Department of SD Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Announces 3rd Annual VFW Youth Baseball Community of the Year

Sioux Falls (September 20, 2020) – Department of SD VFW Baseball Chairman, Danny Frisby-Griffin, released the results of the Program’s third annual VFW Youth Baseball Community of the Year. Drawing upon the set-aside funds and generous donations from the Frisby-Griffin Family and VFW Posts across South Dakota, VFW Baseball was able to provide the $1000 VFW Youth Baseball Community of the Year Award to Chamberlain Baseball Association and the City of Chamberlain. We are recognizing their extraordinary efforts in ensuring the safety and security of the players and fans while operating within local guidelines for pandemic operations. Chamberlain Baseball Association went above and beyond by purchasing and operating backpack ionizing sanitization machines to spray bleachers and dugouts before and after each game.

The VFW Baseball Committee met September 12, 2020 to determine the awardee. The Committee used the score sheet posted on their website and were not surprised by how close the competition was again this year. VFW Baseball would have loved to award every one of these communities but as we’ve been saying this year…VFW Baseball is not in the “participation business” but in the “life lesson” and culture education business.

Congratulations go out to the community of Chamberlain. Chamberlain Baseball Association worked with their community so baseball players across SD had the opportunity to play in a safe environment. In fact, all our tournament hosts (Salem/Center, Dakota Valley, Webster, Bryant, Elkton, Canova, West Central, Chamberlain) successfully created an environment of safe play during this summer of uncertainty.

If you are interested in ensuring the VFW tradition of youth baseball, please consider a donation to the VFW Baseball Grant Program. Your dollars will go to youth baseball programs and communities that may need assistance in providing their youth an opportunity to play baseball, recognize an outstanding baseball community/association as well as assist veterans programs. Your donation will not be used for VFW Baseball Program execution.

“Times are tough right now and we’re so excited to be able to recognize communities and organizations for their outstanding support of VFW Youth Baseball. The SD VFW Baseball Program continues to support youth baseball and veterans programs across South Dakota,” said Frisby-Griffin. “We’re consistently striving to make SD VFW Baseball better each year. You’ll see changes to our fees and rules as we move into 2021. We’re also discussing adding other sporting opportunities to our operations.”

ABOUT THE VFW: The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is the nation's largest and oldest major war veterans organization. Founded in 1899, the congressionally-chartered VFW is comprised entirely of eligible veterans and military service members from the active, Guard and Reserve forces. With 1.7 million VFW and Auxiliary members located in 6,400 Posts worldwide, the nonprofit veterans service organization is proud to proclaim “NO ONE DOES MORE FOR VETERANS” than the VFW, which is dedicated to veterans’ service, legislative advocacy, and military and community service programs. For more information or to join, visit our website at www.vfw.org or www.vfwsd.org.