Massachusetts Baseball Welcomes Newest Member Blake Through Team IMPACT
December 05, 2022 | Baseball
Blake becomes official teammate for the next two years.
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts baseball and head coach Matt Reynolds officially welcomed its newest teammate with the signing of 7-year-old Blake Routhier through UMass' partnership with Team IMPACT (Inspire, Motivate, Play Against Challenges, Together).
"I speak for everyone in our program when I say we are thrilled to be partnered up with Team IMPACT and to welcome Blake to our squad," said Reynolds. "Our first meeting last week was a great success as he came out to see us practice in the bubble and meet the team. Blake's energy and enthusiasm are infectious! We look forward to all the experiences that Blake and our program will share together this season and beyond."
Blake joins the Massachusetts baseball program as an official team member and will attend practices, games, and team functions for the next two seasons. Team IMPACT is a national nonprofit organization that connects children facing serious and chronic illnesses with local college athletic teams to form life-long bonds and life-changing outcomes. Blake is the first-ever Team IMPACT teammate in the baseball program's history.
Team IMPACT is the only U.S. nonprofit that tackles the emotional trauma and social isolation experienced by children facing serious illnesses and disabilities by matching them with a college athletic team. Our two-year therapeutic program complements a child's medical treatments, allowing the child to develop relationships and skills that help them complete the full circle of healing.
Through participation in Team IMPACT's clinically informed program, children experience a true sense of belonging, resulting in increased empowerment, normalization, health promotion, and resilience. Families feel connected and supported as their child achieves individualized goals, while experiencing the joy of team camaraderie and inclusion; and student-athletes gain perspective and inspiration, as well as lessons in adversity and resilience.
Founded in 2011, Team IMPACT has matched more than 2,300 children with 700+ colleges and universities in 49 states, impacting more than 65,000 student-athletes. Team IMPACT has more than 1,200 teams across the country waiting to be matched with children, ages 5-16, who have been diagnosed with a serious illness or disability and could benefit from becoming a member of the team. To learn more, or if you know a child who may be interested, get in the game at www.teamimpact.org and @goteamimpact.
"I speak for everyone in our program when I say we are thrilled to be partnered up with Team IMPACT and to welcome Blake to our squad," said Reynolds. "Our first meeting last week was a great success as he came out to see us practice in the bubble and meet the team. Blake's energy and enthusiasm are infectious! We look forward to all the experiences that Blake and our program will share together this season and beyond."
Blake joins the Massachusetts baseball program as an official team member and will attend practices, games, and team functions for the next two seasons. Team IMPACT is a national nonprofit organization that connects children facing serious and chronic illnesses with local college athletic teams to form life-long bonds and life-changing outcomes. Blake is the first-ever Team IMPACT teammate in the baseball program's history.
Team IMPACT is the only U.S. nonprofit that tackles the emotional trauma and social isolation experienced by children facing serious illnesses and disabilities by matching them with a college athletic team. Our two-year therapeutic program complements a child's medical treatments, allowing the child to develop relationships and skills that help them complete the full circle of healing.
Through participation in Team IMPACT's clinically informed program, children experience a true sense of belonging, resulting in increased empowerment, normalization, health promotion, and resilience. Families feel connected and supported as their child achieves individualized goals, while experiencing the joy of team camaraderie and inclusion; and student-athletes gain perspective and inspiration, as well as lessons in adversity and resilience.
Founded in 2011, Team IMPACT has matched more than 2,300 children with 700+ colleges and universities in 49 states, impacting more than 65,000 student-athletes. Team IMPACT has more than 1,200 teams across the country waiting to be matched with children, ages 5-16, who have been diagnosed with a serious illness or disability and could benefit from becoming a member of the team. To learn more, or if you know a child who may be interested, get in the game at www.teamimpact.org and @goteamimpact.