by Tom Schoenfelder

Growing up all I ever wanted to be was a professional baseball player, then I realized that you needed a lot talent.  Unemployed and living in my parents basement after college was far from what I expected life would be like when I graduated.  I was told that finding a job would be very difficult, but I didn’t think it applied to me.  After striking out at numerous job interviews and still out of work, I received some of the best advice of my life from my brother.

Having a gap in my resume does not look good and I should volunteer.  So when I’m asked what I have done recently, I can say something other than reaching level 50 in Call of Duty.  I began tutoring and helping out at local non-profits.  While looking for volunteer opportunities on a website, I came across a job posting.

It combined that love of baseball with the helping aspect of a non-profit.  I knew that I had to work for Pitch In For Baseball.  Company after company told me that my resume was not good enough and that I needed more experience.  I knew all I needed was a chance.

Before heading off to the Pitch In For Baseball interview I created a portfolio in a three ring binder that had my resume and all the projects I’ve worked on as a college student.  I confidently left the interview and drove the hour and half back to New Jersey.

A week later I received a phone call from David Rhode, executive director and founder of Pitch In For Baseball.  I was expecting to hear the “its not you, its that we found someone better” speech.  Instead I heard, “would you like to be the Operations Manager?”.  If he offered me the janitor position I probably would have still taken it.  I wake up every morning with a smile on my face, happy to go to work because I know that the baseball equipment I am helping to donate is putting smiles on kids faces all around the world.