CASEWV Night at Bowen Field 2025 — Community Action of South Eastern West Virginia

The Bluefield Ridge Runners Baseball Team hosted a successful Early Education Theme Night, sponsored by CASEWV. The event saw an impressive turnout of over 200 attendees, all of whom received free entry and a complimentary meal. CASEWV’s Project YES, Head Start, and MIECHV Home Visitation programs were in attendance and provided goodies for kids and families as well as information about the many services offered by CASEWV to assist the community. The night was capped off with a thrilling performance by the Ridge Runners, who dominated the Elizabethton River Riders with a decisive 6-0 victory.

Chawn Martin, an educator with CASEWV's Project YES program, had the honor of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch of the game. Project YES has been a pivotal partner for the Bluefield Ridge Runners, taking the lead in organizing impactful annual community events like Early Education Night. This program, which has reached over 3,500 students aged 12-18 across Mercer, McDowell, Monroe, and Wyoming counties since 2001, is dedicated to fostering Positive Youth Development. Project YES achieves this through intensive, structured curricula in school settings, alternative schools, juvenile detention centers, and group homes, along with parent education seminars addressing critical statistics related to teen pregnancy. They also actively engage in community outreach, participate in local health fairs, and organize sports-focused summer camps that integrate physical activity with vital health education and life skills development, aiming to create a more supportive and nurturing environment for all young people in the region.