Delaware North CEO Jerry Jacobs Jr. was joined by Shari McDonough, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo, on Aug. 13 at the Seneca-Babcock Clubhouse in Buffalo for the ceremonial opening of a new baseball program for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo, which operates five clubhouses in the city.
This initiative, made possible by a $500,000 donation from Delaware North and the Jacobs family, brings baseball and other organized sports back to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo, offering local youth an opportunity to engage in team building, develop essential life skills and create lasting memories.
“We wanted to give the kids of our city an opportunity to create a mini baseball league and have an outdoor experience that is healthy and built around teams,” Jacobs told WGRZ Channel 2. The Buffalo News and WIVB Channel 4 also covered the opening.
The festivities featured two ceremonial baseball games with Boys & Girls Club of Buffalo members, complemented by a variety of outdoor activities and a lunch catered by the local Sportservice team. In addition to the catering efforts, about 25 volunteers from Delaware North’s corporate headquarters were on hand to assist with the event. The activities were organized for 250 Boys & Girls Club members in attendance, including those not involved in the baseball program.
Steve Forman, a regional executive chef for Sportservice and board member of the Boys & Girls Club of Buffalo, had the honor of throwing out the day’s first pitch.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo will begin playing official games in 2025.