Community Foundation supports Waynesboro Generals’ work

The Waynesboro Generals donated more than 600 hours to community service in 2012, and have the support of the Community Foundation to back them up in 2013. A grant from the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge will be used to pay for player meals in exchange for the continued donation of time by Generals players.

“It’s a wonderful recognition of what our players do to give back to the community,” said Mary McDermott, a member of the board of directors of Waynesboro Amateur Athletics, the parent organization of the Waynesboro Generals.

McDermott heads up the community service efforts of the Generals. The biggest donation of time comes in conjunction with the Central Shenandoah Office on Youth. Generals players donate time each week to an outreach program with children in at-risk situations to mentor them into wanting to do well in school and life.

“These guys are baseball players, so they’re like rock stars to these kids. And of course they’re also college baseball players, and they have to do well in school to continue to play. So they serve as role models in two important ways,” McDermott said.

Second-year Generals players Kyle Allen (sophomore, Butler) and JoJo Woods (junior, Central Florida) were on hand at a ceremony this week to accept the Community Foundation grant.

“If we play for the community, getting involved is important,” Allen said.

“And it’s important to give back,” Woods said.