Wichita's League 42's Kids First campaign, is expected to get some exciting additions and improvements soon. At the top of the list is a new Leslie Rudd Learning Center at 1212 E. 17th, just across the street from our baseball complex at McAdams Park. This is a huge day for League 42 and we're thankful for the support from our community partners.
The League 42 Foundation has reached $3.6 million on its $6 million Kids First Campaign.
“Our funding effort to build an education center and fourth ballfield has reached an important benchmark,” said Board Chair Matt Vos. “We have been awarded a $400,000 challenge grant from the JE & LE Mabee Foundation of Tulsa to assist with the capital portion of our campaign.”
Construction of a youth education center, a fourth baseball field, and renovations to three existing ballfields are the focus of the campaign with the 10,500 square foot education center, to be used for after-school tutoring for League 42 players, its centerpiece. It includes a 23-station computer lab, an indoor baseball training area/community center and the organization’s first-ever office space.
“We are proud to announce we will be building the Leslie Rudd Learning Center,” said Bob Lutz, League 42 Executive Director. “The Rudd Foundation’s $1 million leadership gift will be helping Wichita children for decades to come. We are proud to honor Leslie, who was a supporter of the Wichita community for decades during his lifetime.”
Rudd passed away in 2018. He was an entrepreneur and philanthropist who owned Standard Beverage and many other businesses. In 2017, Rudd established the Rudd Scholars Program, which provides full-ride College funding scholarships, along with academic and life mentoring, for Pell-eligible Kansans seeking to attend either Wichita State, Fort Hays State or Emporia State. Over
100 Kansas high school graduates have already benefited from this program.
Kids First Campaign leaders also announced the involvement of several of Wichita’s premier companies and foundations. “Cargill, Fidelity Bank, INTRUST Bank, Spirit AeroSystems, The Lattner Family Foundation, the Meyer Charitable Trust and David Murfin have helped us reach the $3.6 million mark,” said Campaign Committee Member Jeff DeGraffenreid. “Individual donors have also made gifts totaling more than half a million to date.”
“When we started League 42 eight years ago, it was with the specific mission of using a team sport – baseball – to help kids 5 to 14,” said Bob Lutz. “It's about more than baseball. Kids learn the values of commitment, teamwork, fair play, and personal responsibility. They build character and a can-do spirit. These are the skill sets that will serve them throughout life.”
“The Leslie Rudd Learning Center is part of further achieving this vision. After school and during the summer, this facility will be operated by education professionals helping these children focus on homework and learning. The commitment of Cargill and others is directly related to this mission and vision. We are grateful to each donor who has joined us. Their gifts communicate their commitment to placing ‘kids first’ in our city.”