Press Release Austrian Baseball Federation/Baseball Tomorrow Fund
VIENNA/ATTNANG-PUCHHEIM, AUSTRIA (March 6, 2012) – The Austrian Baseball Federation announced today that it was recently awarded a grant in the amount of $104,465.75 from the Baseball Tomorrow Fund (BTF). The grant will support the erection of a new youth baseball field at the USD Athletics Ballpark in Attnang-Puchheim, which serves as one of the premium quality academies in Austria.
Starting in spring of 2012 the existing ballpark, that features an international baseball field (European Cup Qualifier 2009 and 2011, European Championship Juniors Qualifier 2010), will receive a new youth baseball field. The first stage of the project includes the construction of a playable field with dugouts which is planned to be finished as soon as fall of 2012. The new youth field will boost the existing local youth program and provide a high quality field to help the advancement of central region players. With only one field available in the past, organizing international youth tournaments and the growth of school programs and city leagues was hindered due to limited practice times and field availability.
“It is a big honor for us being chosen as one of the supported projects worldwide. Of course this is a great chance for Austrian Baseball and youth baseball in this region to grow and get more boys and girls involved in our beloved sport. We want to thank Cathy Bradley and the Baseball Tomorrow Fund for understanding how important this project is for the development of youth Baseball in our region.” said Rainer L. Krankl, Vice President Finances of the Austrian Baseball Federation.
“The Baseball Tomorrow Fund appreciates the Austrian Baseball Federations commitment to youth baseball and softball in its community. We are pleased to support the continued growth of baseball in Austria and across Europe.” added Cathy Bradley, Executive Director of the Baseball Tomorrow Fund.
Other national baseball and softball federations to receive a BTF grant include the French Baseball Softball Federation (2008), the South African Baseball Union (2009) and BaseballSoftballUK Ltd. (2012).
Regular updates of the project status and more information on the development of the new youth field can be found at http://kids.athleticsbaseball.at. The Austrian Baseball Federation is still accepting in-kind and monetary contributions. Those interested in donating to the project may contact Mr. Rainer L. Krankl at +43-676-400-3366 or rainer.krankl@baseballaustria.com.
About the Baseball Tomorrow Fund
The Baseball Tomorrow Fund (BTF) is designed to promote the growth of youth baseball and softball throughout the world by awarding grants to support field renovation and construction projects, equipment and uniform purchases, coaches training material and other selected program expenses. Since its formation by Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association in 1999, BTF has awarded approximately 600 grants totaling more than $21 million to non-profit and tax-exempt organizations in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia. Approximately 300,000 youth players have benefited from programs and facilities supported by the fund. BTF also facilitates league-wide initiatives including the collection and distribution of new and gently used equipment to organizations in need as well as field maintenance education clinics. For more information, visit www.baseballtomorrowfund.com and follow BTF on Facebook, Twitter and MLBlogs.
About the Austrian Baseball Federation
The Austrian Baseball Federation (ABF) was founded in 1983 and serves as the governing body of Baseball and Softball in Austria. As a non profit organization the ABF´s goal is to grow Baseball and Softball in Austria and spread the sport especially among young people. Under the organization of the ABF numerous youth leagues for kids in all age groups are played throughout the country as well as the annual national championships where Austria’s best youth Baseball team is crowned in categories 10U, 13U, 15U and 18U. The ABF also initiated three academies that are based in the eastern, central and western parts of Austria. Those academies serve to develop the top level talents of the country. The central academy is based in the town of Attnang-Puchheim, where the existing ballpark will be upgraded with a new youth field due to the support of the Baseball Tomorrow Fund.
