Big Brothers Big Sisters gives award to Clint Seymour Play Ball Fund
For Joe Wightkin and his “little brother” Landon, any day they spend together is special, but the day they stood behind third base at PNC Park and watched Pirates batting practice was extraordinary.
The event was hosted by the Clint Seymour Play Ball Fund, which has been named a Big Community Partner by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh for the organization’s 2016 Celebrate Coalitions award. The award honors those who show exemplary dedication to Big Brothers Big Sisters.
The Clint Seymour Play Ball Fund is sharing this year’s Big Community Partner award with the Carnegie Science Center.
“Much of the success of any [ big brother- little brother] match relation revolves around having opportunities to share new experiences together,” said Cheryl Jones, director of special services for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh.
The Clint Seymour Play Ball Fund “provided our matches with opportunities as a behind-the-scenes look at a professional ball park and to meet and spend time with players they have likely only seen on television.”
The fund supports youth baseball programs and the development of baseball facilities, primarily in Pittsburgh and Charleston, S.C. It was named for a 2004 Mt. Lebanon High School graduate and baseball player who played baseball at Eastern Kentucky University.
He died in April 2014 at age 27 after being struck in the head during a street fight in South Carolina, where he lived.
“It is gratifying to receive this recognition for our efforts to perpetuate Clint's memory and to promote the values that I know were his values,” said Don Seymour, Clint’s father and president of the foundation.
“The award validates the very essence of our charity.”
More than 80 local “little brothers and sisters” and their mentors have participated in baseball-related activities through the partnership, which began in 2015. One highlight was the Young Bucs Batting Practice that Mr. Wightkin, 53, attended with his little brother, Landon, 11, along with about a dozen other children and their mentors.
It was arranged by former Pirate Neil Walker, a foundation board member.
Mr. Walker spoke to everyone afterward, Mr. Wightkin said.
“They were given an opportunity they normally wouldn’t have even known about,” he said of the youngsters, adding that just being able to walk along a back hallway from the Pirates offices to enter the field was a thrill for all of the participants.
The big-little matches have also attended meetand-greets in the Pirates dugout before games and participated in the foundation-sponsored Joy of the Game Tournament for children ages 7 to 9, regardless of their ability to play baseball.
“Don Seymour has worked tirelessly to bring something positive out of the tragic death of his son,” said Jan Glick, president of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh. “His generosity to the children we serve, who on a daily basis can face adversity, is remarkable.”
The two organizations are discussing ideas for future programs, Mr. Seymour said.
“I think, above all else, it provides tremendous vindication that the programs the Clint Seymour Play Ball Fund has initiated are fulfilling the mission of providing positive role models, environments and development opportunities for our community's youth,” said Brian Seymour, Clint Seymour’s cousin who grew up in Upper St. Clair and works for the foundation.
“It is evidence that the fund is having a measurable impact that, I believe, would make Clint extremely proud to see.”
Those receiving individual Celebrate Coalitions awards this year are: Garret Gibson of the South Side; Jenny Sabol of Mt. Lebanon; Correy Dandoy of Carnegie; Amber Rooke of Hazelwood; and Kim Dinnin of Cheswick.