Grant grew up to be a baseball hero - the first black pitcher in the American League to win 20 games in a season and a World Series game. Today, he lives in Los Angeles, serves on the board of Major League Baseball Alumni Association, and wears his world championship ring with pride. Back home in Lacoochee, however, things have not been as fortunate. The lumber mill closed and things became more difficult. Today, drug dealers are a threat.
Children have absentee parents, temptations of drugs and street life and live in projects.
But Grant is working to change that. The money raised last year accounted for about a quarter of the budget, said Jim Ulrich, the club's director. The money was used for general operating expenses to keep the door open, such as arts and crafts supplies, salaries, and the game room, Ulrich said. The club also offers anti-drug and abstinence promotion programs, homework help, computers access and sports programs. New game room equipment and supplies were able to be purchased this year, in part because of the tournament funds.