Tim Mellott, Southern Frederick County Youth Athletic Facilities President, Sean Gamage, donor, holding a photo of George and Gail King whose fund awarded a grant to The Southern Frederick County Athletic Facilities Fund, and John E. (Jack) Tritt, Community Foundation trustee, announced the grant to help build an athletic field adjacent to Urbana High School for use by southern Frederick County youth athletic teams.

Grant to Support the Building of Athletic Fields in Urbana

October 5, 2009: Sean and Sarah Gamage, residents of Urbana, made a grant through The George and Gail King Memorial Fund to financially support the building of new athletic fields in Urbana.

The grant was awarded to The Southern Frederick County Youth Athletic Facilities (SFCYAF) Fund, a component fund of The Community Foundation of Frederick County, which aids SFCYAF’s mission of constructing new athletic facilities for children in Southern Frederick County. The organization’s current project is building a multi-use athletic field adjacent to Urbana High School, on land south of Frederick County Public Schools’ property on Route 355. Donated goods and services and financial contributions have provided more that $850,000 in improvements on this parcel of land.

When sharing the news of the grant from the fund in her parents’ names, Mrs. Gamage reflected on her parents, George and Gail King, who unfortunately never had the opportunity to watch their grandchildren participate in youth sports. “Knowing how supportive they were of their children and if fate afforded them the opportunity, I know my parents would have attended every one of their grandchildren’s games, cheering them on and encouraging their team mates to be the best they could be. This grant made in their memory represents their legacy of caring and their commitment to their family.”

Tim Mellott, SFCYAF President, reported that the project is quickly moving toward completion with the help of many generous donors and volunteers. “The field is at the top of a grassy knoll, so passers-by cannot see the progress when driving. However, about 80 percent of the playing surface now has grass growing and other parts of the project are almost complete,” remarked Mellott. “With the beautiful view of Sugarloaf Mountain in the distance, this will be one of the most enjoyable fields for our players and their families.”

Additional contributions to The Southern Frederick County Youth Athletic Facilities (SFCYAF) Fund may be made online through the Community Foundation’s website or may be made by mailing contributions to The Community Foundation of Frederick County, 312 East Church Street, Frederick, MD 21701.  To contribute online, click here.