(Marietta, GA) The 6-4-3 Foundation has awarded $20,000 in grants to three Atlanta area organizations and a fourth in Hurricane Helene ravaged North Carolina. “The 2024 year was a very good one for The 6-4-3 Foundation and its staff. Great donor support, improved operations, and positive momentum drove the foundation to a position where it could direct year-end impact grants. With our focus on growing measurable impact helping children and families in need, it is a privilege to support the Breakthru House, L.E.A.D., The Dave Krache Foundation, and Owen Babe Ruth and their respective missions in 2024,” said board chair David Carr.
The 6-4-3 Foundation Board of Directors approved a $15,000 gift to The Charles D. Owen Babe Ruth Baseball & Softball League. This donation to the league’s Operation Love and Hope campaign will help rebuild critical training facilities lost to Hurricane Helene in September 2024. “We are honored to support the Charles D. Owen Babe Ruth League in rebuilding their baseball and softball facilities,” said Mary Litman, Executive Director of The 6-4-3 Foundation. “These batting cages and pitching mounds will help players continue their love for the game despite the challenges their North Carolina community has faced.”
Operation Love and Hope is a community-driven initiative to restore four youth baseball and softball fields in the Swannanoa Valley, an area devastated by the storm. These fields are home to hundreds of young athletes who lost not just their playing spaces, but a vital piece of their community. Black Mountain boasts the only youth baseball league in the area and was heavily impacted, leaving its young athletes without a place to play mid-season.
The destruction of Veterans Park, home to the league for more than 30 years, was not only a blow to the program but also to the town itself. According to league volunteers, “These fields are more than just dirt and grass; they’re places for children and families to reconnect, heal, and find a sense of normalcy again. By rebuilding, we’re not just restoring playing spaces—we’re bringing hope back to this community.”
The 6-4-3 Foundation’s mission is to enhance the lives of children and families through sports. This grant exemplifies our commitment to ensuring young athletes have the facilities and opportunities they need to thrive. The funds will go directly toward building two new batting cages, three pitching mounds, and contributing to much-needed fencing—allowing the league to again serve its over 400 young players.
The Charles D. Owen Babe Ruth League has long been a cornerstone of youth baseball and softball in the Black Mountain area, providing young athletes with a place to develop their skills, build friendships, and grow into strong community members. The Operation Love and Hope campaign will drastically speed up reconstruction efforts, ensuring that these young athletes can return to the field as soon as possible.
To learn more about Owen Babe Ruth and the Operation Love and Hope campaign, go to www.owenbaberuth.com and www.loveandhopenc.com.