![2024 Carl E Stotz Community OTY Award](https://res.cloudinary.com/little-league/image/upload/c_limit,dpr_auto,h_1707,w_2560,q_auto,c_fill,g_face/v1723746803/CommunityOTY-scaled.jpg)
A chartered Little League® program since 1991, Silver Lakes/Helendale (Calif.) Little League has been named the recipient of the 2024 Carl E. Stotz Little League Community of the Year Award.
“For more than 80 years, Little League has been a program focused on community and strengthening those within it through the game of baseball and softball,” said Stephen D. Keener, Little League President and CEO. “This award helps us honor those programs who go above and beyond to bring the values of Little League to life within their communities and we are pleased to be able to present this year’s award to Silver Lakes/Helendale Little League and all the dedicated volunteers who support it.”
Located just along the famed Route 66 in Helendale, California, this league has been a staple for the community for more than two decades and has brought a sense of teamwork and fun for children of all ages. Led by League President Brenda Benitez since 2013, the league has provided opportunities in both baseball and softball from Tee Ball all the way through the teenage divisions of play and has been active in both local and regional discussions about the organization.
This year, following Mrs. Benitez’s attendance at the West Region Roundtables where she learned about the launch of Little League’s Organizational Identity, the league found a way to bring that to life and incorporate the importance of the program’s mission, vision, purpose, and values into the league’s everyday activities.
Focused on Little League’s five core values – Community, Integrity, Teamwork, Fun, and Inclusion – the league launched a “Snack Shack Buck” initiative, empowering team managers and volunteers to recognize players and youth who exemplify those values on and off the field. As part of this effort, volunteers were asked to identify deserving players, share directly with them how they embody a specific value, and commend them for their actions with a $1 voucher that is redeemable at the snack bar.
Through this program, not only is the Silver Lakes/Helendale Little League program living out the Organizational Identity of the Little League program as a whole, but is also helping to foster a stronger community while positively empowering its children every step of the way.
Named after the founder of the Little League program, the Carl E. Stotz Little League Community of the Year Award is given annually to a league that creates a player-centric culture and is aligned with the goals of the Little League International Strategic Plan.
As part of this award, Little League International also provided the league with a $5,000 grant and honored the program as part of a pregame ceremony during the 2024 Little League Baseball® Region Tournament in San Bernardino, California, on August 9.