A garage full of obsolete baseball equipment once sparked an idea for Nolan Jominy ’30: What if the bats, gloves and helmets his family no longer needed could help underrepresented children get on the playing field?
That question led Jominy, now a first-year student at Kalamazoo College from Mattawan, and his family to establish Play it Forward, an initiative that collects and distributes baseball and softball equipment for young athletes who might otherwise struggle to afford it. About two and a half years into its outreach, the family-led effort has helped children from Michigan to Cuba.
For his efforts, Jominy will receive the Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy Award from the local chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) on November 5. The presentation will take place during an event at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, where Play it Forward will be featured in a video marking National Philanthropy Day.
A baseball player since he was 5, Jominy grew up accumulating the equipment that comes with years in the sport. With his siblings’ gear added to his own, the family had an abundance.
He and his parents used Facebook and Instagram to ask other families for equipment. Jominy collected donations from homes around the Kalamazoo area, while other donors dropped off gear at the family’s house.
The next challenge was getting the equipment into the hands of children who could use it. After contacting several organizations, the family partnered with the Detroit Police Athletic League (PAL). This nonprofit youth-development organization connected Play it Forward with young athletes in Detroit. During a June visit, Jominy and his family delivered bats, gloves, helmets and catcher’s gear before watching children play on a nearby field.
“There was just a lot of smiles and a lot of laughter,” Jominy said. “It was really cool to see.”
The effort has since extended beyond Michigan. Through a connection made by Jominy’s uncle in Florida, the family worked with Heal the Planet, a youth-empowerment organization, to send baseball equipment to children in Cuba.
“They might not have the greatest fields or situations, but they’re still finding love in the game,” he said.
Play it Forward also partners with Diamond Disciples, which helps the initiative accept monetary donations.
“Thanks to that, we bought batting gloves and new cleats that we shipped to Detroit and handed out to kids,” Jominy said.
Jominy’s commitment comes from his own experience as an athlete. Some of his favorite memories involve baseball tournaments, time spent with teammates at hotels and jokes shared in the dugout. He wants other children to have those opportunities.
Balancing school and athletics with collecting donations, coordinating distributions and contacting potential partners has been his biggest challenge. His parents and other supporters have helped keep the initiative moving forward, teaching him the importance of persistence and building relationships.
His advice to other young people interested in starting an organization is straightforward: Begin with what you have.
“My dad and I talked about this idea for months before we finally got started,” Jominy said. “Once we took that first step, connections were made, opportunities opened up and the impact kept growing.”
At K, Jominy is balancing academics and baseball after being recruited by coach Mike Ott. He intends to continue Play it Forward’s seasonal rhythm, collecting equipment after baseball seasons end and distributing it in the spring. He also hopes his sister will help organize another distribution with Detroit PAL next summer.
The National Philanthropy Day recognition has given him a chance to reflect on how far Play it Forward has come since its beginnings in the family garage. What started as unused equipment has grown into an effort that helps young athletes access the game he loves.
“We’d love to expand our reach and help more kids, maybe even in new places beyond where we’ve worked so far,” Jominy said. “At the end of the day, it’s about giving kids the chance to play the sport they love.”