Central Ohio Beep Baseball Association

428 Rosslyn Avenue

Columbus, OH 43214

(614) 848-4681

January 30, 2005

Dear Friends Of COBBA:

Beep baseball is a form of baseball adapted for the blind and visually impaired. The Central Ohio Beep Baseball Association (COBBA) is an organization dedicated to promoting and facilitating beep baseball in the Columbus area. Through our sponsorship, blind athletes in Central Ohio have the opportunity to express their love of baseball and experience the thrill of athletic competition.

Many organizations exist to fight blindness, act as advocates for the blind, or assist the blind with daily living. Few of them, however, exist with the purpose of providing blind individuals with an outlet for physical activity, athletic competition, and social interaction while celebrating their personal and collective achievements. COBBA endeavors to accomplish this through facilitating the game of beep baseball. Beepball not only promotes self-esteem and encourages exercise and physical health, it also exposes the community to the many capabilities of the visually impaired.

The game of beep baseball is played with standard softball bats, a 16-inch circumference ball that emits an audible beep tone, and two bases (48-inch pylons) that emit an audible buzzing sound. A beep baseball team consists of six players, all of who are blindfolded to equalize each player’s degree of visual impairment. In addition, each team may use two sighted spotters when playing defense and a sighted pitcher and catcher when batting. A game consists of six innings in which each team is allowed three outs. The team scoring the most runs wins.

COBBA has sponsored a local team of blind baseball players, the Columbus Vipers, since 1995. We have also hosted an annual regional beep baseball tournament, the Viper Classic, in Columbus since 1999. The human and monetary resources required for these endeavors are significant. To meet our goal of purchasing equipment and uniforms, as well as hosting two beepball events and traveling to four more, will require approximately $25,000 in 2005.

COBBA respectfully requests your assistance in helping us support the Columbus Vipers and the sport of beep baseball for the blind. There are several specific ways for you to help. You can sponsor a player for the entire season for $1,500, the World Series for $700, or a regional tournament for $400. You can purchase a complete uniform for a player for $100, or a beep baseball for $30. Volunteers are also needed to support our fund-raising efforts and act as umpires and crew during games. Tax-deductible donations can be made payable to “COBBA”. Our Federal Tax ID is 31-1424964.

Thank you very much for your thoughtful consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

Robert Weigand

COBBA Past President