Giving Back To Our Community

Bachman Academy

Bachman Academy is a boarding and day school serving intelligent students in grades 6-12 who have language-based learning differences like Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, Nonverbal Learning Disorder, Central Auditory Processing Disorder, Visual Processing Disorders, and students with Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

They provide a language-rich program of study emphasizing active learning. In addition to hands-on, college-prep academics, the academy offers career-education in mechanics, equine science, woodworking, and horticulture/agriculture.

We enjoy spending time at Bachman Academy and having fun with all the wonderful kids and impeccable faculty through some of the special events held on the schools, rather large, campus. The school's mission is to empower students who have learning differences to develop the skills and values necessary for success in our global community.

We like to encourage other businesses, as well as individuals, to help with that mission as well. For people who want to make a difference, donations are greatly appreciated!

Donate to Bachman Academy on their site, or click here:



Ooltewah Youth Association

Ooltewah Youth Association expects to enroll 400 boys’ baseball players and 80 girls’ softball players for the 2013 spring season. Youth ages 3 up to 14 play each spring. About 102 boys’ coaches and 21 girls’ coaches will oversee seven girls’ softball teams and 34 boys’ baseball teams this season. OYA is in the process of building a new field. They are almost maxed out. They will build the backstop for the field and next year theywill do another stage of the field. It will take four to five years to complete it. We need community support. If someone gave $20,000, it could help with the fence and backstop.”

10 years ago OYA had three fields at Ooltewah Elementary School with at most 250 players. Now OYA has eight fields and is in the process of building a ninth field in Collegedale. Games are played every day except Wednesday and Sunday.

OYA does not receive funding from Hamilton County or the city of Collegedale. OYA depends on enrollment fees and concessions to cover expenses, maintain the fields, build improvements and pay umpires. OYA pays $15,000 dispersed to 14 umpires for spring baseball and softball. In years past, OYA spent $16,000 on the field house, $10,000 on the batting cage and $4,500 on the pavilion at the current ballpark.

Every year OYA is responsible for buying $6,000 of brick dust for the fields to absorb rain water. OYA also provides batting helmets, catching gear and baseballs for teams. He said anything the community can contribute is appreciated.

If anyone wants to donate, OYA is a nonprofit organization. "It’s not always about winning. It’s about learning to play the game.