Donations

Chris Spinks was a beloved soccer and basketball coach to many. He coached his three sons and their teammates through Kidsports for over ten years before dying way too young of brain cancer on April 22, 2024. Chris never missed a game and always showed up to yell. Whether coaching or spectating, there was no way he could sit quietly. He even managed to get a technical foul two weeks after brain surgery. His commitment to the boys and their development of hard work, integrity, and compassion will live on.

Bill spent many years coaching when his son was in elementary school. He enjoyed interacting with the kids and watching them grow in their sport. As he got older, he thoroughly enjoyed watching his grandson learning and playing baseball and basketball.  And most recently he was seeing his great grandson follow with baseball, basketball and soccer. Bill knew the important role that sports play in a child’s life.

Patrick played many sports, but his favorite was basketball. He graduated from Willamette High School in 2015 and went on to play basketball at Lane Community College. Right after college he went on to help his sister coach the freshman girls Willamette High School team.

One of Dorothy’s greatest loves was watching her children and most recently her grandchildren from the sidelines. It didn’t matter the sport or the weather, there was nowhere she’d rather be! Dorothy passed away on October 12, 2022 and has requested that all donations be made to KIDSPORTS Scholarship Fund.

The only thing that Bill Quick, or Papa Bones as most of his family called him, loved more than sports was his family, and watching his family play sports was his favorite past time. Bill sat on the sidelines of hundreds of Kidsports games and traveled all over the country watching his dozens of kids and grandkids, and hundreds of adopted kiddos compete in all kinds of sports.

Kevin Watts was a 4J teacher, counselor, and coach for almost thirty years. His integrity and lessons in teamwork, fair play, and sportsmanship were legendary. His teams and students were his life as much as his family. He loved the challenges of coaching and the satisfaction of guiding his students… Read More

Ralph Myers was a cornerstone figure in the local amateur and youth sports scene who for nearly four decades was the executive director of KIDSPORTS.

Doug Post lived in Eugene for 60 years.  He began his life here as a student athlete at U of O earning Bachelors and Masters degrees in Parks and Recreation Management.  He was on staff with the City of Eugene for 31 years serving in various capacities in Parks and Recreation Management. 

No matter the season, Mouhammadou was involved in a sport. Whether it was spring, summer, fall or winter, you could almost always find him on the court, field, or track — giving his all and encouraging his teammates to do the same. And he excelled at every sport he tried. But he didn’t just play sports for the win. He played for the fun, and the friendship.

Every kid should have a chance. Don’t stop believing dreams. And 1.

Tommy Lloyd Babcock was a 1998 graduate of Springfield High School (GO Millers). While there, he played for the Miller’s football team as a varsity left tackle and defensive lineman. For Tommy, football was more than just a sport, it was a way of life and he carried his passion for it until his unexpected passing on April 29th, 2017.

Danielle put on her soccer cleats for the first time as a kindergartner and spent her first game holding hands with her best friend, Alex, giggling and kicking the ball and not quite sure what direction they were supposed to go. Those were our earliest memories of the little girl who found her love of sports. We should have known that she was going to be active and somewhat athletic when she began walking at 9 mos. of age, climbing structures, dancing, and riding ponies before she’d started kindergarten.

David “Kendall” Hills, M.D., 89, passed away on July 5 of age related causes. Kendall touched the lives of innumerable people in Eugene through his work as a physician, and made strong and lasting friendships throughout his life. Perhaps most of all, he was an adoring and devoted husband to his wife Mareta, and a constant and caring father to his children Kenda, Kathy, Kim and David.

Burnell and Jean dedicated much of their lives to the young people of Lane County. Jean as a teacher and CASA and Burnell as a youth sports coach and biggest fundraiser for the Rotary Duck Race fund raiser for youth-oriented charities, they strongly believed that all kids deserve the same opportunities to succeed in the classroom and on the ball field.

Isaac was a happy, spunky, and energetic boy who loved playing sports. He started with Kidsports in the fall of kindergarten playing soccer and had many fun soccer seasons since then. This year he really got into basketball, which quickly turned to his new favorite. …

To share Steve’s love of sitting on the sidelines watching his kids play almost every sport Kidsports has to offer (soccer, lacrosse, football, basketball, and baseball!), the family has set up the Stephen Phelps Memorial Scholarship Fund. Because there can never be too many parents cheering kids on in a torrential Oregon downpour.

John Roche was an athlete at the University of Oregon where he played Football for the Ducks. He was coach and mentor to many young athletes. John made an enormous impact on the many lives through his teaching and coaching. He taught his players perseverance, hard work, strong values and devotion. Lessons on and off the court. He always believed in “ Playing hard & Having fun”

Kaye was born in Eugene, Oregon and attended St. Francis High School, Seattle University and the University of Oregon. At Oregon she earned her Master’s Degree in Education, and then embarked on a teaching career that included many wonderful years of teaching children, which she loved…

Anita Pierce embraced life with a thirst for discovery. She loved traveling, theatre, word games, and adventuring with family and friends. A longtime local, she enjoyed all that Eugene has to offer and was a valued community member. Her son Dorian Robert Pierce Pine was born June 26, 1983, in Eugene, Oregon. He grew through various preschools, spent kindergarten at EEI and then attended Edgewood Elementary and Roosevelt Middle School….

Scott Chambers was a family man, community volunteer, and business maverick. Scott was a dedicated and committed community member, volunteering to give back to many organizations for the betterment of his hometown, education, and youth sports. He was an integral part of the Chambers Family Foundation quietly giving away more than $15M dollars in grants to local organizations and non-profits.

Beth Nitkowski is a true Kidsports-community unsung hero. For countless years, Beth has been a constant presence of absolute and constant positivity on the Kidsports sidelines – coaching multiple teams of both boys and girls in virutally every sports season of the year. A champion for, and teacher of youth sports in the Churchill area – Beth keeps so many boys and girls playing; not only because it’s fun…

Kidsports, in cooperation with the Quinney family, have established a scholarship fund in memory of Robert S. Quinney. Robert passed away on May 26th, 2016. He is survived by his wife, Leslie, and his four sons and their families.

Charles Warren was a passionate and extremely generous advocate of the Kidsports Adopt – A – School Program. He believed in the power of play through the team sport experience and felt the best way to provide opportunities to children in need, was to forward financial gifts, in the way of vouchers, directly to elementary and middle school principals and secretaries. The Charles Warren Memorial Fund is dedicated to perpetuating the legacy of the Adopt – A – School program that was near and dear to Charles’s heart.

Kidsports, in cooperation with Peter & Robbin Titone, have established a baseball scholarship fund in memory of their son, Joe Titone. Joe passed away suddenly on December 26th, 2008 at the age of 34 of a heart attack. He is survived by his wife and two children.

Michael Allan Moriarty, the son of Kenneth and Mary Lou Moriarty, was born and raised in Eugene, Oregon. He spent his youth participating in EBAA sports programs including baseball, basketball, and football. His younger brother and sister – Christopher Moriarty living in Charlottesville, VA and Kelly Gallagher living in Tigard, OR – also participated in the EBAA and ESP programs while their father Kenneth coached many of their teams.

John Ziros passed away at the age of 88 on February 2, 2011. An athlete himself as a young man and a senior, he was a strong supporter of Kidsports activities. He was especially sympathetic to the youngsters whose families struggled to afford participation in athletics; he would be happy to know that donations have been made to Kidsports in his name to cover the cost of registration for some of those youngsters.

Jerry & Sue loved sports for many reasons. They both felt that sports inspired dedication, competitiveness, camaraderie and a healthy lifestyle. Sporting events were a big part of their lives in Eugene. Watching their kids and grandkids play sports brought them great joy! Jerry & Sue felt Kidsports made our community a better place.

Ron Van Dusen coached in the Eugene area for more than 25 years. He had a heart for kids and was involved in many activities that benefited local youth including PTA, Special Olympics and school plays. He and his wife, Irene, coordinated student “drop-ins” and arranged for UO athletes to come and spend time with their students.

One of Mike’s passions was soccer; he coached youth soccer teams for his children and frequently played himself in recreational city leagues. To honor his love of the game, his family has established the Michael Mortemore Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Steven spent 30 years as a coach for Kidsports, coaching middle school aged boys and girls in football, baseball, basketball and softball, including all three of his children. Steven was much more than just a coach to the kids he coached, and to his children’s own friends. He was mentor, caretaker, and friend. He fed them, and sometimes clothed them. His home was always open and his refrigerator always full. Many of these kids, still to this day think of him as “Dad”.

Kidsports has established a scholarship fund in memory of Beau Baltzer. Beau passed away on March 11th, 2009 at the age of 21. Beau graduated from Sheldon High School in 2005 and attended the University of Oregon. He loved working with kids and his family has been a huge part of the success of Kidsports.