The Avedis Foundation has awarded a $70,000 grant to the SSC Educational Foundation
to add a shade structure and update handicap-accessible seating to the Brian Crawford Memorial
Sports Complex’s adaptive field.
The field, named the Avedis Adaptive Field, which opened in 2022, is designed for
people with physical and cognitive disabilities. It is the home of A League of Their Own, a co-ed
softball league for young people with disabilities. The field is also utilized for t-ball games in the
summer months.
The shade structure will provide protection from the sun and heat for volunteers and
spectators. It will also enhance the aesthetics and functionality of the complex.
“We are grateful to the Avedis Foundation for their generous support of this project,”
Lance Wortham, Chair of the SSC Educational Foundation, said. “The shade structure will make
the adaptive field more comfortable and enjoyable for everyone who uses it, and the updates to
our handicap seating will create a more accessible environment for our visitors.”
The Avedis Foundation, established in 2012 in Shawnee, supports a vision to measurably
improve the health, wellness and quality of life for the people of Pottawatomie County and its
surrounding communities. In 2020, the Avedis Foundation awarded a $250,000 grant to the SSC
Educational Foundation for the construction of the adaptive field.
“The Avedis Foundation is proud to support the SSC Educational Foundation and the
Brian Crawford Memorial Sports Complex,” Dr. Kathy Laster, President and CEO of the Avedis
Foundation, said. “The adaptive field is a wonderful asset for the community that promotes
inclusion, recreation and wellness for people of all abilities.”
The SSC Educational Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports SSC and its
students through scholarships, grants and capital improvements.
For their collaboration, the SSC Educational Foundation and the Avedis Foundation were
recognized at the Business Partnership Excellence Awards on April 27, 2023. The awards were
sponsored by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and honor partnerships that lead
to significant contributions in educating and developing the state’s workforce.