New foundation to support youth baseball and softball begins with boost to Belen Little League

What is planned as a new long-term commitment to support Little League baseball and softball in New Mexico began Saturday in Belen.

Albuquerque native Sam Kunzman presented the first donation from the James S. Kunzman Foundation to Belen Little League.

“America’s pastime should be for everybody,” said Kunzman, who works in real estate private equity in Dallas. “A lot of people are being priced out, and I thought that was wrong, un-American. That was not what my father believed in.” That is why Kunzman put his father’s name on the foundation.

The inaugural donation, an oversized check presented before the first games of the season, was for $5,000.

Belen Little League board member Michele Todd said the money will be used to replenish basic items.

“It’s going to help us buy better quality equipment,” specifically catcher’s gear, she said. “Unfortunately, the equipment we can afford doesn’t quite last as long as we’d like it to.”

“It’s for multi-season impacts,” Kunzman added, from bases and balls to tees and jerseys which can be used for years. “In the future we want to help solve bigger problems, things like helping with their facility, recruitment of new players, recruitment of coaches.”

Kunzman, wanting to make a long-term impact, said he reached out in December to Ray Birmingham, former University of New Mexico baseball coach.

Birmingham travels the state leading baseball clinics and preaching the benefits of the sport.

Kunzman recalled Birmingham saying, “I’m totally in, but I don’t want to be a part of a fly-by-night,” endeavor.

The two were on the same page.

“Little League is 'community' and our communities are kind of fading a little bit,” Birmingham said, adding that Kunzman’s effort “is not just today. It’s the start of a snowball effect.”

Kunzman wanted the process to begin in the Albuquerque metro-area, and Belen was an obvious choice because his parents met at the Belen golf course, where his dad was the club pro. With his father’s name on the foundation, Kunzman said he’s in it for the long haul.

Las Cruces and Albuquerque Little Leagues are future targets. Then, the foundation could spread further.

“The goal is also to be in other states and help other kids. I have a grand plan,” said Kunzman, who continues to fine-tune the details. “The whole goal is to try and bring people together, keep kids playing. Then, in the future, expand the game to get more kids playing. It's just about equality of opportunity.”