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Project will provide field of dreams for children

By Tina Terry, wsoctv.com
By Tina Terry, wsoctv.com

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Major League Baseball players, corporations and Queens University are making an investment in west Charlotte.

A multimillion dollar project will turn a field across from West Mecklenburg High School into a new field of dreams for thousands of kids.

"It's a lot of needs we have over here. I think sometimes, these kids over here don't have hope for the future,” said Jonathan Campbell, a baseball coach.

He grew up in west Charlotte, and his son now plays baseball at West Mecklenburg High. They believe an investment in the field across the street will help kids in the area dream again.

"They have better opportunity to get ahead in life, get to college,” said West Meck senior Justin Campbell.

Jeff Schaefer coaches young kids in baseball, and he’s a former Seattle Mariner. He and some of his Major League Baseball friends came together to form the Knothole Foundation.

It will turn the old Optimist Club Baseball Field into The Tuckaseegee Dream Fields.  It is a $5.7 million project that includes baseball fields and academic complex, and it will offer baseball training, tutoring and academic counseling to underserved youth.

"Can we give them a chance to stay in high school, stay off the streets, stay away from drugs?” Schaefer said.

The baseball team at Queens University in Myers Park will eventually call the fields home.

"So, we remove that invisible barrier,” said Charlotte City Councilman James Mitchell.  He said the project, located less than a mile from the new Amazon complex will help transform the community.

The Campbells hope it forever changes young people here.

The Knothole Foundation has raised about $2 million so far. They’re looking for more help from the community.

So far, the roster of project supporters is diverse. In addition to Major League Baseball, they’ve received support from:

  • National health care providers
  • International law firms
  • Global investment money management
  • Financial service providers
  • Other financial institutions
  • Institutional real estate companies
  • Local, regional and national foundations
  • Nonprofits
  • National retail department stores

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Cox Media Group

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