19-Year-Old DAA Board Member Raises $7,000

At the young age of 19, Taylor Thomas is making a great impact in his position as both a Dacula Athletic Association (DAA) baseball board member and as director of field maintenance, advertising and sponsorships. He recently raised roughly $7,000 for the association through advertising packages. His motivation for all of this was simply to make our community a better place.

“I feel the drive to help because I enjoy helping my community,” Thomas wrote in an emailed response to questions.

He believes that his voice as a 19-year-old has and will make a great difference in improving the DAA and its baseball program.

“I feel I have a different perspective being both a player and a coach,” Thomas wrote. “I also want to help represent the players and families of the Dacula Athletic Association with my knowledge. In addition I want to do my part in improving our baseball program and beautifying the park.”

Thomas was able to raise money for the DAA through advertising packages that he designed for potential sponsors. The packages ranged from $500 to $2,750. Sponsors could purchase advertising on scoreboards, get the naming rights to a particular field, purchase sponsorship on the back of the bleachers, or get a banner to go on the batting cage or on the outfield fence.  The children of the Dacula Athletic Association were his motivation for creating these packages.

According to Thomas, the most rewarding part of his job is knowing that with every dollar earned, the children affiliated with the DAA will have a better opportunity for success.

"More money helps to cover lights, umpires, baseballs, and equipment,” he explained.

His plans to help the DAA do not end here. Thomas continues to brainstorm with his father Ted Thomas on new ideas. He says his biggest challenge is making all the ideas he has become a reality.

“I feel that you can never be done trying to raise more money to help the children of the DAA and to make Dacula Park the best environment for building lifelong friendships and making each player a better baseball player,” he wrote.

Thomas is currently working to make it possible for children who do not have enough money to play to be able to participate in DAA programs. Thomas hopes to line up local business sponsors for the program.

Thomas is a sophomore at Georgia Gwinnett College. He is studying early childhood education. In addition to his studies and his role on the DAA board, he also plays and coaches. He is a catcher in his last season on eligibility, and head coach of the Dacula Major Storm team.

“I highly enjoy coaching and being someone the boys can look up to,” Thomas added. “And I feel as a player, I can bring a different aspect to the game, and by being young myself, my players can relate better. My goal is for every player to have fun while also learning to become a better ball player and learn life lessons.”

For more information on the DAA baseball program and sponsorship opportunities, please click here to visit the website or email Taylor Thomas.