Tax-exempt nonprofit organization registered in Florida
Opportunities for deserving players
ORGANIZATION
Helping student-athletes realize their potential
MISSION
Provide opportunities for deserving student-athletes to use baseball to improve their lives regardless of ability to pay.
CONTACT
North Palm Beach Baseball on Facebook
nopalmbchbaseball on Instagram
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President - Jon Hullick
Vice President - John Tevlin
Treasurer & Secretary - Laura Craker
Our directors have a wide range of experience that contributes to effectively managing the organization, including as corporate executives, entrepreneurs, educators, coaches, and volunteers managing youth sports programs. Each is committed to helping student-athletes pursue their goals.
DISCLOSURES
North Palm Beach Baseball, Inc. is a registered nonprofit and 501(c)3 tax exempt organization. Donations may be tax deductible pursuant to federal and state laws and the donor's specific circumstances. North Palm Beach Baseball, Inc. is not affiliated in any way with any municipality (including the Village of North Palm Beach).
A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
LINKS TO FILINGS
FOUNDING / HISTORY
In 2013, two youth baseball coaches in the Jacksonville/St. Augustine area realized youth baseball is too often corrupted by favoritism, "daddy ball", parents wanting their sons to be stars, and especially by travel team coaches making money by encouraging parents' unrealistic dreams. It was clear some deserving players are can't participate because their families couldn't afford the high cost (many coaches are making their primary income from youth baseball) or do the frequent out-of-town travel (because most coaches make more money when the team travels). Wanting to help deserving players and show that travel baseball doesn't need to be expensive or focused on prestige and false dreams, the two coaches founded a low-cost travel team, where parents pay only their share of the team's costs, there are no unnecessary costs, no required private lessons, no favoritism, and minimal overnight travel. Some players played at reduced costs due to family need, and a few played for free. They managed teams from 12U through 17U, before one coach moved to the Palm Beach area for his sons to play for a specific high school coach and the other coach's son focused on another sport.
After moving to Palm Beach County, that coach saw the same conditions with youth and high school baseball that exist in North Florida were present in PBC... coaches making considerable money from youth and high school baseball, often with a lack of transparency or ethics, and too often doing little to help players get to college. Coaches boasting about a few elite players going to college, but elite players don't need a local coach's help. Travel ball is geared towards the few elite players and far less capable players from affluent families who can afford the costs, plus some regular families sacrificing to pay the costs in the mistaken belief their sons will get college scholarships. Once again, those coaches and another volunteer decided to do something about the situation. They conceived an organization to help student-athletes from less than affluent circumstances use baseball to further their educations and pursue their goals. That's why this organization was formed.
The name "North Palm Beach Baseball, Inc." was chosen to emphasize serving the northern half of the county. In fact, there are no restrictions or residency requirements. Unfortunately, the name created confusion among some parents who thought it was run or overseen by the Village of North Palm Beach or the programs were only for Village residents. However, it is a completely independent organization not affiliated with any municipality.
A youth league was formed after a group of local parents expressed the need for an alternative to the other local leagues; focused on fairness, fun, and learning fundamental skills rather than all-stars and coaches yelling and criticizing young players. The founders started the league and added a director to represent the youth league on the organization's Board of Directors. The first season in the spring of 2021 was a success. 60 players in 3 divisions, no player sat on the bench more than 1 inning in any game, every player played infield in every game, and nearly all players in the older division got chances to pitch. There were zero parent complaints about favoritism or coaches yelling or criticizing players (most leagues can't say that).
However, the intent was that the group of local parents would each take a role, help run the league, and by the second season would have learned how to run the league themselves with support from the organization. That's how nearly all youth leagues operate - they're run by parent volunteers. Unfortunately, only three parents volunteered which left a huge amount of work for the founders. The founders had no choice but to devote nearly all their time to making the inaugural youth league season successful even though it wasn't part of the organization's core mission. After that first youth league season, the founders could no longer justify devoting all their time to the youth league, because it prevented them from building other high priority programs. The fall youth league season was cancelled when no parents stepped forward to help with the work to run the league. There will not be future youth league seasons unless/until enough volunteers come forward.
The organization remains focused on its mission and building other programs.
