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[one_half_last]The Taylor Haugen Foundation through its YESS Program (Youth Equipment for Sports Safety) issued safety equipment to two Birmingham, AL U13 baseball teams on Tuesday, May14th. The SLAM Rebels 13U out of Vestavia Hills wanted Evoshield’s (www.evoshield.com) specialty shirts designed to protect from Commotio Cordis, the often lethal disruption of heart rhythm that occurs as a result of a blow to the area directly over the heart (the front chest or back region), at a critical time during the cycle of a heart beat causing cardiac arrest. The SLAM team then conducted a fund raiser to offset the total costs and initiated a grant application to the Taylor Haugen Foundation’s YESS Program. [/one_half_last]
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[one_half_last]The foundation then intended to match the funds raised by the young team. However, the team raised $1,500 – enough to cover the entire cost of the equipment. The foundation and the team then decided to ‘pass it forward’ and the foundation matched the funds raised and asked the SLAM team to select an additional ‘in need’ team to provide equipment support.
Upon completion of the equipment fitting of the young SLAM, the Wenonah Young Dragons 13U (Birmingham) were also outfitted bringing a total of 25 players outfitted with EvoShield’s new generation equipment.
The YESS Programs intent is to educate and equip middle school and high school athletes with new age, internal injury protection often known to, and worn by, professionals and college players but rarely known to youth athletes and their parents.[/one_half_last]
