/initiative will a contribution from Durham Softball help?
Proceeds from the softball league will go toward our Annual Scholarship Fund. Since our inception in 2000, we have served over 17,000 girls throughout Durham, Orange, and Wake Counties. One in three girls receives scholarship assistance, and in 2018 we will award $115,000 in scholarship funds. It is our priority to ensure that no girl is ever denied the opportunity to participate in one of our programs, regardless of her family’s ability to pay.

Why did Girls on the Run want to join the Durham Softball League?
We seek ways to collaborate with other nonprofits to grow our programs and expand our reach. To us, this is a fun way to meet other nonprofit leaders, learn what issues their work is addressing, and find ways to partner.

What would Girls on the Run do with a $200 donation from Durham Softball? What would they do with a $1000 donation?
The cost of our program is $205 per girl. All funds go directly to our Annual Scholarship Fund, so a donation of $200 would fund one scholarship. A donation of $1,000 would fund (5) scholarships.

Other than your own team, what other non-profit in the Durham Softball League would you want to win the championship? Why?
Preferred not to make a selection

Featured Week Donation Item: Colored Makers/Pencils!

We want people to know that Girls on the Run is not a running program. GOTR is a character-development and empowerment program for girls in elementary and middle school that gives girls the tools and resources to make good choices and life a life of joy, health and confidence. The program includes projects for the girls to complete that require items like colored markers and pencils, so we can help Girls on the Run by helping cover the cost of these supplies. Any new, unused box of colored markers, or any new or lightly used box of colored pencils, will be accepted.

During one week of the 2018 season, Durham Softball players will have the chance to donate COLORED MARKERS OR PENCILS to Girls on the Run of the Triangle. The team that combines to bring the most colored markers/pencils will earn a bonus donation for their team’s sponsor! You’ll earn a point per marker/pencil, rather than per box, and donations will be accepted at the field until the last out of the last game each week.

Thanks for your support!

Captain’s Interview: STEM in the Park

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Before our inaugural Durham Softball season, we asked our team captains to answer some questions about their organizations so we can help educate our players on their cause and why their work is important for the Durham community. These are their answers!

STEM in the Park

Co-Captain’s Name:
Sarah Windsor

Job / Title with Non-Profit:
Director

Personal Background:
I’m am from the area originally, having gone to NCSU for undergrad and UNC for graduate school. Because I’m from here, I am passionate about lifting up under-served students of the area towards interests and careers in the STEM field. My background as a microbiologist lends itself to cool and gross stories about bacteria!

What is your softball experience level?
Minor league for sure. Sitting this season out because our first kid is due in May!

What does you like most about STEM in the Park?
The mission of STEM in the Park is close to my heart as a local product of Wake and Durham County public schools, two local public universities and as a STEM professional myself.

Please describe STEM in the Park and what they do for the Durham community.
The mission of STEM in the Park is to give students, who are traditionally underserved in the STEM workforce, exposure to STEM activities and mentoring with local STEM professionals. In addition, we aim to develop an effective pipeline of exposure and knowledge of real world STEM applications to educators, as well as equip STEM companies and higher education institutions with tools to establish and grow their own outreach events.

In 2017 alone, we served 209 students and 44 educators with programming through our STEM Expos and Educator Externtrips. Since 2014, we have established over 220 community partnerships, served 6,226 students across NC and engaged 1,467 volunteers in over 13,000 hours of service.

What is a specific project/initiative will a contribution from Durham Softball help?
Contributions from Durham softball will help us extend our services to local teachers to include not only more Educator Externtrips (STEM immersion field trips to local STEM companies) but invest in an educator mentoring program with those same local STEM companies.

Why did STEM in the Park want to join the Durham Softball League?
We love the community of RTP and the region! This is chance to have some fun, sweat a little, and contribute towards 10 local organizations that make a positive impact on our city!

What would STEM in the Park do with a $200 donation from Durham Softball? What would they do with a $1000 donation?
A $200 donation will go towards funding local students to attend one of our STEM Expos that happen twice a year! During this event, students interact with local STEM companies through hands-on demonstrations, develop and pitch a STEM product during STEM Tank and can meet and get to know STEM professionals through Speed Mentoring. If you are a STEM professional, looking to get involved in our work, head to our webpage.

A $1000 donation would go towards the establishment of an educator mentoring program through our Educator Externtrips. This would be a time to extend the learnings of a 3 hour experience at a STEM company to longer term meetings with a local STEM employee to transform classroom teaching!

Other than your own team, what other non-profit in the Durham Softball League would you want to win the championship? Why?
We love our musical buddies over at Kidznotes!

Featured Week Donation Item: Brain Food!

Help fill a “STEM in the Park Bag” at our STEM Expos! During each Expo, STEM in the Park gives all students a large bag to collect STEM materials at the event, store business cards of STEM professionals, and take home finished experiments from a fun-filled day of STEM in Research Triangle Park. These bags come pre-filled with essentials the students will need during the day, including snacks. Our goal is to help STEM in the Park fill their student bags with quick, individual-sized portions of various snack foods to feed their students. All individual-sized bags of pretzels, chips, trail mix, goldfish, peanuts, etc. will be accepted.

During one week of the 2018 season, Durham Softball players will have the chance to donate BRAIN FOOD to STEM in the Park. The team that combines to bring the most bags of brain-food-eligible items to give to STEM students will earn a bonus donation for their team’s sponsor! Points will be awarded per bag and donations will be accepted at the field until the last out of the last game each week.

Thanks for your support!

Captain’s Interview: Meals on Wheels of Durham

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Meals on Wheels of Durham

Before our inaugural Durham Softball season, we asked our team captains to answer some questions about their organizations so we can help educate our players on their cause and why their work is important for the Durham community. These are their answers!

Meals on Wheels of Durham

Co-Captain’s Name:
Annette Read & Amia Bullard

Job / Title with Non-Profit:
Community Outreach Director

Personal Background:
Annette Read is the current Community Outreach Director at Meals on Wheels of Durham. She holds a Master of Science in Leadership and Organizational Development from Pfeiffer University. She is originally from Rochester, New York, and relocated to Durham in 2001 with her husband and son. Prior to Meals on Wheels she was the Vice President of Human Resources at Qualex, Inc. a subsidiary of Eastman Kodak Company and after 30 years of service, retired in the summer of 2011. In her current role, she is responsible for volunteer management, recruiting new volunteers and being out and about in our communities speaking about the Meals on Wheels Program and its mission to enhance the quality of life for seniors, people with disabilities and other citizens in our community who are unable to provide proper nutrition for themselves. She has often used the quote from Confucius that says, “Choose a job that you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” hat’s what she has found at Meals on Wheels.

What is your softball experience level?
I grew up playing softball with kids in my neighborhood every weekend. To this day, it is a very fond memory. I also played in my high school softball league.

What does you like most about Meals on Wheels of Durham?
I love the volunteers that help us daily with packing over 450 meals and delivering 31 routes each weekday throughout Durham County. We couldn’t do it with out them!

Please describe Meals on Wheels of Durham and what they do for the Durham community.
Meals on Wheels of Durham, Inc. is a non-profit agency committed to enhancing the quality of life for eligible home-bound adults in our community. Our mission is to serve the elderly, frail, disabled, convalescing and others who cannot provide proper nutrition for themselves. Dedicated volunteers deliver lunches to our clients each weekday, with the objective of improving the nutritional status and health of these individuals. It is our goal that this combination of nutritious meals and social contact will help our clients to remain independent as long as possible.

What is a specific project/initiative will a contribution from Durham Softball help?
Meals on Wheels of Durham delivers a nutritious meal, a safety check and a smile that serves as a lifeline to seniors of limited mobility. This combination goes well beyond fighting the battle against the hunger that threatens one in six of America’s seniors – it provides the support and peace of mind that enable them to remain safely and securely in their own homes as they continue to age. Enabling seniors to stay in their own homes means they remain happier, extend their independence and can stay connected to the communities and surroundings that provide them comfort. The powerful side effect of this result is that it means seniors can stay out of expensive nursing facilities and hospitals. Contributions from Durham Softball will help to pay for food to feed our senior population. $110 will feed a senior for a month!

Why did Meals on Wheels of Durham want to join the Durham Softball League?
Meals on Wheels Durham likes to partner with other great organizations that are in our community. These partnerships are vital and mutually beneficial. It also allows our volunteers to network and have fun together.

What would Meals on Wheels of Durham do with a $200 donation from Durham Softball? What would they do with a $1000 donation?
Our meals cost $5 so a $200 donation with provide 40 meals to seniors in need and $1000 will allow us to provide 200 meals, which would be AWESOME!

Other than your own team, what other non-profit in the Durham Softball League would you want to win the championship? Why?
We are in great company with the other non-profits in the Durham Softball League. We are honored and proud to participate and will be cheering for everyone.

Featured Week Donation Item: Granola Bars!

Granola Bars are a great way to provide a quick and easy snack for a senior who may have trouble cooking their own meal. Also called Breakfast Bars or Nutrition Bars (eg. Nature Valley, Quaker, Kind, etc.), these bars have a long shelf life and provide lots of nutrition in a simple and easy to eat package.

During one week of the 2018 season, Durham Softball players will have the chance to donate GRANOLA BARS to Meals on Wheels of Durham. The team that combines to bring the most Granola Bars to give to our community’s seniors will earn a bonus donation for their team’s sponsor! Points will be awarded per bar, not per box, and donations will be accepted at the field until the last out of the last game each week. Healthy (especially low-sodium) and “chewy” options, please!

Thanks for your support!

Captain’s Interview: Hope Animal Rescue

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Hope Animal Rescue

Before our inaugural Durham Softball season, we asked our team captains to answer some questions about their organizations so we can help educate our players on their cause and why their work is important for the Durham community. These are their answers!

Hope Animal Rescue

Captain’s Name:
Jonah Roby

Job / Title with Non-Profit:
Volunteer

Personal Background:
Born in Fayetteville, NC, I am the husband of the founder/director of Hope Animal Rescue. I do so many jobs within Hope Animal Rescue, from setting up events, to transporting dogs to the vet, home visits and adoptions, and so much more!

What is your softball experience level?
Casual play, nothing remotely professional.

What does you like most about Hope Animal Rescue?
They make a difference to the lives of so many animals, the people who foster, and the families who give them amazing homes!

Please describe Hope Animal Rescue and what they do for the Durham community.
Hope Animal Rescue is a nonprofit organization committed to improving the lives of stray and abandoned pets in North Carolina. We promote compassionate and humane treatment of all animals, regardless of breed or species. We rescue those unlikely to get out of the shelter system alive, and have a heart for the senior dogs and those with medical needs. We are an all volunteer rescue, and all funding goes back to the care of the animals.

What is a specific project/initiative will a contribution from Durham Softball help?
We are starting a community outreach initiative this year, to help residents care for, and hopefully keep their animals. We are working on getting a fund started to assist with medical care, microchipping and spay/neuter.

Why did Hope Animal Rescue want to join the Durham Softball League?
We were approached to participate by someone who knows one of our volunteers. We think it is a great way to have fun outside of the normal ‘job’ of the rescue, bring awareness to what we do, and hopefully meet a lot of wonderful people who share a passion for making a difference.

What would Hope Animal Rescue do with a $200 donation from Durham Softball? What would they do with a $1000 donation?
Either donation would be used for our community outreach fund. That fund will be specific to help people who want to keep their animals, but can’t afford to treat an illness or disease and provide free spay or neuter. We have done this in the past on a smaller scale, but we now have an Outreach Coordinator, whose role will be to focus on making an impact on our community.

Other than your own team, what other non-profit in the Durham Softball League would you want to win the championship? Why?
Meals on Wheels. Their work helps our seniors and home bound citizens. We donate surplus food to them to help people take care of their pets. The organization delivers food for people and their pets – a mission close to our hearts!

Featured Week Donation Item: Dog Toys!

Fido didn’t like the inflatable chicken you bought him? Spike won’t touch that fancy new rope thingy? Petunia thinks she’s too cool for a squeaking tortoise? One of the dogs at Hope Animal Rescue would probably love it!

During one week of the 2018 season, Durham Softball players will have the chance to donate new or lightly used DOG TOYS to Hope Animal Rescue. The team that combines to bring the most Dog Toys to give to the who’s-a-good-boys and girls at Hope Animal Rescue each week will earn a bonus donation for their team’s sponsor! Donations will be accepted at the field until the last out of the last game each week.

Thanks for your support!