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Canaryville Little League Gets $10,000 In 'Top-Notch' Equipment From Cubs

By Joe Ward | October 16, 2017 5:10am | Updated on October 17, 2017 11:52am
 The Canaryville Little League received a donation of equipment from the Chicago Cubs for its upcoming season.
The Canaryville Little League received a donation of equipment from the Chicago Cubs for its upcoming season.
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Facebook/Canaryville Little League

CANARYVILLE — Kids in the Canaryville Little League will play next season with new equipment courtesy of the Chicago Cubs.

The Cubs, along with Massachusetts charity Good Sports, donated $90,000 in equipment to six Chicago groups this year, according to the charity. The Canaryville Little League received $10,000 in new equipment including "top notch" bats, gloves, batting gloves, helmets and other items, said John Kozlar, president of the Little League.

Kozlar learned about Good Sports while he was writing grant proposals for the new concession stand at the park, which has seen half a million dollars worth of upgrades in eight years to become one of the most impressive little league facilities on the South Side.

"You just apply and hope for the best and they said yes," Kozlar said.

RELATED: See Where Cubs, Sox Pour Millions Into Youth Sports. MAP

The $10,000 in new equipment is on top of the Cubs' $55,000 donation to the league for the construction of its concession stand and announcer's box. Work on those facilities is ongoing. The Cubs have given more than $4 million to city parks and leagues since 2014.

"The Cubs want to help out these communities, give back to kids. It's great to see," Kozlar said. "I think they gained a few more fans in the neighborhood."

Check out video of Cubs player Ian Happ helping to sort the equipment for Chicago little leaguers, courtesy of Major League Baseball

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