Tyler Tancredi’s training as an athlete is helping him in the home stretch of planning a big event.
The 18-year-old student at Damien High School in La Verne is busy signing up participants in the inaugural Cory Lidle Foundation Wiffle Ball World Series Thanksgiving Food Drive.
It’s a mouthful signifying a simple sentiment: help others.
“I felt very compelled to serve,” Tancredi said. “I spent plenty of time learning about service and the true meaning of service. I wanted to find a way that I could bring together friends, family and even strangers from around my community to be a part of something great.”
First, he assembled his team, starting with Kevin Lidle, president of the Covina-based Cory Lidle Foundation. Tancredi played baseball for Cory Lidle Baseball, named in honor of the late Yankees pitcher who died in a plane crash in 2007.
Cory and his twin brother Kevin grew up in Covina and graduated from South Hills High School in West Covina.
“Through this tournament, I plan on upholding the values and traditions that the foundation honors,” Tancredi said.
The event is set for Nov. 22, at the baseball field of Barranca Elementary, 727 S. Barranca Ave., Covina. More teams are welcome. Admission is a donation of a medium-sized portion of canned goods or nonperishable food item.
Kevin Lidle said it was easy to support Tancredi’s project.
“Ty’s greatest strength is his work ethic and his dedication to whatever he sets his mind to,” Lidle said. “And whatever Ty needs, Ty gets from the foundation.”
Proceeds from the tournament will go to the Palo Alto Project, a foundation founded by Luis Hernandez, Tancredi’s Spanish teacher at Damien High School in La Verne.
“Mr. Hernandez taught me my junior year, and over my time in his class, I learned a lot about the work he has done in Mexico, and I was extremely inspired,” Tancredi said.
Palo Alto is a small town in Aguascalientes, Mexico, where children and families are…
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