Third grader sparks effort to gather donations of used equipment, for kids in developing countries
Michael Walter-Dillon sorts through just part of the baseball equipment donated from across the Unionville area. The equipment will be given to young players in developing countries through Oriole Advocates.
Michael Walter-Dillon may look a lot like a typical third grade student, but his efforts in and around Unionville are going to help kids around the world share his passion: baseball.
Michael is a third grader at Chadds Ford Elementary school, has played baseball for both URA and KAU, and is a diehard Phillies fan, and points out that his favorite player is Chase Utley. He got the idea for this community service project to help with the “Cardboard to Leather” program when he attended the Cal Ripken World Series last summer in Aberdeen, MD, and met some members of the Orioles Advocates.
The Advocates are a philanthropic and community outreach organization affiliated with the Baltimore Orioles. The equipment he collected will be distributed by the Oriole Advocates to boys and girls in developing countries who want to learn to play baseball and softball.
Equipment and uniforms were collected at Chadds Ford Elementary, Hillendale Elementary, Pocopson Middle School, UHS and during opening weekend at both URA and KAU baseball. The UHS baseball and softball teams also collected equipment at their tryouts and clinics. The equipment and unforms collected weigh approximately 500 pounds…and the KAU donated enough unused uniform shirts, caps, and socks to outfit at least 15 entire teams of 15 members! Michael will have to sort, inventory and box up all the equipment! The Oriole Advocates will be travelling to Chadds Ford in the near future to pick up the equipment.
