Stepping up to the plate for rebuilding

Area middle schools are taking a swing at helping survivors of Hurricane Katrina rebuild their homes.

Faculty members from all six middle schools in Indian Prairie Unit District 204 will take the field at 4:15 p.m. today to play three charity softball games.

The games will be played in Frontier Park, 3380 Cedar Glade Drive, behind Neuqua Valley's Gold Campus. Crone will take on Scullen, Granger will face Hill and Gregory will compete against Still.

Administrators, including Superintendent Stephen Daeschner, will serve as umpires as the staffs battle it out. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated.

When the dust settles, the schools hope to raise $42,000 from donations and concession sales -- enough to help Naperville Responds build a home in Pass Christian, Miss. The house will be dedicated in honor of the six schools. Naperville Responds so far has raised enough to build 20 homes.

"The main thing is we're emphasizing that every little bit helps, and reinforcing the message that we can really make a difference," said Crone Principal Stan Gorbatkin, who is organizing the games.

Scullen and Crone have played a charity softball game for Katrina survivors for the past two years. During that time they donated about $35,000 to support rebuilding efforts. This year all six schools wanted to get involved.

Throughout the week, students have been competing to see which school could raise the most money per student. They've raised about $5,000 so far and are hoping local businesses will step forward to help with the cause.

Kevin Gallaher, executive board president of Naperville Responds, said it's wonderful to see the schools involved and cognizant of the struggles those affected by the hurricane still face.

"They've struggled with insurance companies and government and all kinds of things, and amazingly they never give up hope," he said. "But I think just knowing people outside there are continuing to remember just strengthens their hope."

For details or to make a donation, call Gorbatkin at (630) 428-5600 or contact any of the six schools.

If you go

What: Indian Prairie Unit District 204 charity softball games to raise money to build a home in Pass Christian, Miss., which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina

When: 4:15 p.m. today

Where: Frontier Park, 3380 Cedar Glade Drive, Naperville

Info: (630) 428-5600