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Youth coach making difference off the field
(GREENSBURG, Ind.) – One volunteer position that is critical to youth development, but sometimes gets overlooked, is coaching.
Robert DeHoff, of Greensburg, volunteers countless hours as a youth sports coach during his free time.
DeHoff can be found coaching football, basketball, baseball and softball.
Being a coach is more than just crafting the plays or picking the starting lineup. For DeHoff, it is serving as a role model for the kids.
He also puts an emphasis on player and fan safety in multiple ways.
DeHoff was part of a team that worked to secure a $15,000 grant from the Decatur County Community Foundation for Greensburg youth football.
The grant helped fund new helmets, shoulder pads and equipment for the players.
He also helped establish a plan where the league phases out 25 percent of their helmets each year, to ensure that no helmets are more than three years old.
His commitment to coaching has been noticed by parents of players. One sent his this note to thank him.
DeHoff doesn't limit his volunteerism to coaching, as he also serves as the president of the Greensburg Rotary Club.
In early 2023, DeHoff saw a need to provide a tool that could save people’s lives when every minute counts.
He started exploring the idea of installing additional automated external defibrillators (AED’s) around the community.
"I remember thinking that I had been to the baseball diamonds and saw AED's out there, and I thought we could use more of them in the community," DeHoff recalls.
The idea gained momentum after Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin collapsed during an NFL game in Cincinnati in early 2023.
"I got a call from fellow rotary member Steve Freeman that night who said you're not going to believe this, I think your idea is exactly what is needed," DeHoff recalled.
DeHoff says the timing of Hamlin's collapse clarified the importance of more life-saving tools in Decatur County.
The Rotary Club was awarded approximately $3,000 from the district grant and was able to raise funds to match the donation for a total of $6,000. DeHoff and the local Rotarians originally hoped to fund the purchase of three AED’s.
With help from Decatur County Memorial Hospital, the club was able to get a discount which allowed them to buy a total of four AEDs.
The Rotary Club presented the AED’s to the four recipients at The Branch Coffee House earlier this year.
The AEDs will be placed at Greensburg's Shriver Field, the Decatur County Fairgrounds headquarters, the City Park and Pirate Park.
"We didn't even think about Pirate Park until Rob called and asked if we had a spot for another one," Greensburg Mayor Joshua Marsh said.
For DeHoff and the Rotarians, they hope these AEDs are never needed but are honored to bring more of these life-saving resources to the community.
The club is now hoping to fund at least two more AED’s to be installed at the county schools.
WANT TO NOMINATE A COMMUNITY CHAMPION?
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