As we head into another exciting World Series showdown, it’s worth highlighting a young baseball player from Southbury who is an MVP in our eyes.
Adam Cherry, 18, of Southbury spent his last two seasons at Pomperaug High School using his pitching arm to “Strike Out Hunger.” Adam is now attending LaSalle University in Philadelphia, where he received a scholarship to play with the Division 1 baseball team.
Two yeas ago, Adam wanted to help people in need, but he didn’t initially know how. So he turned to what he knew best: pitching baseball.
He married his passion for baseball with his desire to help people and came up with his own unique fundraiser to benefit Connecticut Food Bank. He collected monetary pledges for every batter he struck out during the 2009 season for the Pomperaug Panthers’ varsity baseball team.
“I want to do something good for the community. I want to help people who are less fortunate,” Adam said after he pitched his idea to Connecticut Food Bank. “The economy is not great right now and I want to help people get through this.”
Adam’s parents, Maryanne and Jonathan, have always encouraged Adam and his younger brother, David, to give back to the community
In 2009, Adam logged 50 strikeouts during the Panthers’ season, raising $3,570 for the Food Bank.
Adam again hit the mound for Connecticut Food Bank in 2010 with a repeat of his “Strike Out Hunger” campaign.
“I would like to improve on what we started (in 2009). We’ve only just begun, we just scratched the surface,” Adam said before the 2010 spring season began. “I’ve seen so many people who are less fortunate through my various travels. Even some of my friends’ parents need help because they got laid off from their jobs.”
In 2010, as he and his team brought home the state championships for Pomperaug, Adam struck out 67 batters—17 more than in 2009—and raised another $4,757 for Connecticut Food Bank.
Overall, Adam raised more than $8,000—equivalent to more than 28,000 meals for people in need. And it all started with a young man’s desire to help.
Posted by Gladys Alcedo, Communications Coordinator of Connecticut Food Bank