Ben Sams, Commissioner of the Wills Park Youth Baseball Association (WPYBA), was recognized by the Georgia Recreation and Park Association Seventh District as Volunteer of the Year at the District’s Awards and Installation Banquet held October 22nd.  Mr. Sams was honored for his years of service as a volunteer in the Alpharetta community and for WPYBA.  He started the first WPYBA Booster Club, through which $27,000 was raised to install new batting cage turf for all batting cages at Wills Park.  Mr. Sams formed strategic charitable relationships with Miracle League, Kids Curing Cancer, and North Fulton Community Charities and helped provide ten scholarships in 2008.  

 

During his term as Commissioner, Mr. Sams initiated the process for WPYBA to help the City of Alpharetta Recreation and Parks Department fund a new concession stand at Wills Park.  WPYBA contributed $150,000 towards the project, almost half of the total cost.  Mr. Sams has coached baseball for ten years and served on the WPYBA board for four years.  “Ben devotes countless hours of his free time to ensure that our kids have a quality baseball experience at Wills Park,” stated Mike Perry, Alpharetta’s Director of Recreation and Parks.  “His passion and enthusiasm are contagious.  Our Department is fortunate to have a volunteer like Ben, someone who makes a difference in the lives of others every single day.”