Baseball camp for Brandley & Diego
Donation protected
My name is Allison Greco, and I am currently the assistant coach for the Patterson High School Baseball Team in Baltimore City, MD. I am creating this page for two of my student athletes: Brandley and Diego. Both of these young men are college bound and have a real chance at a collegiate baseball career.
I am hoping we can get them to 13-18 year-old Ripken Experience Overnight Camp for this summer. The Ripken Baseball Camps are the BEST in the area. Unfortunately, they are also the most expensive. Per participant, the cost is $1,695. Both young men come from low-income, Dominican-immigrant households, and the school is also on a strict budget and neither can afford to send either player to camp. With that being said, let me introduce you to each young ball player:
Brandley was born in Brooklyn, NY, but has spent almost his entire childhood at the same Baltimore East-side residence. Currently he lives with his father, stepmother, three brothers, and new baby sister. Brandley's dream is to make it to the MLB. He first wants to play college ball at the University of Florida and major in sports management. Baseball has been a part of his life for as long as he can remember. However, a tragedy struck Brandley's life when he was only 7 years old. On August 27, 2006, Brandley's mother was murdered just a few miles from his home. After this horrific incident, Brandley stopped playing baseball for 3 or 4 years. "I couldn't concenstrate in school. It was hard for me to believe she was gone. Something inside me just went away," he said. After several years, Brandley’s dad saw that his son needed something to get him through the pain of losing his mother. So, he grabbed a glove and ball and took Brandley out to play baseball. Baseball is a “stress reliever” for Brandley. “I just play for her.” Brandley said that going to this camp will help him in his effort and wish to go to college and play baseball. Brandley is a short stop and pitcher.
Diego just came to the United States from the Dominican Republic in February. His father lives here, and Diego was away from him for 14 years. Diego often helps his father in a corner store in East Baltimore. Diego lives with his great aunt, dad, and younger brother. His mother, two other brothers, and two sisters still live in the Dominican Republic. Diego came to the United States because there are more opportunities for him to go to school AND play baseball at the same time. In the DR, a young person needs to either stay at baseball camp and not go to school, go to camp half time and school halft time, or just go to school. In 3 or 4 years, Diego sees himself in college and playing baseball. He wants to go to the University of Miami and study business management. Diego is a 3rd baseman and pitcher.
Diego is working very hard on learning English, and is also teaching me Spanish. Brandley, who is bilingual, acts as a translator for Diego. These two young men have become very close friends.
I hope you have enjoyed their stories.
Thank you all so much!
Coach Greco, Brandley, and Diego
I am hoping we can get them to 13-18 year-old Ripken Experience Overnight Camp for this summer. The Ripken Baseball Camps are the BEST in the area. Unfortunately, they are also the most expensive. Per participant, the cost is $1,695. Both young men come from low-income, Dominican-immigrant households, and the school is also on a strict budget and neither can afford to send either player to camp. With that being said, let me introduce you to each young ball player:
Brandley was born in Brooklyn, NY, but has spent almost his entire childhood at the same Baltimore East-side residence. Currently he lives with his father, stepmother, three brothers, and new baby sister. Brandley's dream is to make it to the MLB. He first wants to play college ball at the University of Florida and major in sports management. Baseball has been a part of his life for as long as he can remember. However, a tragedy struck Brandley's life when he was only 7 years old. On August 27, 2006, Brandley's mother was murdered just a few miles from his home. After this horrific incident, Brandley stopped playing baseball for 3 or 4 years. "I couldn't concenstrate in school. It was hard for me to believe she was gone. Something inside me just went away," he said. After several years, Brandley’s dad saw that his son needed something to get him through the pain of losing his mother. So, he grabbed a glove and ball and took Brandley out to play baseball. Baseball is a “stress reliever” for Brandley. “I just play for her.” Brandley said that going to this camp will help him in his effort and wish to go to college and play baseball. Brandley is a short stop and pitcher.
Diego just came to the United States from the Dominican Republic in February. His father lives here, and Diego was away from him for 14 years. Diego often helps his father in a corner store in East Baltimore. Diego lives with his great aunt, dad, and younger brother. His mother, two other brothers, and two sisters still live in the Dominican Republic. Diego came to the United States because there are more opportunities for him to go to school AND play baseball at the same time. In the DR, a young person needs to either stay at baseball camp and not go to school, go to camp half time and school halft time, or just go to school. In 3 or 4 years, Diego sees himself in college and playing baseball. He wants to go to the University of Miami and study business management. Diego is a 3rd baseman and pitcher.
Diego is working very hard on learning English, and is also teaching me Spanish. Brandley, who is bilingual, acts as a translator for Diego. These two young men have become very close friends.
I hope you have enjoyed their stories.
Thank you all so much!
Coach Greco, Brandley, and Diego
Organizer
Allison Greco
Organizer
Baltimore, MD