A nonprofit in West Charlotte is making a significant impact in the community — not by creating major league athletes, but by raising "major league citizens." The Knothole Foundation provides opportunities for children to play baseball and softball without the stress of cost + educational programming off the field.

"We provide educational opportunities and free baseball clinics," explained Tommy Viola, the Executive Director of the Knothole Foundation to CLTtoday. "It's become a very expensive sport. So we provide a lot of the equipment. We try to do as much as we can for these kids."

In addition to providing equipment to children, the foundation offers unique opportunities, like taking the field with the Charlotte Knights or Queens University's Softball team.

How Knothole got started

Former Major League Baseball players Jeff Schaefer and Morris Madden previously started the Carolinas Metro Reds and the U Deserve a Chance Foundation before collaborating on Knothole.

"We never thought we'd get to where we are now; what started as a $300,000 facelift on a napkin turned to a $8.5 million project," Morris Madden, Co-founder of Knothole Foundation, explained to CLTtoday. "We found some like-minded people that were willing to jump in and help us get it done and it's turned into something special."

Now, referred to as a "gem on the west side," the foundation boasts major league amenities at the Richard "Stick" Williams Dream Fields — a turf field and two baseball fields, an indoor batting facility, classrooms, locker rooms, and an education center, providing development opportunities for children to grow and enjoy sports.

Fun fact: The fields also serve as home plate for Queens University's baseball and softball teams.

The Carolinas Metro Reds team took the field with the Charlotte Knights before their game against the Norfolk Tides. | Photo by Laura Wolff Photography

Creating "major league citizens"

The foundation does more than provide children with bats, helmets, and team spirit. It helps foster character and skills some children may not have the opportunity to build.

"Nine out of every 10 kids that graduated went on to some form of higher education," explained Madden. "We're not here to make Major League Baseball players. We're here to make major league citizens."

City Editor Maria, here. When Madden told me about the impact the foundation has had on former children in the program, it was hard not to smile. His pride was palpable.

"It's very rewarding to talk to some of the kids that came through our program," said Madden. "We had one other kid that came to our program a couple of years ago — a brilliant mind. He went to Tuskegee University. And in doing so, he was able to play on the baseball team and still maintain a 4.0 GPA. He got an internship at NASA and I think this summer he's going to start actually working at NASA."

To make these dreams a reality, the nonprofit is always accepting donations, sponsorships, and field rentals.

Upcoming clinic

Six high schools in the West Charlotte area will play baseball against each other + take part in lunch-and-learn experiences Monday, April 14-Tuesday, April 16, which happens to be Jackie Robinson Day.

"We have some historians coming in to talk to the kids about the Negro Leagues and what that meant and a former Negro Leagues player, Wally Cathcart," explained Viola.

Who's playing? So glad you asked.

Jackson Day School
West Mecklenburg High School
Rocky River High School
Julius L. Chambers High School
Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology
Garinger High School

Four softball teams will also be batting:

West Charlotte High School
Julius L. Chambers High School
West Mecklenburg High School
Garinger High School

The nonprofit is also hosting a free youth baseball clinic for children 5-12 at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 16.

"Our kids probably can't afford to go to these tournaments that happen in the spring," explained Madden. "So we want to give them something to look forward to when they have spring break. They can have their own tournament and we don't ask them to do anything but participate."