TLC for KiDS SPORTS

BERKELEY, CA, April 2, 2012 – Non-profit organization TLC for Kids Sports, sponsored by O.C. Jones & Sons, Inc., announced today that construction broke ground for the Las Lomas Outdoor Memorial Classroom.  This is the culmination of a year-long fundraising campaign and school activities in honor of Gavin Powell and Matt Miller, two students who died last year while rafting in a storm-swollen local creek. 

For every Giant home run hit in the 2012 season, California Ford Dealers will donate $100 to the TLC For Kids Sports Program.  California Ford Dealers will be recognized as the sponsor of this feature within a LIVE :10-second drop-in during every regular-season Giants game.  In addition, every Saturday Pre-Game Show and Sunday Post Game Show (hosted by Marty Lurie), a weekly recap and Home Run Tally will be featured.

It was just over a year ago when kids from Eastridge Little League in San Jose were greeted with the sight of a brand new ballfield to kick off the season.  O.C. Jones & Sons completed the full renovation with the complete removal and reconstruction of the existing field, new irrigation, sod, infield, scoreboard, fencing, and associated work.  They also addressed the needs of the dugouts, bleachers, backstop, and more.  An adjacent unused lot was regraded and sodded to create a warm-up and practice area.  After the work was completed, the award winning project brought joy to an underserved neighborhood and a safer place to play for the children of the community.

So, how is the field holding up today?  The makeover of the field is proving to stand the test of time.  We caught up with Eastridge Little League President Jerry Soriano for an interview.

Looking back on the renovation that TLC for Kids Sports and OC Jones did for the field, how is it holding up today?

This is a 360 degree turn from what we had before.  We had ruts in the field and it needed constant irrigation, grass work and things like that.  Compared to what we had prior to the renovation, the field is in great shape.  You’re always going to have rodent problems, but not at the great percentage that we had previous to the renovation.  Everybody loved it that came there.  We scheduled games so that no division got more advantage and used it more than the other.  Of course, as a t-ball field, little kids get it first.

Has the field renovation affected the increase in the number of players or participation in the game?

Definitely!  Our girls program has risen because of this renovation.  Before, we didn’t have a girls division.   We were trying to advertise girls softball for a long time, although we didn’t have the facilities.  At that time, we had to deal with the city parks and they are under their own constraints.

Has the newly renovated field improved the safety of the children?  If so, how?

Yes, that’s the first thing that’s great about it.  Bad bounces, being what they are on a grass field, can inflict some physical harm, but we keep the surface very smooth and neat.  The new field is a whole lot safer than what we had before.

Can you provide an example of a kid whose life may have been changed or improved through sports?

You don’t find that out until later in life.  Our goal is to provide an opportunity for the kids to work on improving their skills.  We connect that with education, connect it to building self-esteem, responsibility, teamwork, and the ingredients that make a kid want to participate in his local community as a better person, especially at the elementary, junior high, and high school levels.  The greatest experience that I’ve had is seeing a kid, maybe 20 years later, who is now a teacher,  a police officer, or has excelled in another way and  comes back to recognize the little league for contributing in his life, where there was once a void.

On the NBC news story you said that “there’s that sense of wonder that a great field presents image-wise to a child” – Do you think that the newly renovated field has affected the self-image of the children that are playing on the field?  If so, how?

When you’re talking about a sense of wonder, when a child’s expectations are elevated under the influence of something that is beautiful, that looks neat to them, that he can share with other players, it makes them feel a lot better about themselves, and about the community.  It’s their first impression of something that exists that’s good in their lives.

We’re very thankful for everything that OC Jones and TLC for Kids Sports have done for us!

Community Invited to Participate on “Volunteer Day”, November 5, 2011, 9am-3pm
 
BERKELEY, CA, October 19th, 2011 – Jenkins Insurance Group, Corporate Partner to non-profit organization TLC for Kids Sports, announced today the final tally of funds raised for the “Hitting Home Runs for Kids Sports” sponsorship program to raise money for youth sports and field improvement.  As a sponsor of the San Francisco Giants on KNBR 680 AM, The Sports Leader, Jenkins Insurance Group donated $50 for every home run hit by the Black and Orange during the 2011 Baseball season to the TLC for Kids Sports Program.  Former San Francisco 49er, Brent Jones, announced on KNBR that 121 Home Runs were hit for a grand total of $6,050 raised for youth sports.  

The fundraising program ran concurrently with a contest, put on by TLC for Kids Sports, for a local youth sports field to be selected for “TLC For a Day”.  A local parent nominated his son’s Little League fields after hearing about the contest on KNBR radio.  To his surprise, he submitted a winning nomination and Tahoe Tallac Little League Fields in Sacramento was selected as the winner of “TLC For a Day”.  The sports field will receive a special “Volunteer Day” whereby it will receive major improvements by TLC for Kids Sports and O.C. Jones & Sons, Inc., a heavy construction firm and leading builder of athletic fields.

Jenkins Insurance Group is sponsoring the “TLC For a Day” volunteer event, as they have been raising money for field improvements throughout the baseball season.  Along with O.C. Jones staff and volunteers, Jenkins Insurance Group’s Sacramento office will be providing a team of volunteers to make improvements to the Tahoe Tallac Little League Fields 7051 San Joaquin Street, Sacramento on Saturday, November 5, 2011 from 9am-3pm.  The entire community is invited to participate.  Invited guests include public officials, community representatives, and celebrity athletes.  Vicky Galindo, National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) All-Star and Olympic silver medalist, has confirmed her attendance that day.  Read Vicky’s biography here.   

“Hitting Home Runs for Kids Sports’ and ‘TLC For a  Day’ not only allows us the opportunity to raise funds but also allows for our company and employees to do something positive for our community and get involved directly at volunteer work days at the current field improvement projects," said Curt Perata, President of Jenkins Insurance Group. "We have had a business partnership with O.C. Jones & Sons, Inc. for over 50 years.  We are thrilled to extend our relationship into the valuable work that TLC for Kids Sports is providing to Northern California youth and its communities."
 
TLC for Kids Sports, a non-profit community outreach effort aimed at improving Bay Area youth sports, was created in 2009 by O.C. Jones & Sons, Inc., an engineering and construction firm.  As a demonstration of the company’s commitment to local neighborhoods and its interest in improving areas where its employees work and live, O.C. Jones & Sons, Inc., in partnership with KNBR 680 AM, created a contest for local youth sports fields to be selected and fully renovated in hopes to create a positive long lasting impact on local youth.

Eastridge Little League in San Jose was the first school to have its field renovated in April 2010.  Following, began the organization’s second year with entrants submitting essays and photos to nominate their community ballpark or field.  Each month, finalists were selected and announced.  In August 2010, KNBR 680 AM and O.C. Jones & Sons, Inc. announced its second recipient, the Antioch Little League Fields.  Work done on the Antioch Little League Fields was completed this spring and was celebrated with a grand re-opening and ribbon cutting ceremony on April 2, 2011.

“Launching our new ‘TLC for a Day’ sponsorship program has given us a way to expand opportunities for other local companies to get involved with a field improvement project,” said Kelly Kolander, Founder of TLC for Kids Sports. “We are extremely appreciative to have Jenkins Insurance Group on board and we invite other like-minded companies in the area who want to get involved with the community by improving youth sports facilities.”
 
About TLC for Kids Sports
TLC for Kids Sports, sponsored by O.C. Jones & Sons, Inc., is a non-profit corporation focused on community outreach with an aim to improve kids’ sports throughout Northern California one field at a time.
 
During a time of economic uncertainty, O.C. Jones & Sons, Inc. was seeking to promote some uplifting news amidst increasing budget woes felt throughout the country.  O.C. Jones & Sons, Inc., a heavy construction firm and leading builder of athletic fields, found the perfect opportunity to help those in need by sponsoring the TLC for Kids Sports program.  Through the program, O.C. Jones & Sons, Inc. partnered with KNBR 680 AM, The Sports Leader, to hold a special contest.  The winner would receive a new ball field.

For more information, visit TLC for Kids Sports’ new website at:  www.TLCforKidsSports.org  
 
About Jenkins Insurance Group
Jenkins Insurance Group (www.jenkinsinsgroup.com) is a full-service, integrated business insurance company providing risk management, property and casualty insurance, and employee benefits programs to clients throughout northern California. Due to relationships and long-term value, Jenkins has grown into one of the top insurance brokers in America. An affiliate of The Leavitt Group – with 115 independent insurance agencies in 14 states, and $1.5 billion in annualized premiums – Jenkins maintains local ownership and management while providing an even greater range of resources and services –an approach it has practiced for more than 70 years.

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Contact:  Jennifer Sebay                                                                             
Tel: 510-809-3421
Cell Phone:  510-684-6939
Email: JS@TLCforKidsSports.org