When senior Drew Forte and his classmates visited the Rudy Ramirez Little League during their Winter Term Study Abroad program in the Dominican Republic, three things happened immediately. They noticed the pizza boxes and bottle caps that served as makeshift bases and balls, the players’ relentless passion for baseball and how their hearts were immediately stolen by the warm environment the little leaguers created.
Realizing that new equipment could enhance the students’ ability to play baseball, they decided to take immediate action when they returned to Elon.
And sometime next week, precious cargo carrying 200 individual items of baseball gear is scheduled to reach Rudy Ramirez Little League and Bartolo Colon Baseball Camp in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
“Through our broken Spanish and their broken English, we created a connection,” Forte said. “We knew we had the ability to do something — so we made sure we did.”
The cargo represents the students’ fundraising — an effort they began within a week from returning to Elon.
The team launched a GoFundMe page, collected personal donations of baseball goods and sought a way to transport the shipment. It was during this time when Dr. Mark Cryan, assistant professor of sport and event management, informed Forte of Donald Henry, ‘04 who works at CaribEx, a Caribbean Shipping Company.
Forte approached Henry, who admired the students’ efforts to create a direct impact out of their meaningful study abroad experience, and he announced the company would cover the payment required for the shipment.
Henry said Forte’s decision to approach him is an example of the boundless opportunities and possibilities created by alumnus-student collaboration.
“There is such a large network of alumni who are so willing to help students with their projects,” he said. “Never hesitate to reach out.”
With support from CaribEx, the $400 they raised through their GoFundMe campaign could be directed towards buying more equipment.
The Winter Term program, GBL 298 Dominican Republic: Tourism & Baseball, delved into issues of social justice, globalization and U.S. neo-colonialism in the context of specific local practices in baseball and tourism industry and the effect of these practices on the culture, people and international relations.
Sophomore Katie Soraghan, who was also enrolled in the program, said the students’ passion for baseball especially resonated with her.
“If they could play baseball 24/7, they would,” she said. “The hospitality of the culture, the passion they shared with us and how they jump through obstacles just to play baseball — we took all that back with us.”
Forte said something as simple as a base could extend and enhance the students’ playing time significantly.
“They would use their bats and balls until they withered away,” he said. “By having a supply of basic baseball sporting equipment, they can play for a much longer period of time — something we know they are determined to do.”
Forte noted that a common problem in the Dominican Republic is that a love for baseball has been hindering youths’ academic pursuits. The Rudy Ramirez Little League allows students to pursue their passion for baseball while committing to academic requirements and schedules. The students on the league are taught to balance their love for the sport and their academic pursuits.
Forte who plays on Elon’s club baseball team, said he learned much more about the sport through the few weeks he spent with the students.
“To these kids, baseball is life and represents so much hope and that really hit home for me,” he said. “It made me and I’m sure it made everybody else, appreciate what we have. Of course, I’ll be thinking about them when I play the sport myself.”