Westchester Teen Organizes Baseball Equipment Donations for Charity

Stephen Brand, a 16-year-old Purchase resident, recently ventured to the Dominican Republic where he and six other students volunteered to distribute gently used baseball equipment to needy children.

The students are involved with the charity Homerun Hopefuls, which helps children in the Dominican Republic by donating equipment so they can play and enjoy the game. In addition to equipment, the volunteers also distributed uniforms and clothing.

Brand, who attends Riverdale Country School in the Bronx, has been to the Dominican Republic four times to distribute equipment, and he has held annual drives for the charity for the past five years. He is a junior and plays shortstop on the school’s varsity baseball team, a position he’s held since the eighth grade.

Looking to expand his volunteer efforts, Brand has branched out to donate equipment in New York to Harlem RBI, a baseball, softball, academic and enrichment program for East Harlem children. Brand organized bake sales at Riverdale and raised $500 to purchase new equipment for Harlem RBI.