Donation event held to help kids access sports equipment

(Photo by Amber Phipps)
An image of Mark Bradley presented by his wife Tammi and their two daughters Emmie and Gabby. Mark grew up playing basketball, golf and baseball and pitched for Ohio University.

DEVOLA — The Team Bradley Fund and the Marietta Community Foundation partnered with Leveling the Playing Field (LPF) to host a ceremony for the Pack the Bin event on Friday.

Pack the Bin is an initiative that seeks for families to donate their gently used sports equipment for local youth in need.

The event took place from 1-5 p.m. Friday at the Devola Soccer Complex. Members from the Marietta Community Foundation, Team Bradley Fund, and LPF were in attendance to celebrate the initiative.

“The easiest way to think about what Leveling the Playing FIeld does is we’re basically like a food bank but for sports equipment,” said LPF Program Director Eric Rutkowski. “We’re going out across the entire state of Ohio and collecting all the gently used or excess gear from all over the state.”

Pack the Bin supports families whose kids are in sports but they can’t afford the required equipment whether it’s a ball or racket or pair of shoes.

(Photo by Amber Phipps)
Tammi Bradley cut the ribbon to commemorate the Pack the Bin initiative which provides local youth with sports equipment. Members of Team Bradley Fund and the Marietta Community Foundation were there for support.

“That has become a big barrier for a lot of kids who want to get involved in sports,” said Rutkowski.

Pack the Bin has donation bins all throughout central Ohio but this is the first hub outside of that area.

The Team Bradley Fund at Marietta Community Foundation was started by Tammi Bradley to honor the memory of her husband, Mark Bradley.

He was a coach and community leader with a passion for sports.

“On behalf of Emmy, Gabby and I, we are excited and thankful to bring this to Marietta,” said Tammi. “Mark loved teams, he loved sports and he loved the youth and we just thank you for this partnership.”

(Photo by Amber Phipps)
Members of the Marietta Community Foundation and Team Bradley Fund cheered as Tammi Bradley cut the ribbon to commemorate the Pack the Bin initiative.

Donations of sports equipment can be dropped off at the Devola Soccer Complex at 1350 River Road, Marietta, as well as all throughout central Ohio.

Go to levelingtheplayingfield.org to search the donation bin locator and learn more about the initiative.

(Photo by Amber Phipps)
Leveling the Playing Field (LPF) partnered with the Team Bradley Fund and Marietta Community Foundation to promote sports equipment donation bins for local youth.