Kraus Foundation donates $15,000 to Miracle League of Columbia for playground

Courtesy of First Farmers and Merchants Bank
·2 min read
(Left) Mike Uggla, CEO/Treasurer, Miracle League; Robin Estep, Founder, Miracle League; Tim Pettus, Kraus Foundation’s Board Chairman and former Vice Chairman, First Farmers; Dawn Moore, Chief Wealth Management Officer, First Farmers; Randy Stevens, former CEO, First Farmers; Brian Williams, CEO and Chairman, First Farmers, attend the check presentation ceremony.

The Joseph F. Kraus, Jr. and Hazel Kraus Human Development Foundation, a 501(c)(3) private grantmaking foundation based in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, donated $15,000 to The Miracle League of Columbia in a check presentation from First Farmers and Merchants Bank.

The Miracle League of Columbia is a program created to give children with disabilities the opportunity to play baseball in Columbia.

The Kraus Foundation’s donation will help the organization build the baseball field and playground that will house the program at Maury County Park. The donation was presented by the Kraus Foundation’s Board Chairman, Timothy E. Pettus, former vice chairman of First Farmers and Merchants Bank and member of the bank’s board of directors.

“The Miracle League of Columbia has a dream of giving every child in our community the opportunity to play America’s favorite pastime. The Kraus Foundation believes in the power of sports, specifically baseball, to transform children’s lives and teach valuable lessons,” Pettus said. “The program will be fully inclusive for children and their families over five with a diagnosed disability or IEP/504 plan. We support the Miracle League of Columbia in forming a community that will ensure no child is excluded from the joy and camaraderie of playing baseball.”

This donation is a continuation of the Kraus Foundation’s dedication to supporting The Miracle League. In 2014, the foundation was the first donor to contribute to Abigail's Plan in Lawrenceburg.

Miracle League of Columbia aims to raise $1.5 million to build a handicap-accessible field and all-inclusive playground. To donate or volunteer, visit www.columbiamiracleleague.com.

The Miracle League of Columbia at Maury County Park is a program created to give children with disabilities the opportunity to play baseball in Columbia. The organization was formed in 2021 by Columbia natives, who dreamed of bringing an all-inclusive Miracle League program and playground to their community. The Columbia chapter is part of the national organization that opened its first field in 2000 and was designed to give kids ages 5-19 with disabilities a chance to play America's favorite pastime, baseball.

The Joseph F. Kraus, Jr., and Hazel Kraus Human Development Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private grantmaking foundation based in Lawrenceburg. The foundation was established in 2010 through a testamentary charitable gift by Joseph and Hazel Kraus of Lawrenceburg.

First Farmers and Merchants Corporation is the holding company for First Farmers and Merchants Bank, a community bank serving the Middle Tennessee area through 22 offices in seven Middle Tennessee counties. As of Sept. 30, 2022, First Farmers reported total assets of approximately $1.9 billion, total shareholders’ equity of approximately $85 million, and administered trust assets of $5.4 billion.

For more information about First Farmers, visit www.myfirstfarmers.com under “Investor Relations.”

This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Kraus Foundation donates $15,000 to Miracle League of Columbia