Cincinnati, Ohio – Through its William Powell Company Foundation, Powell Valves made a donation to help sustain the West End Reds/TS Bulls, an inner city youth baseball club near downtown Cincinnati, which consists of six baseball teams for boys and girls (ages 4-13).

The club’s plight was detailed in a Cincinnati Enquirer story in late April. The newspaper reported that the West End Reds/TS Bulls needs a minimum of $12,000 a year to operate – for uniforms, equipment, field fees, trophies, travel, etc. While the Cincinnati Reds Community Fund provides a majority of the club’s support, the club was $3,000 short last year and was falling further behind this year.

A GoFundMe campaign then raised $10,390 for the club, with donations ranging from $5 to $2,500 in April and May.

“One of our executives, Tim Fries, and I read the article, and we were touched by the story,” Randy Cowart, Powell’s president, CEO and chairman, said. “We are huge baseball fans, plus this club is great for the boys and girls in the West End. Coach Fred is using baseball as the vehicle to prepare young men and women for adulthood; we could not be more proud of the players, parents and coaches.”

Fred Carnes, CEO of the West End Reds/TS Bulls, said the Powell and GoFundMe donations will make a huge difference for the teams. For instance, the boys and girls will be able to get new uniforms. The funds will also help the team members’ families.

“With a lot of my kids, their parents don’t have the means to pay fees; we work with them every year, and they get them to us when they can,” Carnes said. “We’re now looking at possibly lowering our fees so that they’re more affordable for the parents.”

Carnes, who has been involved in youth baseball for 25 years, said he is thankful for the community’s response, including Powell’s contribution.

“I know baseball is important to a lot of Cincinnatians, but I didn’t know that community-level baseball was that important,” he said. “People just came from everywhere to help.”

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