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David Rhode used to sell detergent and dishwashing liquid. Now he sells the power of baseball.
Rhode is founder and Executive Director of Pitch In For Baseball,
a charity that collects "gently used" baseball equipment and
distributes it to teams around the world who have difficulties
acquiring the gear necessary to play America's pastime. "We get stuff
and we give it away," David says with a chuckle. "It's not meant to be
complicated."
It may not be complicated, but it certainly has been successful. So
far Pitch In For Baseball has supervised the delivery of over 12,000
pieces of equipment to locations as diverse as Eastern Europe and the
Middle East.
Rhode hit upon the idea after a stint as a marketing associate for
Proctor and Gamble, and 12 years running the family automotive repair
business. "I turned 40 and was looking for something more meaningful.
After we sold the business, I met a local guy who was collecting
baseball gloves for kids in Poland. I told him, 'That's a great idea.
Can I steal it?'"
Read on to learn more about how Pitch In For Baseball has helped kids and communities across the world.