NORFOLK, Va. - Old Dominion University partnered with the Ripken Foundation, the Kempsville Baseball Club and the Boys & Girls Club today to provide the first ever ODU College Day.
The event took place from 10:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Roughly 75 people total- 50 people from the Boys & Girls Club and 25 from the Kempsville Pony Little League - attended ODU College Day.
Participants watched an Old Dominion baseball inter-squad, and then events at the L.R. Hill Sports Complex varied from an obstacle course to relay races in the morning. Lunch was provided in the Webb Center dining hall, followed by a campus tour. The Old Dominion baseball team provided an Instructional Clinic in the afternoon and ODU baseball head coach Chris Finwood and assistant coach Karl Nonemaker were guests speakers.
The Ripken Foundation partners with: the MLB, Rawlings, Louisville Slugger, Under Armour (among MANY other sponsors).
Mission: The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation helps build character and teach critical life lessons to disadvantaged young people living in America's most distressed communities through baseball and softball themed programs.
History: The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, founded in 2001 by baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr, 12-year Major League Baseball veteran Bill Ripken, and members of the Ripken family. The Foundation honors the legend and spirit of Cal Ripken, Sr., who passed away in 1999. During his 37-year career with the Baltimore Orioles organization, Cal, Sr. was a pioneer for his way of teaching the basics of the game as well as the basics of life to both big leaguers and their youth league counterparts. The traits and lessons passed on by Cal, Sr. - leadership, work ethic, responsibility, and healthy living-are brought to life through a character education curriculum created for at-risk youth.
The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation is reaching out to underserved youth across the country. Through partnerships with youth-serving organizations and schools, the Foundation brings vital life lessons to America's most impressionable population, using baseball as the hook to reach kids.