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With words of gratitude and the snip of a ribbon, Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Cleveland Indians unveiled the new All-Star Student Veterans Center at Baldwin Wallace University.
The transformation of the once-vacant house into the new veterans center was a 2019 All-Star Legacy Project and part of approximately $5 million in community enrichment projects tied to MLB's Midsummer Classic hosted by the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field, Tuesday, July 9.
At
the
July
5
dedication
(coverage
here
on
Fox
8
TV
and
on
cleveland.com)
BW
President
Bob
Helmer
said
the
gathering
not
only
celebrated
the
nearly
100
student
veterans
enrolled
at
BW,
but
also
"the
way
a
community
comes
together
-
the
Indians,
Major
League
Baseball
and
others
in
this
area
-
all
coming
together
to
assist
BW
in
supporting
our
student
veterans."
Businesses and community organizations, including Bank of America and Lowe's, joined forces to bring the project to fruition through financial support, in-kind donations and employee volunteer hours.
The
BW
project
transformed
a
vacant,
two-story,
university-owned,
single-family
home
at
105
E.
Grand
Street,
across
from
the
Strosacker
Hall
student
union,
into
a
gleaming,
multifunctional
space
to
support
student
veterans
of
U.S.
Military
branches
studying
at
BW.
The handicapped accessible facility includes quiet rooms for studying and counseling, lounges, a full kitchen, bathrooms and a gaming area. Outside, there's an inviting patio with pergola and garden beds planted with tomatoes, peppers and more.
Calling BW student veterans "a family," Britnee Davis, president of BW's Student Veteran Organization (SVO), expressed extreme gratitude for the gift of the new center that she believes will elevate support for "our brothers and sisters in transition."
"I can't imagine where I would be today had I not received the support and commitment from our veterans support program here at Baldwin Wallace," she said. "Through the countless hours I spent decompressing years of military service and the struggles to readapt."
The
2019
All-Star
Legacy
effort
also
features
improvements
to
youth
baseball/softball
playing
fields
and
facilities,
and
a
local
Boys
&
Girls
Club.
In addition to MLB, the Indians, BW, Bank of America and Lowe's, the BW project received support from Cabinets To Go, City of Berea, Crain Family Foundation, GE Lighting, Institute for Learning in Retirement, M-Five Construction Group, National Restaurant Supply, Ohio Desk, Rotary International, Smith & Oby, and Stouffer's.
