Hen Hud Student Combines Community Service with Love of Baseball

Paul Hartigan is a freshman at Hendrick Hudson High School, but to look at his recent achievements you’d think he was much older.

Paul is a lifelong baseball enthusiast who decided to steer his enthusiasm in a direction that would benefit others. With his parents’ encouragement, he formed a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization called For the Love of Baseball. Its main purpose is to provide information and resources to children and young adults who share a passion for baseball. The group’s website iswww.fortheloveofbaseball.org

Paul’s mom, Karen Hartigan, explained that there were two key motivators. “The first is that we believe it is important for our kids to do community service to give back to others. The foundation was one way Paul could give back while sharing his passion for baseball. The second part is the educational component. He had read every fictional book and watched every movie on baseball that we could find for his age level. However, it was hard to find one central resource for them – so he created one. He also writes opinion pieces on baseball current events and situations youth baseball players may encounter, and offers trivia questions to help increase young people’s knowledge about baseball. We also hope to compile a list of local resources for families in our area sometime in the near future.”

Paul, with help from his sister Katelyn and their friends, is collecting used sports equipment, which he then donates to Let’s Play it Forward, another student-run organization in Somers. Their web site is www.letsplayitforward.org. In addition to running his own nonprofit, Paul is involved with the SEED club and the Hen Hud Leos.

Currently there are collection boxes at Premier Athletic Club and Hen Hud High School, with plans for a box at Blue Mountain Middle School. Donors can also e-mail For the Love of Baseball at ftlofbaseball@aol.com to arrange for pick-up of equipment.

PHOTO CAPTION: (L-R) Paul Hartigan (Hen Hud freshman) and Victor Podvalny (freshman at Xavier in NY City) at the collection shed for Let’s Play It Forward, in Somers. Photo courtesy Karen Hartigan.