Baseballtown Charities Announce Baer Park Fundraising Drive

READING, Pa.----Baseballtown Charities, in conjunction with the Reading Fightin Phils, has announced a fundraising drive that will support the renovation of Baer Park as part of the organization's next step in revitalizing baseball in the City of Reading. Following the successful campaign that resulted in the construction of Lauer's Park, the Baer Park Project is aiming to raise an estimated $75,000 by September with hopes of commencing shortly thereafter. 

Identified by Baseballtown Charities and the City of Reading Parks and Recreation Commission as an area in dire need, Baer Park will be the first among several baseball fields that will be revamped as part of the renovation project. As the first target, Baer Park is in need of fencing, major field renovations, and total bleacher replacement.

"These kids deserve to play in better conditions and their family and friends should be able to watch them play in a better overall environment," said President of Baseballtown Charities Chuck Domino. "With your help and donations, we can help make a difference in the lives of our hometown's youth one baseball field at a time."

Baer Park was named after the 19th Century Reading Railroad magnate George Baer. Located in the 15th Ward of the City of Reading, the park features a lighted baseball field, tennis courts, basketball courts, a playground, a concession stand and a stone field house on its nine acres of land. 

Today, Baer Park is a nerve center of activity in the 15th Ward. On any given day, hundreds of youth can be found using the various attractions or having fun by spending time with friends. Throughout the spring and summer, the park's baseball field is home to numerous city baseball and softball organizations. It is also the home field for junior high teams from the Reading School District. 

Those interested in aiding the cause can donate at the Baer Park page on FundEvents.org, a local 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that allows people to donate to local causes.

Baseballtown Charities, a non-profit 501(c)(3) entity, was founded in 2002 in association with the Reading Phillies in order to keep baseball alive in Reading through charitable donations to underprivileged youth who otherwise wouldn't have the opportunity to play baseball. The organization also pays tribute to Reading's rich baseball history. 

Since its inception in 2002, the Baseballtown trademark has played a necessary part in the baseball community of Berks County. Under the Baseballtown namesake, FirstEnergy Stadium has played host to the High School All-Star Game and the Olivet's Boy's and Girl's Club Championship. Each year, the organization crowns the King or Queen of Baseballtown to honor the past by recognizing that individual's accomplishments and contributions to baseball/softball.

Perhaps the biggest accomplishment the organization has overtaken was the construction of Gordon Hoodak Stadium at Lauer's Park in 2006. Through contributions exceeding $900,000, the youth ballpark was built in a neighborhood that is quickly returning to its glory days. It sits on the grounds of Lauer's Park Elementary School, named for the former stadium where Babe Ruth and Shoeless Joe Jackson both played. The original housed several professional teams and hosted barnstorming tours from 1907-1941. Reading's own baseball legend, the late "Broadway" Charlie Wagner, former Red Sox pitcher and roommate of Ted Williams, began his career there.