The James S. Kunzman Foundation (JSKF) is starting its mission to keep youth baseball and softball affordable with a $5,000 donation to Belen Little League, presented on opening day. The gift will fund catcher's gear, bases, balls, tees, jerseys, and other equipment replacement, with Las Cruces and Albuquerque Little Leagues next in line for support.
Key takeaways:
- JSKF, founded by Albuquerque native Sam Kunzman, launched publicly with a $5,000 donation to Belen Little League.
- The gift covers essential equipment: catcher's gear, bases, balls, tees, and jerseys.
- Former University of New Mexico baseball coach Ray Birmingham is advising the foundation.
- Expansion to Las Cruces and Albuquerque Little Leagues is already planned, with a longer-term goal of growing nationwide.
Sam Kunzman grew up in Albuquerque before building a career in real estate private equity in Dallas. He founded the James S. Kunzman Foundation, named for his father, James S. Kunzman, because he sees families getting priced out of the game, which he called ‘wrong, un-American.’ Kunzman said. "A lot of people are being priced out."The foundation's approach is simple: put money directly into the hands of local leagues for the equipment and infrastructure that keep kids on the field, starting in New Mexico and expanding from there.
JSKF presented its first donation, $5,000, at Belen Little League's opening day. The funds are earmarked for:
• Catcher's gear
• Bases, balls, and batting tees
• Jerseys
• General equipment replacement
Board members of Belen Little League accepted the check at the league’s opening day on March 21, 2026, before the first games of the season.
Ray Birmingham, the former University of New Mexico head baseball coach now advising the foundation, framed the gift as part of a larger effort to rebuild something leagues have been losing."Little League is community," Birmingham said, "and our communities are kind of fading."Kunzman echoed that goal: "The goal is to try and bring people together, keep kids playing."
Belen is the starting point, not the destination. The foundation has already identified Las Cruces and Albuquerque Little Leagues as its next stops, with plans that go beyond equipment donations to include facility improvements and coach and player recruitment. Kunzman has said he'd like to see the model grow well beyond New Mexico over time.
What is the James S. Kunzman Foundation?
JSKF is a nonprofit founded by Albuquerque native Sam Kunzman to reduce the cost barriers keeping kids out of youth baseball and softball, starting with support for Little League programs in New Mexico.
Who is the foundation named after?
It's named for Sam Kunzman's father, James S. Kunzman.
How much did JSKF donate to Belen Little League?
$5,000, presented on the league's opening day, earmarked for catcher's gear, bases, balls, tees, jerseys, and other equipment.
Which leagues will JSKF support next?
Las Cruces and Albuquerque Little Leagues are next, with a stated goal of expanding further across New Mexico and potentially nationwide.
Who is advising the foundation?
Ray Birmingham, former head baseball coach at the University of New Mexico.Reporting on the Belen Little League presentation via the Albuquerque Journal:
https://www.abqjournal.com/sports/new-foundation-to-support-youth-baseball-and-softball-begins-with-boost-to-belen-little-league/3006447
