Casey Blake donates $1 million to Indianola Schools

**Sparkplug** · 01-30-2010, 05:16 PM

Indianola native Casey Blake, a third baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and his wife, Abbie, will donate $1 million to the Indianola school district in a ceremony Monday.

"As graduates and former athletes of Indianola, we believe in the potential of the youth in our community and want to help provide them with facilities to develop their skills," Casey Blake said.

The Blakes will present a check to the school district during a school board meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday. The donation will stimulate a dollar-for-dollar matching gift program designed to generate donations from the community.

The goal is to reach at least $2 million to go toward additional athletic facilities, including an indoor track and completion of a football field. DM Register

**Cyclonepride** · 01-30-2010, 05:18 PM

Wow....that is awesome. Say what you want about Indianola, but the kids here are really lucky to have the facilities that they have. Between the Chris Street gym, and all the stuff that organization does for the parks, and the brand new middle school football field with synthetic turf, it's already very cool.

**HandSanitizer** · 01-30-2010, 05:21 PM

On that note please text 809702 to make a $100 donation to the ISU South Endzone Fund :)

**wxman1** · 01-30-2010, 05:22 PM

Originally Posted by HandSanitizer

On that note please text 809702 to make a $100 donation to the ISU South Endzone Fund :)

haha nice!

**Drive4cy** · 01-30-2010, 05:23 PM

Impressive amount for a guy like Blake to donate. It's not as if he's made ARod money by any means.

**clone2011** · 01-30-2010, 05:28 PM

Originally Posted by Cyclonepride

Wow....that is awesome. Say what you want about Indianola, but the kids here are really lucky to have the facilities that they have. Between the Chris Street gym, and all the stuff that organization does for the parks, and the brand new middle school football field with synthetic turf, it's already very cool.

...and what exactly does that mean? Do people around here think poorly of Indy? Just wondering, grew up there and while I don't go back much, think it's a decent place.

**Chizit** · 01-30-2010, 05:44 PM

Yes, the kids in I-Town are very lucky... Chris Street Gym, new field at the Middle School, HS gym got renovated a few years ago... etc.

**drmwevr08** · 01-30-2010, 05:49 PM

Way to go Casey. Proud to have been able to watch this guy in HS, and now in the pros. Even then, when some BMOCs were total d bags, he went out of his way not to be. Great for Indianola too!

**RayShimley** · 01-30-2010, 05:50 PM

Nice work by Mr. Blake. Love to see professional athletes giving back to their roots.

**Cyclonepride** · 01-30-2010, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by clone2011

...and what exactly does that mean? Do people around here think poorly of Indy? Just wondering, grew up there and while I don't go back much, think it's a decent place.

Just a phrase.

**CycloneNick** · 01-30-2010, 05:54 PM

I spent the first 18 years of my life in Indy. It is a great place to raise a family. Casey and Abbie are both class acts. The town does have very nice facilities considering it does not have the same tax base as the like of Ankeny, Urbandale, and West Des Moines. Most people who don't know would be pleasantly surprised.

**CyCrazy** · 01-30-2010, 05:57 PM

Nice work by Mr. Blake, seems like a standup guy in all accounts.

**Chizit** · 01-30-2010, 06:00 PM

He isn't a bad ball player either.. His batting average in HS was around 4.60 or so. Amazing basketball and track star also..

**TheCaptain** · 01-30-2010, 07:01 PM

Nice Class move by Casey.
Didnt he have an older brother that played BB at ISU..88-90 ish?
Joe..Dan...something BLake.
I know I met him a few times............

**singsing** · 01-30-2010, 07:06 PM

Originally Posted by Sparkplug

Indianola native Casey Blake, a third baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and his wife, Abbie, will donate $1 million to the Indianola school district in a ceremony Monday.

"As graduates and former athletes of Indianola, we believe in the potential of the youth in our community and want to help provide them with facilities to develop their skills," Casey Blake said.

The Blakes will present a check to the school district during a school board meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday. The donation will stimulate a dollar-for-dollar matching gift program designed to generate donations from the community.

The goal is to reach at least $2 million to go toward additional athletic facilities, including an indoor track and completion of a football field. DM Register

Another Indianola grad here and I don't know what you mean by "say what you want". It was a great place to grow up, get an education, and for a school of its size we always competed very well in sports. How many other schools in Iowa are getting million dollar donations from former students? Can't believe Casey went on to do what he has. He was always just a little brother of some of my friends growing up and now he's doing this. Guess that batting cage his dad had put in the back yard paid off.