In August of 2022, the Constantine Little League community was struck with tragedy after losing an extraordinary little girl, Allison Sue Grant. Despite their sadness, Allison's family chose to honor her memory by dedicating contributions to Constantine Little League. This generosity inspired the league to rename Field 3 as "Allie's Field", a tribute to the field where Allie spent most of her time practicing and playing. A sign and plaque were recently unveiled during the opening day ceremony, accompanied by a generous grant from the Constantine Area Community Foundation. With the help of the Community Foundation, the field will be transformed into a showcase for the park. This heartfelt project serves as a wonderful example of community engagement and philanthropy, focusing on the league's mission to develop the youth of the community through the ideals of sportsmanship, honesty, courage, and respect. Shasta McCallie, Constantine Little League Coach and family friend of the Grant family shared her appreciation for the grant from the CACF, stating:
"I’d like to give a huge heartfelt thank you to the Constantine Area Community Foundation for awarding the grant to build the press-box for Allie’s Field. By awarding the grant, CACF has further memorialized Allie. In doing so, the grief and loss felt by Allie’s family, friends, teammates, coaches, and the rest of the Constantine Little League Community, has been turned into inspiration by showing Constantine truly cares about her, and the community as a whole."
From a young age, Allie's enjoyment of softball was undeniable. She spent countless summer days on the field with her teammates, coaches, and family, always eager to improve her skills. Her commitment was remarkable, and it was evident in the way she played. Allie's passion was infectious, and her memory lives on in the hearts of those who knew her well.
The dedication ceremony was a true reflection of the community's support and love for Allie as they gathered together to honor her memory. In addition, the sign and plaque serve as a permanent reminder of Allie's spirit.
"We are so happy to partner with Constantine Little League to keep the memories of Allie alive," shared Kathy Messner, Board President of the Constantine Area Community Foundation.
A Community's Generosity
One of the most remarkable aspects of this project was the generous support from the Constantine community. The Constantine Area Community Foundation's grant will help transform "Allie's Field" into a showcase field for the park, but the community's contributions were just as significant. Local community members stepped up to offer their time, labor, and money to make this project a reality. Her story is a powerful reminder of one person's impact on a community. McCallie later shared her thoughts on the effect of this project's completion by saying:
"The impact of CACF’s generosity will last for many years to come, and the potency of our gratitude will not soon fade. Allison Sue Grant was an exceptional young lady, to say the least. It’s hard to forget someone who gave us so much to remember."
The Constantine Area Community Foundation is an affiliate fund of the Sturgis Area Community Foundation. Through philanthropic services, strategic investments, and community leadership, Sturgis Area Community Foundation helps people support the causes they care about now and for generations to come. For more information on grants or donor services, email sacf@sturgisfoundation.org.