Stepping Up To The Plate

BIG Vision is celebrating 30 years! Dan Clouser sits down with Toni Reece to talk about the journey of this amazing organization. The highs, the learning and inspired thinking that still remains in place today in order to keep the dream alive! This is part one of a four part series.

Our Annual Day at the Park with John Paull II Special Learning Center was held on April 17th. We have the students join us twice a year at the complex to play baseball and have lunch. Dan interviews two of our volunteers that help during the day. Kurt Poland, 15, who has been helping at this event since he was 11. Kurt talks about the joy and growth he’s received from participating. Andrew Huesgen, 12, volunteered for the first time at this event and he speaks about his experience. Dan also gets the perspective of a Berkshire Baseball & Softball Club parent, Pastor Megan Huesgen. She is a pastor at the Immanuel United Church of Christ and the 2019 recipient of the BCPS’s Life Improvement Ambassador award. She talks to Dan about her thoughts on the program, her connection with BCPS and her calling to the church.

Dan talks with Athletic Director for Penn State- Schuylkill Joe Godri on site at the BIG Vision Sports Complex. Joe Godri, who is a former Head Baseball Coach for Villanova was passing by the complex one day and had an epiphany. There was a need and we could fill it. Penn State-Schuylkill needed a location for home games and we have fields to spare. Thus began the partnership with Penn State Schuylkill to hold their Baseball and Softball home games at our facility. Joe talks about his journey from Coach to Athletic Director and about his hopes for the future with the partnership. Dan is later joined by Berkshire Baseball Alumni and now Penn State – Schuylkill Catcher, Ricardo Diaz. This is his 2nd year at college and he talks with Dan abou the differences from playing at the complex compared to the other locations they were at. He also gives some advice to younger players about the transition of High School to College and the importance of class.

Dan sits down YMCA coordinators Dori Bornstein and Michelle Reinert to talk about the 4th Annual YMCA Healthy Kids Day/Kite Day. The YMCA and the Berks County Parks and Recreation collaborated to hold a free event to highlight good health choices to the kids of Berks County and the long standing Kite Day event. In Part Two of this series Dan, Dori and Michelle will give you more information about the event, such as their partnership with the Autism Society of Berks County to provide a sensory friendly area. This event is being held at the BIG Vision Sports Complex on Saturday, April 27, 2019 from 10 AM – 4 PM.

What is Healthy Kids Day? The YMCA and the Berks County Parks and Recreation collaborated to hold a free event to highlight good health choices to the kids of Berks County and the long standing Kite Day event with BIG Vision! 14,000 YMCA's celebrate Healthy Kids Day and Dan talks to YMCA coordinators Dori Bornstein and Michelle Reinert about the importance of celebrating children in our community and supporting this event. This is Part One of a two part series.

Toni and Dan sit down to talk about the power of resilience. It's not always about how hard you can deliver a punch, but in most cases it's about how well you can take a punch. The importance of waking up every day fighting and keeping faith for what you believe in regardless of the circumstances that may surround you.

Dan and Gammy sit down to talk to Aneyshka Aponte, who was a recipient of one of the Ruth Hartman Memorial Trailblazer awards in 2018 for being only the second female in the organization’s history to play on a boys baseball team. Aneyshka was also selected by Major League Baseball to participate in the MLB GRIT Series Girls High School Invitational Baseball Tournament at Globe Life Park and the Texas Rangers Youth Academy in Dallas, TX on March 7-10, 2018. During the interview, Aneyshka speaks of her love of the game and passion to work hard and get better every day.

"We have a great inddor market and BIG Vision has a great outdoor market - a perfect partnership!" - Christina Aulbach. Dan interviews Christina Aulbach, Director of Baseball and Softball Operations at Spooky Nook Sports. They share a love of the game and learning from each other. Listen as Dan and Christina share their journey to working together in a perfect collaboration!

Another great interview from the Spooky Nook Sports First Annual Elite Softball Coaches Convention! Dan interviews Sarah Sigrest, Softball Coach at Penn State University. Was Coaching always part of her grand scheme? Find out her answer to this and other questions in this inspiring interview!

Dan meets up with Tina Whitlock at Spooky Nook Sports First Annual Elite Softball Coaches Convention. Tina is the Coach for the British National Team!

Ïf you want to stay in the game you have to keep learning. . . "- Amanda Freed Dan meets up with Amanda at Spooky Nook Sports First Annual Elite Softball Coaches Convention. Amanda is a Softball Olympian Gold Medalist and an ESPN Analyst.

Dan talks to Joey Lye, Bucknell University Softball Coach and also a member of Canadas Softball team, about their shared love of baseball!

Dan speaks to Natasha Watley, Softball Olympian and founder of the Natasha Watley Foundation, about her playing career, her foundation and what softball not only meant to her in her younger years, but also what it still means to her now! Great interview!

Dan and Juan reflect on Juan's first year particpating with Cups of Compassion. Juan is a Berkshire Baseball player and volunteered his time to help out BIG Vision grill and hand out hamburgers and hotdogs to those in need. Giving back it's what we do.

Dan interviews three Governor Mifflin students as they reflect on what it meant to participate in the 2018 Cups of Compassion!! These students also helped brighten up the event while singing Christmas Carols on Penn Street! Amazing participation!

Dan interviews members of the I-Lead Charter School about their participation in Cups of Compassion. I-Lead collects clothing throughout the year and it is then distributed on the day of Cups of Compassion. I-Lead students help separate the clothing into sizes and then they also help throughout the whole event.

Dan talks to Richie Bowden, who is the secretary of the Cups of Compassion committee for the BIG Vision Foundation. Richie has become more and more involved in the planning process over the years and he is passionate about helping tp spread God’s love through the event. Dan and Richie share stories of how the event impacts them personally and continues to inspire them more and more each year.

Dan talks to Cups of Compassion Committee Chair, Lori Hoffman who has literally been the glue that has held the event together for over three years now. Lori is a board member of the BIG Vision Foundation, a recent graduate of Leadership Berks and the Community Relations Coordinator for UGI Utilities, Inc. She is heavily involved in the community and has a passion for giving back. The BIG Vision Foundation is blessed to have her on its board and especially blessed to have her steering this event for many years to come.

Gammy Nieves steps up to plate to pinch hit for Dan Clouser and guest host our annual Spanish podcast with Pastor Jesus Guerrero to talk about Cups of Compassion. This is such an amazing event for our community and has truly taken great strides in unifying our city.

Dan speaks with Raquel Parisi of Wells Fargo about both her personal involvement and Wells Fargo’s corporate involvement in Cups of Compassion. Last year as a company they collected thousands of socks to give out at the event and they’re looking to make an even greater contribution in 2018.