B.C. couple working to restore field in honour of late son get assist from Blue Jays
Photo credit: https://www.castanet.net
Last year, Jeff and Melissa Taylor set out to restore a baseball field in their hometown of Summerland, British Columbia. They were doing so in order to honour their son Hendriks, who passed away earlier that year. Now, the Blue Jays have offered some assistance.
On Sunday, the Summerland Minor Baseball Association was awarded $185,000 from the Blue Jays Field of Dreams Foundation. Jeff and Melissa Taylor had been informed earlier, but were asked to keep it under wraps until last weekend's announcement.
It was so exciting. We did have a pre announcement which actually had come on a call to us on April 16, which was our son's birthday, Hendriks' birthday. So it was very special to learn that information on that day, and then we were asked to keep it quiet. - Melissa Taylor
The money awarded from the Foundation will be added to the roughly $80,000 the Taylors raised through their GoFundMe campaign. Additionally, in February, the Summerland City Council agreed to add up to $250K to support the project, depending on what the grant provides.
All told, the Taylors' fundraiser now sits at roughly $500,000. Their ultimate goal is $750K.
The project seeks to rename Field 2 at Living Memorial Park to Field 96, which was Hendricks' jersey number. Additionally, they are hoping the costs will cover a complete renovation including grandstand seating, batting cages, adding new lighting and redoing the field, adding new fencing, and new bases and upgrading the bathrooms which have fallen into disrepair.
Summerland's mayor Doug Holmes, says the project is about more than just a baseball field.
It's about enriching the lives of Summerland youth and fostering pride in their community.
The community hopes to open the new field in time for the 2026 season.
To donate to the Taylors fundraiser, please visit their GoFundMe page.
| POLL | ||
MAI 9 | 55 ANSWERS B.C. couple working to restore field in honour of late son get assist from Blue Jays Will you donate to the Field 96 Project? | ||
| Yes | 12 | 21.8 % |
| No | 43 | 78.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
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