June 24, 2011

LifeLink International
Matanzas Baseball Players and Parents bring smiles to 155 students with donations to the LifeLink School in Nicaragua.

LifeLink students are very excited about donated baseball equipment Matanzas high school baseball parents and players came together to donate baseball equipment, uniforms and vitamins for 155 students at the LifeLink School in Ciudad Sandino, Nicaragua. LifeLink International President, Mike Turner along with his grandson, JV Pirate, Tyler Walls, presented the equipment to the children during a baseball and soccer clinic on the week of June 13. The kids were excited to have such nice equipment and couldnt wait to try it all out, said Deborah Turner, Executive Director of LifeLink International. Baseball is the national sport in Nicaragua unlike most Latin countries where soccer reigns supreme. The children often use sticks and play barefoot or in flip flops due to a lack of equipment. LifeLink had the idea to solicit used equipment and decided to reach out to the Matanzas Homerun Club for donations. There was a huge response to the request and we were able to collect about 15 gloves, 10 bats, 15-20 batting helmets, two sets of catchers gear and enough baseball uniforms to outfit several adult teams, said Brooke Walls, who coordinated the drive.

Special thanks to all the Pirates players and families who donated. These included the Lentino family, Danyus family, Stuart family, Colaluca family, Sovia family and OKeefe Family. Special thanks to Michael Screder and family for the donation of all the baseball uniforms from FPC. Also thanks to Ryan Sovia who purchased and donated multiple bottles of childrens vitamins to the school. Each child gets one vitamin daily to help in their daily nutrition because many students only eat one healthy meal a day, which is provided at the LifeLink school. LifeLink International is a non-profit organization based in Palm Coast, Florida working in Nicaragua providing education and aid to some of the countrys poorest children. LifeLink founders Michael and Deborah Turner believe that often times what separates those that have from those that have not is simply education and opportunity. They are committed to providing both in the fight to end poverty and illiteracy through the many works of LifeLink International. The LifeLink school is located in Ciudad Sandino, Nicaragua and has 155 students from age 3-7. If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities, LifeLink offers student and classroom sponsorships to fund the daily operations of the school. For more information please visit the website at www.lifelinkint.org.

Tyler Walls (JV Pirate) distributes vitamins donated by Ryan Sovia (JV Pirate)

After a hard weeks work the team takes some time to play around.