Former Mayor Bob Foster And First Lady Nancy Foster Establish Endowed Scholarship For Baseball
10/22/2024 12:58:00 PM | Baseball
The Fosters have contributed a significant gift to create the James Foster Endowed Scholarship in honor of their son.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Former mayor of Long Beach, Bob Foster, and First Lady Nancy Foster have made a significant investment in support of Dirtbags Baseball, creating the James Foster Endowed Scholarship which will be awarded this year prior to the 2025 season.
Bob Foster's love of baseball is well known, and this gift is in memory of his son James. James loved sports and was an avid collector of cards and memorabilia, loved the San Francisco Giants and truly enjoyed the strategy of the game, reciting statistics from memory. Playing the sport as well, James played for the Pacific Little League team from Sacramento that went to the Little League World Series in 1983.
Foster led that team into Williamsport. "Serving as the manager of that team was one of the high points of my life," said Foster. "I still remain in contact with the players and we had a reunion about a year ago. Building relationships that last a lifetime is part of the special magic of sports.
"We are supporting Dirtbags Baseball because we are a family that loves the game and wants to enable collage athletes the ability to exercise their baseball talents without the burden of debt or work to pay fees. Our son loved the game and if we can provide athletes with greater freedom to concentrate on baseball it will be a fitting tribute to his memory."
This gift is just the latest in a long line of philanthropy from Bob and Nancy Foster. They previously had contributed to the Bob and Nancy Foster Locker Room at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field which was dedicated in 2018, and have tirelessly supported numerous charitable causes throughout the city.
"On behalf of Long Beach State Athletics and the Dirtbag baseball program, we are extremely appreciative of the generosity shown by Bob and Nancy to establish the James Foster Endowed Baseball Scholarship," said Executive Director of Athletics, Bobby Smitheran. "This permanent tribute in honor of their late son James, will create a stable source of scholarship funding that enables the Dirtbag program to recruit and compete at the national level. The continued investment in the baseball program by the Fosters is a great example of the pride and joy that Dirtbags baseball provides our campus and greater Long Beach community."
An endowed scholarship is a tremendous way to make a significant, long-term impact to a program. By providing a gift large enough to pay for a scholarship in perpetuity, generations of student-athletes will be affected by having the opportunity to compete for Long Beach State while receiving a college education. For more information on how you can support Long Beach State Athletics, please contact Lauren Goins at Lauren.Goins@csulb.edu.
Bob Foster's love of baseball is well known, and this gift is in memory of his son James. James loved sports and was an avid collector of cards and memorabilia, loved the San Francisco Giants and truly enjoyed the strategy of the game, reciting statistics from memory. Playing the sport as well, James played for the Pacific Little League team from Sacramento that went to the Little League World Series in 1983.
Foster led that team into Williamsport. "Serving as the manager of that team was one of the high points of my life," said Foster. "I still remain in contact with the players and we had a reunion about a year ago. Building relationships that last a lifetime is part of the special magic of sports.
"We are supporting Dirtbags Baseball because we are a family that loves the game and wants to enable collage athletes the ability to exercise their baseball talents without the burden of debt or work to pay fees. Our son loved the game and if we can provide athletes with greater freedom to concentrate on baseball it will be a fitting tribute to his memory."
This gift is just the latest in a long line of philanthropy from Bob and Nancy Foster. They previously had contributed to the Bob and Nancy Foster Locker Room at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field which was dedicated in 2018, and have tirelessly supported numerous charitable causes throughout the city.
"On behalf of Long Beach State Athletics and the Dirtbag baseball program, we are extremely appreciative of the generosity shown by Bob and Nancy to establish the James Foster Endowed Baseball Scholarship," said Executive Director of Athletics, Bobby Smitheran. "This permanent tribute in honor of their late son James, will create a stable source of scholarship funding that enables the Dirtbag program to recruit and compete at the national level. The continued investment in the baseball program by the Fosters is a great example of the pride and joy that Dirtbags baseball provides our campus and greater Long Beach community."
An endowed scholarship is a tremendous way to make a significant, long-term impact to a program. By providing a gift large enough to pay for a scholarship in perpetuity, generations of student-athletes will be affected by having the opportunity to compete for Long Beach State while receiving a college education. For more information on how you can support Long Beach State Athletics, please contact Lauren Goins at Lauren.Goins@csulb.edu.
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