[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9434]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         SPRINGSPIRIT BASEBALL

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 11, 2015

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I spent a recent hot, sunny day in my 
district visiting a real life ``Field of Dreams.'' SpringSpirit 
Baseball near Houston, Texas in Spring Branch is providing 
opportunities for youth to realize their dreams through sports and 
mentoring.
  SpringSpirit's mission is to provide safe pathways for youth to 
realize life opportunities through sports, education, and mentoring 
programs based on Christian principles. They create positive mentoring 
relationships between the education system and families through 
baseball, softball, soccer, and community programs.
  It is a place that values integrity, patience, perseverance and 
respect for the individual.
  SpringSpirit provides programs combined with the teaching of the 
gospel designed to grow the mind, body and soul, and they have a first-
class sports training and education complex in the heart of the North 
Spring Branch community. They pair compassionate and caring mentors 
with local youth, and find life opportunities that can help 
participants contribute to their community and society and act as 
stewards for others.
  Recently, I toured the facility with Executive Director John 
Meredith, Coach Ben Vigil and a man I like to call the ``Mayor'' of 
Spring Branch, Mr. Victor Alvarez.
  I cannot express how impressed I was not only with the facility, but 
the passion each of these men brings to SpringSpirit Baseball. 
SpringSpirit grew from humble beginnings at the local Boys and Girls 
Club to a more than three acre state-of-the-art facility.
  SpringSpirit was founded by Kenny Baldwin who after playing college 
baseball at Rice University and professional baseball spent many 
successful years in the oil and gas industry. He credits his success to 
strong coaches, loving mentors and faith leaders and wanted to create 
these same opportunities and relationships for underserved youth.
  Fostering partnerships with the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, Camp 
Ozark, Chapelwood United Methodist Church, Cornerstone Family 
Ministries, Baseball USA and Boys and Girls Club of Greater Houston 
among others, SpringSpirit can offer afterschool programs, summer 
camps, and baseball and soccer tournaments.
  Among SpringSpirit's biggest fans are baseball greats Lance Berkman 
and Andy Pettitte. Berkman and Pettitte support SpringSpirit by serving 
as chairs of their annual fundraiser and if you drop by SpringSpirit at 
just the right time . . . you might be able to catch Lance mentoring 
some of the kids!
  Kenny, John, and the entire staff at SpringSpirit Baseball should be 
commended for their selfless service to the community.
  Their vision to build a superb facility, offer it to the youth of 
Spring Branch, and lead by example truly enriches our community and our 
city.
  And that's just the way it is.

                          ____________________