CYPRESS : City Gives $5,000 to Little League Team

To help the Cypress Little League All-Stars pay for their trip to the World Series in Pennsylvania last month, the City Council agreed this week to donate $5,000 to the team. The money will be split between the Cypress Federal Little League and a special parents fund, set up after the team won the Western Regional Championship in San Bernardino.

“At that point (during the regional championships) we realized we were going to Pennsylvania,” said Gail Navarrete, co-chair of the All-Stars Parents Fund. “Everyone then starting scrambling.”

An account was opened at Union Bank in August to receive donations, she said, and the parents’ goal is to eventually raise enough money to reimburse parents for at least one plane ticket.

The Little League national organization pays only for flight and hotel costs of the players and coaches. Fifty-two parents and 14 boys traveled to the World Series in Williamsport.

The $2,500 from the council gives the fund a good boost, Navarrete said. “We are really happy.”

Carol Wilkerson, president of the Cypress Federal Little League, said her team will use its share of $2,500 to help recoup what the organization spent on the boys.

The league spent $2,600 just for transporting the team from place to place, Wilkerson said.

The money from the parent fund will be distributed at a special ceremony honoring the team on Sept. 30 at the Cypress Community Center. A formal presentation of trophies won by the team is scheduled for 5 p.m.

The trophies will be on display from 2 to 8 p.m.