The Avedis Foundation has awarded a $70,000 grant to the SSC Educational Foundation to add a shade structure and update handicap-accessible seating to the Brian Crawford Memorial Sports Complex’s adaptive field.

The field, named the Avedis Adaptive Field, which opened in 2022, is designed for people with physical and cognitive disabilities. It is the home of A League of Their Own, a co-ed softball league for young people with disabilities. The field is also utilized for t-ball games in the summer months.

The shade structure will provide protection from the sun and heat for volunteers and spectators. It will also enhance the aesthetics and functionality of the complex.

“We are grateful to the Avedis Foundation for their generous support of this project,” Lance Wortham, Chair of the SSC Educational Foundation, said. “The shade structure will make

the adaptive field more comfortable and enjoyable for everyone who uses it, and the updates to our handicap seating will create a more accessible environment for our visitors.”

The Avedis Foundation, established in 2012 in Shawnee, supports a vision to measurably improve the health, wellness and quality of life for the people of Pottawatomie County and its surrounding communities. In 2020, the Avedis Foundation awarded a $250,000 grant to the SSC Educational Foundation for the construction of the adaptive field.

“The Avedis Foundation is proud to support the SSC Educational Foundation and the Brian Crawford Memorial Sports Complex,” Dr. Kathy Laster, President and CEO of the Avedis Foundation, said. “The adaptive field is a wonderful asset for the community that promotes inclusion, recreation and wellness for people of all abilities.”

The SSC Educational Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports SSC and its students through scholarships, grants and capital improvements.

For their collaboration, the SSC Educational Foundation and the Avedis Foundation were recognized at the Business Partnership Excellence Awards on April 27, 2023. The awards were sponsored by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and honor partnerships that lead to significant contributions in educating and developing the state’s workforce.