HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK, Arkansas — After the family of the late Mike Dugan suggested contributions to the Majestic Park Scholarship Fund following his death, members of the public contacted Visit Hot Springs seeking information about the scholarship.
Dugan, Hot Springs’ foremost baseball historian and the guiding force behind the Historic Hot Springs Baseball Trail and the Majestic Park youth baseball complex under construction at Carson and Belding Streets, passed away February 4, less than a month after being diagnosed with glioblastoma brain cancer.
“When Mike’s obituary was published we immediately started receiving inquiries from the public regarding the family’s suggestion that contributions be made in Mike’s name to the Majestic Park Scholarship Fund,” Visit Hot Springs CEO Steve Arrison said. “Mike’s passing was so unexpected the committee that had been formed to get the scholarship up and running hadn’t even had time — because of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions — to hold its initial organizing meeting.
“The Majestic Park Scholarship Fund was a promise made by the campaign committee that spearheaded the successful 2019 election to build the facility. Mike was the originator of the concept for the baseball complex and led the campaign to finance it.”
After the election, Arrison said, a nonprofit 501(c)3 fund was established with an initial $10,000 contribution from Ritter Communications.
“The purpose of the scholarship fund is to ensure that any child regardless of economic status can play baseball in Hot Springs,” he said. “The scholarships will pay for all fees, uniforms and equipment needed for an eligible kid to play the game of baseball at Majestic Park.
“It was a dream of Mike’s and the campaign committee that no child would ever be turned away from playing ball at Majestic Park because of their economic status.”
Arrison said the fund will be administered by a volunteer committee that will determine the recipients and qualifications. Its members are: Chris Chapmond, Laura Crabtree, Carl Seymour, Rennell Litzsey, Diablo Coleman and Amos Gray.
“Mike Dugan believed very strongly and voiced often his wish that any child who wanted to play baseball should be able to play baseball no matter what his or her economic status,” Arrison said. “We are going to honor that dream.”
All gifts are tax deductible and will be acknowledged with a receipt.
Gifts may be sent to Majestic Park Scholarship Fund, PO Box 6000, Hot Springs, AR 71902.
For more information call Steve Arrison, 501-321-2027.