Papa Hops Softball Tourney Batters Up For Families With Cancer, Youth

CHICAGO – The eighth annual Papa Hops 16-inch Softball Tournament returns Friday, July 8, featuring tournaments at three Chicago parks in the Beverly/Mt. Greenwood/Morgan Park area, with more than 32 teams participating for one incredible cause. Hosted and organized by the Tom Hopkins Foundation, this one-day tournament has become one of the most anticipated summer events in the community, and the largest fundraiser of the year for the organization.

All money raised goes directly to families in need who are battling cancer, and youth sports programs, allowing the foundation to give back to the community.

The quarter-final will be played at 7 p.m. on Friday evening at Kennedy Park, 11320 S. Western Ave. Families with children of all ages are welcome to enjoy an evening of softball as the final four teams compete for the championship. Bounce houses, face painters, an obstacle course, ice cream, merchandise, raffles, split the pot, and a food truck will be available. Prior to the quarter-final, games will be played beginning at 5 p.m., on more than 15 baseball fields located at Kennedy Park, Mt. Greenwood Park and Beverly Park.

The Tom Hopkins Foundation was founded after the passing of Tom “Papa Hops” Hopkins in the Spring of 2014 after a short battle with cancer. An avid supporter of youth athletics, Hopkins coached, refereed and mentored hundreds of youth across the area and helped to foster their love of sports.

Over the last eight years, the Tom Hopkins Foundation has donated more than $50,000 to fund youth athletics at ten local Catholic schools, who use the money for uniforms, facility improvements, and sports equipment. The foundation also has donated a lighted scoreboard to Kennedy Park Field, and actively provides financial support to families who are battling cancer, which is fully-funded through the Papa Hops 16-inch Softball Tournament.

“My father was very passionate about the importance of youth athletics, and he would be thrilled to see how the Papa Hops Softball Tournament has grown through the years,” said Liam Hopkins, son of Tom Hopkins, and president of the Tom Hopkins Foundation. “It is an amazing legacy that many of the people my father coached or mentored now participate in the Papa Hops Softball Tournament in his memory.”

Visit the Papa Hops Softball Tournament for more information, or to sponsor the event.

Proud Sponsors of the 2022 Papa Hops 16-Inch Softball Tournament