From Peering through the Knothole
to Excelling at the Game

Young people in the West Charlotte area who love baseball have an advocate to help them achieve their dreams – The Knothole Foundation. Founded in 2017, Knothole has as its mission to enhance the lives of youth by increasing access, skills, and opportunities through ball and bat sports. Knothole provides “Sports-Plus” Positive Youth Development programming that focuses on the role of athletics in character development, academics, and life skills. Helping kids see, play, and apply the game can improve their quality of life.

Carolinas Metro Reds and UDACF (U Deserve A Chance Foundation) are two organizations led by former Major League Baseball players Jeff Schaefer and Morris Madden whose love for the game is only exceeded by their passion for serving Charlotte’s youth.

“Knothole brought these two organizations together to help push initiatives in the West Charlotte community aimed at exposing underserved youth to baseball and softball,” says Sabrina Gilchrist, Knothole executive director.

In partnership with Carolina Metro Reds and UDACF, Knothole connects youth to academic support, tutoring, and opportunities to play on teams. “Knothole is the entry point for children,” Sabrina says. “Once they come through the door, after looking through the knothole as we like to say, we are able to connect them to ongoing play opportunities.”

Targeting kids between ages 4 and 18, Knothole’s programming includes baseball camps and clinics, coaching clinics, and a girls’ sports initiative. “We are also planning a mentorship component to the girls’ program where girls will be paired with college-level athletes. We are very excited about this,” Sabrina says.

The former Optimist Club site across from West Mecklenburg High School has developed into the Knothole’s homebase. Named after community champion Richard “Stick” Williams, The Stick is a beautiful facility in the heart of West Charlotte, complete with three athletic fields, an academic complex, an indoor training facility, a broadcast studio, and a complete press box which Sabrina says has all the bells and whistles you would have with a real game.  

 The Stick Williams Dream Fields also serve as the home for Queens University of Charlotte’s baseball and softball teams. Student athletes, faculty, and coaches participate in ongoing mentoring of youth as well as tutoring and academic counseling.

“West Charlotte is a corridor of opportunity, meaning it’s an area with considerable representation of low-to-moderate income individuals and families,” Sabrina says. “Within a 15-to-20-mile radius of our location, we have 15 Title 1 schools. We are right in the middle of the opportunity to advance economic mobility and resources to support the community.”

Volunteer coaches work with players aged 4 to 18 to teach them about baseball and life.

In partnership with Carolinas Metro Reds and other community partners, some of the Knothole’s programs include:

Reading Literacy:  For ages 4 through grade 5, the program supports literacy through direct, hands-on tutoring and indirect support in partnerships with schools, out-of-school programs, and churches.

College Preparedness:  For middle school and high school students, these activities prepare them for college and other vocational opportunities through workshops, counseling around academic progress, standardized testing, college visits, and financial assistance through academic and sports scholarships and financial aid.

Technology/STEM Initiative: Knothole is helping to develop a pipeline of programming to amplify and focus on the awareness and importance of STEM.

Life Skills:  Knothole holds workshops in areas including leadership, financial fundamentals, business entrepreneurship, and civic responsibility.

Health and Wellness:  In conjunction with Atrium Health, Knothole generates health and wellness protocols for participants and their families both on and off the field.

Jeff Schaefer and Morris Madden (l. to r.) are former MLB players who provide their expertise and mentorship to the Knothole Foundation.

One exciting event Knothole holds in August is the HBCU Camp & Showcase that TowneBank helps sponsor. In 2024, 75 players from the DC area to South Carolina participated in this opportunity to impress 17 collegiate coaches from HBCUs. “We bring in coaches from all over to scout players,” Sabrina says. “We do this because we understand that not every family has the resources to take their children to a showcase, so we make it affordable and bring the showcase to our location. Last year, 11 players were recruited to colleges after being seen at our showcase.”

West Side Story is an annual softball and baseball camp, and tournament held in April that combines baseball and softball skill development with education and life skills programming.

The Knothole Foundation works closely with Stephen Heeseman, TowneBank Myers Park market executive. “Over a year ago one of our private bankers saw a segment on television about Carolinas Metro Reds,” Stephen says. “This led to a meeting with Morris Madden and Jeff Schaefer, the two former MLB players, and other leaders who ultimately came together to form the Knothole Foundation. We were inspired by the impact they were having in the community as well as their vision for the future. This was an organization that aligned well with our culture and core values.  We immediately started thinking about ways we could partner to help support their mission. I am proud to say that our TowneBank Foundation has committed to a multi-year grant to assist with facility improvements.” 

Sabrina shares what she enjoys most about her work with the Knothole Foundation. “It’s all about these kids. To see how much their eyes light up once they learn about the game and start to play. You see their confidence increase and their personalities emerge. It makes it all worthwhile.”

The Knothole Foundation can always use volunteers – coaches, assistant coaches, tutors, and workforce skills like resume writing. Visit KnotholeCarolinas.org to find out more.