Marklund opens renovated ball field after successful donor campaign
Thanks in large part to a $100,000 donation made by the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley, a campaign to raise funds to renovate a specialized flat-surfaced baseball field on Marklund’s Geneva campus reached a successful conclusion by surpassing its $250,000 goal.
To celebrate the fundraiser that brought in more than $257,000, donors, staff, volunteers and residents came together on June 10, to “officially” kick off the 2025 Marklund baseball season with a ribbon-cutting event opening Marklund’s newly renovated “Miracle League” field.
The field is situated in the center of the Marklund Hyde Center Campus, a 25-acre site in Geneva that houses residential facilities for 96 adults with severe and profound developmental disabilities, most of whom are non-ambulatory and use wheelchairs and other assistive devices for mobility. The campus also includes a day school and an administration/therapy building.
As Marklund President and CEO Gil Fonger thanked those in attendance he gave a specific nod to the donors, including the Community Foundation of Fox River Valley, who made the lead gift.
“The donors were so generous to help make this renovation project possible,” he said. “The field ended up just gorgeous! Having our residents play baseball with volunteers throughout the summer is our largest single volunteer activity. This field will get a lot of use when they all take part in this popular ‘everyday life’ activity, playing baseball — America’s sport.”
Jen Borgognoni, director of grantmaking at the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley, noted that the foundation was proud to support the renovation of the baseball field with a $100,000 grant. “This inclusive, adaptive field is thoughtfully designed to meet the needs of athletes with disabilities,” she said.
“Our grant helped fund a new rubberized surface, ensuring safe access for individuals who use wheelchairs or other mobility aids. The embedded bases also reduce tripping hazards, making the game accessible for everyone. We’re grateful for our ongoing partnership with Marklund and the vital work they do in our community.”
“We are incredibly grateful to the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley for their generous support of the Marklund Major League baseball field campaign,” said Carrie Seida, director of corporate and foundation relations at Marklund. “Their commitment to strengthening communities through their discretionary grant program has made a meaningful impact on our organization and the individuals we serve. This field is not only a cherished part of Marklund — it’s a place where the entire community can come together, and we’re honored to have the Foundation as a key partner in making this project a reality.”
Seida also expressed appreciation to all the donors of the baseball field renovation campaign, including the additional major donors: the Berzanskis Family, Corrugated Supplies Company and the Potocsnak Family, Foglia Family Foundation, The Hill Group, Kane County Cougars, the McMahon Family, Eve and James Pokorny, Roberta and PJ, Catie and Max Schmidt-Schmidt Steel, Inc., the Michael Smith Family, Everett and Joyce Van Der Molen Foundation, the Schweiner Family, Stumm Insurance, as well as gifts made in honor of Grant Zimmerman, and in memory of DJ Biag, John Delaney, and Augustine “Gus” Murin.
To learn more about volunteering with Marklund residents in summertime baseball games, visit www.marklund.org/volunteer.
Founded in 1954, Marklund offers residential, educational and day services to children and adults with serious and profound developmental disabilities at locations in Elgin, Bloomingdale and Geneva. Visit www.marklund.org.