Fort Valley State University

Dmitri Young, star first baseman for the Washington Nationals National League Baseball Club, has stepped up to the plate to aid deserving Fort Valley State University students.

Following a chance encounter on a flight from Atlanta to Washington, D.C. with FVSU President Larry E. Rivers, Young has contributed $10,000 for student scholarships to be available for fall 2008.

“We struck up a conversation out of the blue,” Rivers explained. “This eventually led to a discussion about Fort Valley State and how critical was our need for financial aid funds in these hard times.”

Although Young previously had held no connections with FVSU, he reacted quickly to Rivers’ appeal. “I can’t stand to hear of qualified young people not being able to go to college,” he told Rivers.

Rivers, who accepted Young’s check before the plane landed in Washington, saw the first baseman’s generosity as a challenge to others. “Here is a man who is willing to open his heart to the needs of our young people,” Rivers said. “I would ask everyone who hears of this to understand that we are sending qualified young people home because we cannot provide badly needed assistance for students willing to work. Please, please help us.”

A native of Vicksburg, Miss., Young has played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, and Washington Nationals. A USA Today High School All-American, he has played in two professional baseball All Star games and contributed to the 2006 Detroit Tigers drive for the American League Championship.

“Our FVSU family offers sincere thanks to Dmitri Young and looks forward to extending our hospitality to him in the near future,” Rivers said. “In the meantime,” Rivers added, “I extend Dmitri’s challenge to all. Don’t let qualified young people be sent home for lack of financial aid. Our need is immediate. Help us to help them.”

A gift can be made to the Fort Valley State University Foundation in several ways – with cash, securities, real estate, bequests, and personal property. Many corporations offer matching gift programs that double or triple the value of donations from their employees. All contributions are valuable, regardless of size, and all gifts offer tax advantages to donors. For more information, please contact the FVSU Foundation Office at (478) 825-6474.