The May 2016  recipient of Orion Gives Back is the Germantown Baseball League.  Founded in 2009, the Germantown Baseball League is a nonprofit run by parent and community volunteers.  Being 100% volunteer-led enables GBL to provide youth baseball on a recreational and competitive level at an affordable price to over 800 children each year. GBL Board President Kevin Ferguson here answers 4 questions about the league:

When and why did you get involved with GBL?
I’ve been involved with GBL since it’s inception.  I grew up playing baseball in the local youth league in Jackson, Mississippi, and love spending Spring and Summer weekends and weeknights at the ballparks. I have three boys that were all playing in the league, so I was at the fields all the time already. I knew GBL was a well-run league, and I wanted to help out anyway I could.

What motivates you to stay involved?
Two things. One, our awesome volunteers. We are a totally volunteer-led and run organization, and I love serving all of those that dedicate their precious time to the league. Two, watching the players grow up and develop as baseball or softball players, but more importantly, as good people.

In your opinion, what is the most important work that GBL does?
We provide a safe and fun recreational opportunity where boys and girls from age 5 to 18 can enjoy a great sport in a semi-competitive environment, and learn valuable life lessons along the way.

What’s one thing about GBL that you wish everyone knew?
There’s somewhat of a misconception that youth baseball has become all about the competitive, select, travel baseball and softball teams. And while GBL does have competitive travel teams, our largest program by far is our recreational league, where over 800 boys and girls play from February through May in a semi-competitive setting that doesn’t involve the time and resource commitments that the travel teams do.

To learn more about the Germantown Baseball League, visit gblbaseball.org.