The Ripken Foundation was joined by McWane, Inc. and the Joseph H. Firth Youth Center to reveal updated plans for McWane Field, a brand-new field for underserved youth in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, and celebrate the amazing partners making this project possible. Among the 75 esteemed guests in attendance was Baseball Hall of Famer Goose Gossage, who threw out the first pitch to a local 5th grader from Firth Youth Center.
"When we started the Foundation in 2001 to honor our dad, we could never have imagines the reach and impact we would have," said Hall of Famer and Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation co-founder Cal Ripken, Jr. "The growth and success of the Foundation is largely because of the partners who have helped us along the way. Partners like McWane, Inc. and the Firth Youth Center. Because of them and in partnership with them we are able to respond to the need of local communities like Phillipsburg. This park will make a real difference to the community, and I am thrilled that plans continue to move forward."
This multi-sport field will be the first-of-its-kind in New Jersey, providing 65,000 square feet of space to accommodate various youth programs, such as baseball/softball, flag football, and soccer. With this new state-of-the-art field, we will provide a safe, supervised space offering local youth the opportunity to stay active and have fun.
Firth Youth Center Executive Director Kelly Post-Sheedy recited words of inspiration from the Youth Center's founder, Elizabeth Firth-Wade, highlighting the impact of this field and encouraging the community to enjoy it. "...it is with the hope that all young people of the town, rich and poor, are going to use it. Instead of meeting on street corners, meet here and see what it has to offer... If you will all promise to do this, you will make me feel that I have done something worthwhile for the town. Make me happy and make it a great success."
Read more about this partnership in Tapinto Phillipsburg's article here. To learn more about our Youth Development Park initiative, click here.