Fynn’s Wish seeking teams, cooks for April event

Fynn’s Wish, an autism therapy center expected to open in Avoyelles Parish later this year, will hold a softball tournament and jambalaya cook-off fund-raiser at the Cottonport ballpark April 12-13.

The tournament will begin at 5 p.m. Friday, April 12 and continue at 9 a.m. on April 13, according to center director Kaylee Sievers of Mansura.

Jeremy Andress, president of the Bayou Rouge Little League and Park organization said the event could be held at the ballpark, which is located behind the Avoyelles Parish Women’s Detention Center.

Teams will be “co-ed.” There are two age divisions.

Those 14 and up can register for $200 per team or $20 per person. It is preferred that teams consist of six male and four female members. Youth ages 9-13 can register for $20 per child.

“In the youth division, registration does not have to be by teams,” Sievers said. “Individual children can register and will be placed on a team. This will enable special needs children to play on a team,” she said. “All children will play in the game.”

Cooks interested in competing in the cook-off can enter for $20.

Judging will take place at about 10:30 a.m. on April 13.

Food entries will be sold for $5 per bowl during the softball tournament.

Trophies will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in the cook-off and tournament.

To sign up for the tournament and/or the Jambalaya Cook-off, visit: www.fynnswish. org or contact Fynn’s Wish board Crystal Poole at (318)-359-9132 or event committee member Emily Kimble at (318) 264-1827.

There will be a concession stand open during the tournament. Items for sale will include hamburgers, tornado potatoes, candy and soft drinks.

Beau Loughman of Wipeout Waterslides and Superior Oil & Lube is donating a slide for the April 13 day of events for children to enjoy free-of-charge.

“Fynn’s Wish is working hard behind the scenes with local nonprofit foundations and organizations to ensure that the center will be top-of-the-line and provide much needed therapy for the children with special needs in the parish and surrounding parishes,” Sievers said.

“We are getting ready for launch mode and I’m excited to share the news this coming summer of what exactly is to come to Avoyelles Parish,” she added.

Sievers said she has spoken with medical doctors and nurse practitioners in the parish and “I’ve come to find out that the need for this center is much higher than I actually thought.

“The statistics from just one pediatric clinic in Avoyelles are that more than 50 kids who need therapy are not receiving services they need,” she added.