May 16, 20192 min read

Jack Hooper Day at the Ballpark & Homerun Derby Celebrating Family and Flying Shorthorns

Charlie Shank gears up to hit in the Derby

The staff and volunteers of Turtle Wing Foundation have been extremely busy throughout April celebrating autism awareness month and the families who have triumphed and not let a diagnosis discourage them. One of the goals of the foundation this year has been to find more families who would benefit from its programs and services and grow the Turtle Wing Parent Support Network. The Turtle Wing service area includes Fayette, Colorado, Lavaca and surrounding counties. A perfect opportunity for families to learn more about the foundation is the 8th Annual Jack Hooper Day at the Ballpark and Homerun Derby, which will be held on Saturday, May 4 at the Schulenburg Sports Complex. This family event has something for everyone and offers of full day of fun, activities, food and music. The event will begin at 8 AM with the second annual Turtle Challenge, a fitness based obstacle course around the half mile walking trail at the complex which incorporates two additional obstacles this year. Athletes of all ages and abilities will get a chance to join in on the fun and chase victory. Registration is available at www.getmeregistered.com/TheTurtleChallenge or forms are available at the Turtle Wing office (723 Upton Ave., Schulenburg). The official opening ceremony begins at 10 AM and will feature students selected for the first academic scholarships Turtle Wing has ever awarded. For this first year only, this opportunity was reserved for members of the Schulenburg High School class of 2019, the “Flying Shorthorns”, which was Jack Hooper’s class whom the foundation was founded in memory of. At 10:30 AM the rest of the zones will open including the Kid Zone, Silent Auction and Homerun Derby. All ages and abilities are encouraged to participate in the Derby, with points awarded for base hits and home runs, as well as having a t-ball division. There will be music and food all day long and live Turtle Races at 12 PM. Attendees can also visit the souvenir & information booth to get their own Turtle Wing merchandise or to learn about some of their newest projects and partnerships. Closing ceremonies and awards will be held at approximately 3 PM. Turtle Wing Foundation’s programming areas include Early Intervention, Supplemental Services and Community Education and Advocacy. With summer just around the corner families who have children with learning challenges are encouraged to reach out to Turtle Wing to begin planning for summer camp opportunities, supplemental learning options, social skills outings, and numerous other ways to achieve family support and encouragement. For more information, event registration or to volunteer for the event please visit the Turtle Wing Facebook page or call Susie Shank at 979-505-5090.