Batch Foundation helps underprivileged youth
From Charlie’s Batch’s deep despair at his sister’s murder in the family’s hometown of Homestead sprung his high hope to one day fight the societal ills that contributed to her death.
“She was only 17 and never had a chance to live life,” the former Pittsburgh Steeler said of his younger sister, an innocent caught in the crossfire of rival gangs in February 1996. “I said then that if I ever was in a position to give back, I would.”
And Mr. Batch did just that, succeeding with a 15-year career as an NFL quarterback, most of it with his hometown Steelers. And he’s given back to underprivileged youth for nearly two decades with his Best of the Batch Foundation, based in Munhall.
The foundation, of which Mr. Batch is founder and president and his wife, Tasha, is the executive director, is being honored tonight with the Team Award at a ceremony at Heinz Field as part of the Jefferson Awards for Public Service program. This award was established a few years ago to recognize the volunteer contributions of groups.
Mr. Batch said it was “humbling” for his namesake foundation to receive the award, but he was quick to note that “while Tasha and I will get the name recognition, this is due to all of the volunteers. Without the help of all of the volunteers we wouldn’t have been able to grow to the numbers we have. This is something all of us can share.”
The Rev. William Zachery Jr., pastor of Vermont Baptist Church in New Kensington and a foundation volunteer, said he nominated the organization for the award because it gives back so much to the community.
“In essence, [Mr. Batch] is saying to youth, ‘Some people may have given up on you, but I’m not giving up on you.’ He emphasizes education, he understands the importance of education. [The foundation] is well-deserving of the award.”
The foundation began in Detroit in 1999, the year after the Lions drafted Mr. Batch out of Eastern Michigan University. Then, the foundation primarily sponsored sports programs to try to keep kids off the street. But when he signed with the Steelers and returned here in 2002, he redirected the foundation’s goals for boys and girls, making sports a lure to education.
Since then, the growth of youth programs offered by the nonprofit has been exponential — from serving 125 kids in the Steel Valley in those early days to 3,300 children and youth today, from pre-K to college in six counties.
He and his wife said the goal is that participants in all of the foundation’s programs learn about the importance of education, dignity, self-respect and respect for others.
“We have more than 12 different programs so children can choose the ones that best help them, but no matter what they choose, the underlying base of it all is education,” Mrs. Batch said. “We use a lot of different techniques to draw them in so we can use education to teach life skills, and they’re learning them and how to become service leaders without even realizing it.”
As an example, Mr. Batch pointed to Project C.H.U.C.K. —Continuously Helping Uplift Community Kids — the foundation’s basketball league and its largest program. It has served more than 3,000 boys and girls between ages 7 and 18 since its inception in 2001. For seven weeks, participants play 20 games with the goal of advancing to playoffs and a championshipgame.
The program teaches basketball fundamentals but also discipline, respect, self-confidence and team orientation, and it has a strong educational bent.
“You have to read a book to participate and attend four mandatory study sessions. Every one has to have a 2.2-grade-point average to play, and I check every report card,” Mr. Batch said. “This is a summer program, but it’s still a privilege.”
Also among the foundation’s many programs are:
• Batch Packs, a back-toschool initiative that provides backpacks and basic school supplies.
• Best of the Batch Club, which rewards students who demonstrate excellence in school work, attendance, behavior and extra-curricular activities with a trip with Mr. Batch to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
• Batch-A Toys, the annual holiday toy drive.
• Next Level Athletics, a track and field program for children between 4 and 18.
The couple said it was gratifying to see so many former participants succeed in life. Many of them come back to the foundation as adults to volunteer their time to work with kids with the same challenges they faced.
Mr. Batch’s hopes, born of despair, continue to grow. There are plans to construct a state-of-the-art educational facility at the Munhall headquarters late next year or early in 2017 that would increase the number of children being served to 4,000 annually.