ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — Back in 1996, Nelson Wingo and some of his fellow Robertsdale High School Alumni noticed there needed to be more scholarship opportunities and recognition for the minor sports in Baldwin County Schools.

They got together and created the Baldwin County Academic and Sports Foundation and began thinking of ways to provide financial help for those students who played sports other than football, baseball or basketball.

“We saw there was little or nothing for golf, softball, tennis, volleyball and those type sports and wanted to provide something that wasn’t under the school umbrella. The only problem was we didn’t have any seed money so we had to have fundraisers to get it,“ Wingo said.

The first fundraisers they had were golf and fishing tournaments and although they raised money, it was not enough to compensate for all the work they were doing so now they just do fundraisers as needed.

Meeting once a quarter, Wingo and his nine board members try to find out where the need is and help where they can. “Right now, we are trying to get RHS some batting cages and we are helping the volleyball program too.”

BCASF is not only for sports but they also issue grants for academics as well. All the feeder schools in the Central Baldwin area plus the private schools are eligible for grant money from BCASF, Wingo said.

“We do what we can and spread out money throughout the year. There is no specific time but the beginning of the school year seems to be busier than other times. We just want to give back to the community and help in some way,” Wingo said.

Two scholarships are given out each year to any student who qualifies, Wingo said, and are not just limited to colleges. “We realize not every student wants to go to college so we try to provide for trade school or vocational training of some kind if that is what they want to do. We try to give them to those who would not otherwise get to go.”

Because BCASF is a nonprofit organization, all money raised goes back into the foundation and all donations are tax-deductible, Wingo said.

Other members of the BCASF Board of Directors include: Keith Phildius, Kenny King, Jeremy King, John Phillips, Max Childress, Mike Van, Leland Baggett and the late Doyle McDaniel.

For more information, contact Wingo at (251) 947-2291. To make a donation, mail to BCASF, P.O. Box 806, Robertsdale, AL 36567