LOUYAA receives $65,000 from Community Foundation’s
Jeffrey Hayek Memorial Fund for “Jeffy’s Fields.”

May 14, 2010: For the Hayek family, a $65,000 check made payable to the Linganore Oakdale Urbana Youth Athletic Association, Inc. (LOUYAA) is a beginning and not an end.

Almost three years have gone by since Robin and Brian Hayek lost their ten-year-old son Jeff to blood clotting complications in his head. Because Jeff was an avid baseball player, the Hayeks have been raising money to provide Frederick County youth with the opportunity to play and learn baseball on a top-notch baseball field.

“The Jeffrey Hayek Memorial Fund really belongs to all the incredible people who have made so many amazing contributions,” said Robin Hayek. “We’ve seen donations from piggy banks, lemonade stands, student fund raisers—and so many generous people, some of whom we don’t even know—all sharing our desire to build this field of dreams.”

Now, the reality of “Jeffy’s Field” is that much closer.

The Hayek family and The Community Foundation of Frederick County, of which the memorial fund is a part, have partnered with LOUYAA to build an athletic field complex in Jeff’s hometown of New Market. The athletic complex will include baseball and multi-purpose fields where more than 5,500 boys and girls will participate in organized recreational league sports. The land for the park was donated by the town of New Market with the full support and cooperation of Mayor Winslow Burhans and the entire Town Council. Oak Hill Properties, a local developer, also contributed easement rights and fill dirt to make the project accessible and more affordable.

LOUYAA offered the Hayeks the opportunity to name the baseball side of the athletic park “Jeffy’s Fields” in honor of their son. Because the New Market field project aligned perfectly with the objectives of The Jeffrey Hayek Memorial Fund, the Community Foundation Board of Trustees, at the Hayeks recommendation, agreed to grant a portion of their fund to enhance the LOUYAA baseball fields and begin construction of a special field that over time will become the showcase of the complex.

“LOUYAA is honored to be the recipient of this generous donation and to be able to play a critical role making Jeff’s dream a reality,” said Charlie Dunn, LOUYAA president.


The Hayeks said they plan to continue to raise monies that may be awarded from the Fund to improve “Jeffy’s Fields” each year, as well as make other youth baseball-related donations within Frederick County where Jeff lived. A golf tournament and silent auction fund raiser is planned this June 4 at Worthington Manor Golf Club in Urbana. Those interested in participating in or sponsoring the event may call 301.865.6110 for more information.

“Jeff wrote a poem in third grade about his dream of ‘playing on the big diamond,’ said Brian Hayek. “These will be the fields he would have loved to play on.”

Memorial funds are one of the many ways The Community Foundation of Frederick County transforms the unique charitable dreams of individuals, families and organizations into the reality of charitable funds supporting a range of worthy causes. Over one-fourth of the funds held by the Community Foundation honor the memories of deceased loved ones by continuing to touch lives in meaningful ways in their names. To date, the Community Foundation has provided more than $23 million in scholarships and grants throughout Frederick County. To donate to The Jeffrey Hayek Memorial Fund, click here. Checks may also be made payable to The Community Foundation of Frederick County and mailed to 312 East Church Street, Frederick, MD 21701, with the specific fund’s name inserted in the check’s memo line. All check or online contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.