INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S BASEBALL CENTER RECEIVES $2,000,000 GRANT FROM STEVEN & ALEXANDRA COHEN FOUNDATION AND $350,000 GRANT FROM AMAZIN’ METS FOUNDATION
Grant Funding to Aid IWBC’s Phase I Completion of Beyer Stadium at Maybelle Blair Park
ROCKFORD, Ill., September 9, 2025 – The International Women’s Baseball Center (IWBC), the world’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting, preserving, and promoting all aspects of women’s baseball, announced today that it has received a $2,000,000 grant from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, led by philanthropist and Mets Owner Alex Cohen, and a $350,000 grant from the Amazin’ Mets Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the New York Mets.
In recognition of the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation’s lead support, the park surrounding historic Beyer Stadium, including the Women’s Baseball Gallery outdoor exhibit and picnic area, will be named Maybelle Blair Park in honor of baseball icon and IWBC founding director emeritus Maybelle Blair. A former pitcher, Blair played in 1948 for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League that was made famous by the movie “A League of Their Own” and later played in the National Women’s Softball League. As a pioneer in women’s baseball and a lifelong advocate for girls in sports, Maybelle Blair was honored with the inaugural Amazin’ Mets Foundation Legacy Award in 2023. In addition, new bleacher seating will be named the Cohen Bleachers and the press box will be named after the Amazin’ Mets Foundation.
“Maybelle Blair is a baseball trailblazer and truly in a league of her own,” said Alex Cohen, President of the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation and the Amazin’ Mets Foundation. “In her honor, we are proud to support the International Women’s Baseball Center as they inspire the next generation of players and preserve the legacy of women in baseball.”
With these commitments, IWBC has secured sufficient funding to expedite Phase One construction of Beyer Stadium at Maybelle Blair Park, which is part of a comprehensive vision – designed by world-renowned architect and Belvidere, Illinois native Jeanne Gang of Studio Gang – ultimately including an indoor Center for sports and recreation that will support community activities and national and international tournaments, and a museum focused on women’s baseball. Once completed, the IWBC will attract athletes and visitors from across the nation and world.
Beyer Stadium renovations include the Cohen Bleachers, new restrooms, field regrading and sodding, irrigation, electrical upgrades, dugout upgrades, a scoreboard, foul poles, batting cages, pitching areas, and the Amazin’ Mets Foundation Press Box. Maybelle Blair Park, the green space north of the Stadium, will feature the Women’s Baseball Gallery, a major outdoor exhibit consisting of commemorative pylons honoring women’s baseball’s most significant achievements, the restoration of the historic main entrance ticket booth, and visitor-friendly walking paths and recreation areas.
Phase One is scheduled to be completed in 2026. Phase One project work has been accelerated by two other financial commitments and one global event announcement – $1,500,000 from the City of Rockford, $400,000 from Illinois State Senator Steve Stadelman, and IWBC being selected to host the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Women’s Baseball World Cup Group Stage 2026.
“We are deeply thankful to Alex Cohen and the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation and Amazin’ Mets Foundation for their generous donations,” said Dr. Kat Williams, IWBC’s CEO. “Their support will make a profound and lasting impact at Beyer Stadium, Maybelle Blair Park, and throughout the Rockford community, region, nation and world. We truly appreciate their commitment to the IWBC and the future of women’s baseball, and continue our fundraising efforts to complete the entire six-acre campus and Center. We look forward to bringing the world to Rockford, Illinois.”
Targeted for completion in 2030, IWBC’s six-acre campus will be delivered in three phases. Phase Two is projected to cost $22,800,000 and includes the construction of the state-of-the-art activity center and immersive museum located across the street from and overlooking Beyer Stadium at Maybelle Blair Park. And projected to cost $3,000,000, Phase Three covers the artifacts and exhibits built inside the museum hall, highlighted by a restored Rockford Peaches World War II era team bus.
Since its inception, IWBC has extended its impact through a variety of programs, including educational conferences, film screenings, camps and clinics, workshops, youth tournaments, traveling exhibits, block parties, and major events.
For more information, visit www.IWBC.org. Additional partnership and project inquiries should be directed to [email protected] or [email protected].
About IWBC: At the International Women’s Baseball Center, education is the cornerstone of our mission to protect, preserve, and promote all aspects of women’s baseball, both on and off the field. We strive to inspire the next generation of players by helping them realize their dreams of not only participating in the sport, but also of passing on all they learn and achieve for generations to come. For more information, visit www.IWBC.org.
Contact: Dr. Kat Williams, CEO, International Women’s Baseball Center, [email protected], 304.617.4474 or Nick Povalitis, founder, Plus Seven Company, [email protected], 815.708.1644.