It’s all about being in the right place at the right time. That was the case for Communities Unlimited (CU) and the Community Sustainability Team in March 2024.
Office manager Calise Smith was seeking to donate nine scoreboards, just as Youth Scoreboards of Arkansas was contemplating closing its doors. The Texarkana-based business, located within the T.L.L. Temple Foundation service area, specializes in selling scoreboards and video boards to promote local youth sports. However, faced with difficulties in securing support from local businesses for advertisements, Youth Scoreboards of Arkansas decided to shut down permanently.
Smith sought a recipient for the nine scoreboards, recognizing the challenges rural communities face in the southern United States. Yet, she was unsure of who to approach for assistance.
Smith consulted her friend Tina Patterson, the general manager at Redbone Magic Brewing Company in Texarkana, seeking advice. Patterson had the perfect connection: her soon-to-be son-in-law’s mother, Deanna O’Malley, a member of the Community Sustainability Team at CU.
“I was sitting at Chick-fil-A with my family at lunch when I got the call,” O’Malley said. “Tina told Calise that I knew everybody. Calise called me to see what we could do and that’s how it happened. That’s how it started.”
Their interaction began with O’Malley outlining providing rural community assistance at CU and the organization’s presence across seven states. Initially, Smith expressed her desire to allocate the scoreboards to communities in Texas and Arkansas.
O’Malley reached out to the CS Team to inquire if they were aware of any communities in need of brand-new scoreboards. Shortly after, two were allocated to the Stamps Community Center in Lafayette County, Arkansas. Another scoreboard was sent to the Chamber of Commerce in Prescott, Arkansas, and one went to the Boys & Girls Club of Central Arkansas in Little Rock.
O’Malley expressed the challenge of reaching out to other contacts and proposed expanding the scope to all seven states where CU operates. Smith, realizing the difficulty, granted permission to broaden the search without hesitation.
With five scoreboards still available, O’Malley collaborated with the CS Team to locate other recipients. Eventually, they found homes in Jonestown, Mississippi, Delhi, Louisiana, and Friona, Texas. Two scoreboards were allocated to Jonestown non-profit But God Ministries and the City of Delhi, with one earmarked for Friona’s Palmer County Babe Ruth League.
These scoreboards feature the branding of Varsity Scoreboards, a renowned provider of high-quality scoreboards since 1988. Specifically designed for baseball and softball, they display game information such as the score, inning, balls, strikes, outs, and pitch count for both teams.
The market value of each scoreboard, complete with the controller, receiver, and power pack, exceeds $3,000. Leveraging approximately $27,000, CU’s CS Team facilitated the distribution of scoreboards to rural communities across Arkansas, Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
“I was happy that I just so happened to know somebody,” O’Malley said. “It’s awesome for these rural communities. You think about the hurdles, you don't understand the hurdles these communities face with every decision they have to make."
— Deanna O’Malley, Community Facilitator, Communities Unlimited
“They must always pick and choose what projects they work on based on where they can get funding. For big cities, coming up with $3,000 to buy a new scoreboard might be easy. That’s not so easy for these rural communities. To have $27,000 in value of scoreboards donated to these small communities, it’s just so cool.”
O’Malley also pointed out that Youth Scoreboards of Arkansas had the option to target urban communities instead of rural ones. With potentially more contacts in urban areas, they could have expedited the process.
Youth Scoreboards of Arkansas recognized the greater need for this donation in rural communities, where such resources are typically lacking.
“Rural communities are often left out and they need support from other communities,” Smith said. “Our focus is to help the kids. There are so many things that the kids could be doing, other than playing on electronic equipment. With these scoreboards, we want to help kids in rural areas by providing them with opportunities beyond screens.”
Smith emphasized that collaborating with CU on this project has been an incredible experience, one that has also provided valuable insights along the way.
“I did not know that there was an organization like Communities Unlimited, because I see a lot of struggling communities, and I know that they could use a lot of help, but I just didn't know this was in place, where there were people behind the scenes trying to make things better. It was great working with Communities Unlimited. They couldn't have been more appreciative of the donation, and I was just glad that we could help.”
— Calise Smith, Youth Scoreboard of Arkansas
President Chantell Dunbar, representing the Lafayette County Leadership Council, expressed sincere gratitude to Youth Scoreboards of Arkansas and CU. Dunbar emphasized how their support was instrumental in establishing the Community Center Complex in Lafayette County.
“The addition of these scoreboards to our softball field is incredibly impactful for our community,” Dunbar said. “Not only will they enhance the overall experience for players and spectators, but they symbolize progress and community investment in our shared goals. With these contributions, we are one step closer to fully realizing our vision for a vibrant and inclusive Community Center that serves the needs of everyone in Lafayette County. This will leave a lasting impact on our community. We are deeply grateful for the partnership and support of Communities Unlimited and Youth Scoreboards of Arkansas as we continue to build and grow our community.”
O’Malley reflects on the importance of being ready for serendipitous opportunities. She recalls the phone call from Patterson, acknowledging that none of this would have unfolded if she hadn’t answered or returned that call.
“This was a prime example of being in the right place at the right time to make great things happen,” O’Malley said.