COMING TO FRUITION—At the Oct. 5 meeting of the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District, representatives from the Amanda McPherson Foundation and Simi Valley Girls Softball presented checks toward the construction of the new girls’ softball complex at Big Sky Park. A check for $300,000 was presented by Phil McPherson and $75,000 was received from Brent Rollins, president of Simi Valley Girls Softball. Representatives from both organizations are featured in this photo, along with softball players, family members and the bankers who supported the effort. Sizable donations from the Amanda McPherson Foundation and Simi Valley Girls Softball will help the Rancho Simi Recreation and Parks District realize construction of a $2.8 million softball complex.

The foundation, established in 2004 in memory of Amanda McPherson, is dedicated to supporting research and education in the fields of velocardiofacial syndrome, a genetic birth defect that often results in cleft palates, heart problems and viral myocarditis, an infection that attacks a muscle in the heart and causes sudden cardiac arrest. In honor of Amanda’s dedication to athletics, the foundation decided to donate $300,000 for the new softball complex.

“During the time that Amanda played in the league, we thought they had terrible facilities. When people started donating money to the foundation, we felt that the money should help to build proper facilities for girls’ softball in Simi Valley,” said Phil McPherson, Amanda’s father and president of the foundation.

The foundation has also donated $150,000 to local schools and has helped to set up fifteen “Amanda’s Corners” in various schools. These areas, which cost approximately $7,500, are specifically designed to assist children with special needs.

“We really appreciate the support that we’ve received from the people in Simi Valley. We raised this money with the help of the city’s residents and businesses,” McPherson said.

Simi Valley Girls Softball made a $75,000 donation to help ensure that girls have opportunities to enjoy athletics and

learn the importance of teamwork and commitment in the future, according to park district officials.

“The two organizations approached us because they wanted to do something good for the community and they realized that girls’ softball was heavily underfunded,” said Colleen Janssen, marketing and community outreach specialist for the

park district. “We don’t see as much fundraising for the girls’ teams, and we were happy to be able to partner with these organizations to make it happen.”

The new complex, which is being built at Big Sky Park and will include four softball diamonds and all the necessary amenities, couldn’t come at a more opportune time as far as the park district is concerned. According to officials with the district, the availability of field space is not keeping up with demand, and athletic teams are beginning to feel the pinch.

“Everyone is in need of field space, and there is only so much land available,” Janssen said.

While Simi has a slew of parks, officials point out that the smaller neighborhood parks lack the proper infrastructure to host sporting events and that the larger community parks are often booked solid.

“We can’t put hundreds of kids into one of the neighborhood parks because there is no parking available, no restrooms and little lighting. These parks were designed to serve the people who live adjacent to them,” Janssen said.

The new softball diamonds will not only resolve scheduling issues, but they will also give girls’ softball a home base.

“Girls’ softball tends to be held in different fields, so we never were able to give them a concentrated area of play. Now, all the games will be held near one another,” Janssen said.

The complex will also include an area for halfcourt basketball, a playground and decorative landscaping. Phases 1 and 2 of construction have already been finished, and the entire project is scheduled to be completed in spring 2007.

“The park district is extremely pleased to be able to add this facility to the community’s already substantial park system. Many will benefit by this for years to come,” said Larry Peterson, park district general manager.