NEWS RELEASE

Office of External Communications

Houston, TX 77204-5017 Fax: 713.743.8199

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 2005

Contact: Marisa Ramirez
713.743.8152 (office)
713.204.9798 (cell)
mrcannon@uh.edu

EDUCATION PROFESSORS FROM UH HELP YOUTH TO PLAY BALL
Sponsorship of Teams and Players Creates Community in Neartown

(HOUSTON, March 1, 2005)— When players from the Neartown Little League step up to the plate this season their fans will be more than moms and dads. They will be professors and staff from the University of Houston College of Education who, for the third year, are sponsoring a team.

“The College of Education has really supported the League,” said Will Weber, a professor in the college’s Curriculum and Instruction department, league president and umpire when called upon.

It casually started three years ago, when Weber solicited donations from a few colleagues so that
low-income youth could afford uniforms and equipment. He and his son were already involved in the league. The response provided enough funds for the College to adopt two teams and also provide scholarships for a few players. A tradition was started.

“Last year, faculty and staff sponsored two teams—the Diamondbacks and the Yankees—and provided scholarships for five players,” said Weber. “This year we’ve raised enough funds to sponsor two teams once again, and provide at least seven scholarships.”

Games are played at Ervan Chew Park on Dunlavy near the Southwest Freeway. Opening day, planned for March 12, will offer hometown fanfare complete with a parade of teams, fire trucks, police cars and music. Weber says it is not unusual for city and county dignitaries to be among the ranks of fans giving a cheer.

“The parade forms at the Fiesta store on Dunlavy near Alabama and then proceeds to the park,” said Weber. “I don’t know who enjoys it more, the kids, the parents or people who live in the neighborhood.”

Sue Lovell, president of the Friends of Ervan Chew Park, credits Neartown Little League and the College of Education with rejuvenating the area that used to be a haven for drug dealers and prostitutes. In fact, the relationship between the College of Education and Neartown Little League has spawned many community projects with UH. Graduate students from the College of Architecture’s Design/Build program built a “store and score” facility at the field. A UH fraternity, Kappa Delta Pi, is collecting books to be distributed to the Neartown players. The Conrad Hilton Foundation—a major supporter of the UH Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management—is providing funds to build a second baseball field in the Neartown area. A UH art professor, Rex Koontz, even manages one of the teams.

“With this kind of support we have been able to fence the outfield, build a batting cage, install a scoreboard and erect a flagpole,” said Weber. “Our field is becoming a pretty nice place to play baseball, and it’s great to see these kids enjoy a great sport and have fun with their families.”

For more information about the UH College of Education, please visit www.coe.uh.edu

About the University of Houston

The University of Houston, Texas’ premier metropolitan research and teaching institution, is home to more than 40 research centers and institutes and sponsors more than 300 partnerships with corporate, civic and governmental entities. UH, the most diverse research university in the country, stands at the forefront of education, research and service with more than 35,000 students.

For more information about UH visit the university’s ‘Newsroom’ at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.