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Double Angel Foundation seeks grant

Contributed by: Debbie Santy of Double Angel Foundation on 10/9/2006

There's an old saying that "life is 10 percentwhat happens to you and 90percentwhat you do about it." A terrible tragedy happened to a Parker family 6 years ago, but it's what they did about it that is what is so inspiring. Plus, it's how the citizens of Parker and beyond reacted to the tragedy that makes this truly a testament of heart and spirit, and proof positive that from tragedy can come triumph.

Two young baseball-loving Parker boys, Dillon and Logan Dixey, were house boating on Lake Powell in Arizona with their family in August 2000. The boat was anchored and the boys were swimming behind it, not knowing they were being exposed to carbon monoxide from an exhaust pipe from a generator. Both little guys were swimming one moment and had drowned in the lake the next. There was no time to save them and no warnings had been given about these dangers.

Anyone living in Parker remembers hearing this shocking news, and the community came forward with offers to help their parents, Ken and Bambi Dixey, in anyway they could. The Dixey family, instead of retreating in this time of their greatest emptiness, chose to vow to keep this tragedy from happening again to other families, and to do something to honor the memory of their sons. Thus, the Double Angel Foundation was born.

The community responded by getting involved in the Foundation to raise funds for these efforts. The boys' deaths were not isolated events. The Dixey's and members of their Carbon Monoxide Awareness Committee worked tirelessly to educate others about the dangers of Carbon Monoxide in the boating industry. Their efforts to stop these needless deaths, included testifying before Congress, has brought about change in the industry. There has not been a carbon monoxide related death at Lake Powell in more than 3 years, thanks in great part to the work of the Double Angel Foundation.

Closer to home, in tribute to "America's game" of baseball, which was so enjoyed by the Dixey family, plans soon began to build a ballpark so that more families and youth could enjoy Dillon and Logan's beloved game. On June 3, 2006 the grand opening of the Double Angel Ballpark took place and was attended by more than 1000 people. Baseball players, teams and leagues called the fields "a little slice of heaven," or "Parker's own field of dreams." The spirit of Dillon and Logan lives on at the 2 fields named in their honor, and will be enjoyed for generations to come.

The building of the ballpark, and this is just the first two of a planned four field state-of-the-art complex, became a labor of love for not just the Foundation, but for the Parker area. About 2000 volunteers and supporters, representing families, businesses and organizations, along with the Dixey family, all generously contributed and made sacrifices to complete the baseball complex worth about $4 million. The land has been leased from the Parker Water and Sanitation District and is located at the edge of the Rueter-Hess reservoir being constructed. The 2 completed artificial turf baseball fields are for varsity and junior varsity play for age 13 and up baseball. When the other two fields are completed, they will be for younger players.

While some might think that now that the fields are open, the mission is complete, but the truth is that the Double Angel Foundation needs support now as much as ever before. Ongoing maintenance, staffing and upgrades are continually needed. The Foundation relies solely on donations and field rental, which they strive to continue to keep as reasonable as possible so that more teens can call these fields home.

Studies have proven time and again that teens who are involved in a sport or other organized activity are much less likely to be involved in inappropriate behaviors. It is the goal of the Double Angel Foundation that the ballpark become a gathering place for our youth of Parker. For instance, Parker Young Life recently hosted "The Pride of Parker Powder Puff Football Game" at the ballpark - 100 of Parker's teens participated. The Double Angel Ballpark was proud to donate the facility for such a great evening, and hopes to be able to do more of this in the future.

Funding is currently needed to build a permanent restroom and office facility, to purchase bleachers for Logan Field, to landscape the grounds, to pay off debt incurred, and, of course, to build the last two fields. The Double Angel Foundation would be very proud to partner with Post-News Community and YourHub.com by being a recipient of the community grant program. Let's continue to be able to "play ball" in Parker at this incredible community-built facility, the Double Angel Ballpark.

Thank you for your consideration. What a generous program you have offered to Parker nonprofits.


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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Debbie Santy of Double Angel Foundation has posted 46 stories and 0 comments since joining on 9/14/2005. Debbie Santy of Double Angel Foundation's average story rating is 5.
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