WENDELL - Universal Chevrolet Company is one of 30 Chevrolet dealers from the Raleigh area that partnered with local youth baseball leagues along with private parties in the area to help raise roughly $98,375 in total donations for area youth baseball/softball.

During the 2009 baseball season, Town of Wendell Parks and Recreation-Baseball received both monetary and equipment donations as well as the opportunity to raise up to $10,000 through a unique fundraiser. Thanks to Universal and the other participating dealers in the Raleigh area, youth league members also had the opportunity to attend an instructional baseball clinic with professional instructors.

Universal partnered with the Town of Wendell Parks and Recreation baseball because of the league's proximity to the dealership. Over the course of the season, Universal donated team equipment kits, which included equipment bags, ball buckets, coach's clipboards and t-shirts, and made a $500 donation to the parks and recreation's baseball department. The dealership also helped donate a Chevy Malibu and Chevy Traverse, which were raffled off by participating leagues, including Wendell's.

Another exciting component of Chevy Youth Baseball was the youth baseball clinics led by Carolina Mudcats which provided the youth with personalized instruction from the pros.

"We are excited to make such a substantial donation to Town of Wendell Parks and Recreation baseball and enjoyed partnering with them this season," said Al White, of Universal Chevrolet Company. "Sponsoring Town of Wendell Parks and Recreation baseball gave us the opportunity to illustrate our commitment to the youth and families in Wendell and we're glad to have achieved such positive outcomes for the community."

To date, more than 400 Chevrolet dealers in the Southeast have sponsored youth leagues in their communities and helped raise $3.6 million for youth baseball programs.

For more information about Chevy Youth Baseball, visit www.YouthSportsWired.com