Strikeouts for Katie Recipients
Strikeouts for Katie’s purpose is to help and serve others. In 2016 we were able to help by granting three scholarships to deserving students attending the cosmetology program at Technical High School, Brandywine. We donated the softball dugouts to the Downingtown High School West girl’s softball program. We provided over three hundred pounds of food to Manna on Main Street. We sponsored the entire family at St. Josephs House in Coatesville. We donated to the Children with Hair loss so that the kids could get their wigs free. At our annual event we did a pink “Streakouts” for breast cancer and donated those funds to the Breast Cancer Society. We donated to a Pitbull Rescue. We donated to our host Downingtown Little League who enabled Katie to play ball and grow in the sport a she loved. We donated to Batts for Matt whose charity helps those with Leukemia and cancer.
On behalf of all our family thank you from bottom of our heats for allowing us to continue to honor Katie and the charities near and dear to her!
We Strikeout for the good of the community!
‘Strikeouts for Katie’ donates dugouts to
Downingtown High School West
June 2019 Update – Construction Completed!
In 2015, the Downingtown Area School board members approved the construction of softball dugouts as a donation from the group “Strikeouts for Katie” in memory of a graduate. A lot of administrative work had to be completed before actual construction could begin. Construction work began in early 2017 and the Whippet’s home team dugout was completed in time for the start of the 2017 softball season. Attention turned next to complete the construction of the visiting team dugout. And we are extremely happy to say work on the Whippet’s visitor team dugout was completed in the spring of 2019!
“Strikeouts for Katie” formed in March 2014 in memory of Katie Anne Castaldi, a 2000 graduate of Downingtown Senior High School and the Center for Arts and Technology School of Cosmetology. She received her bachelor’s degree in communications from Temple University in 2005.
The group donated the dugouts, which consist of two covered player seating areas, for the Downingtown High School West varsity softball field. One covered player seating area for both the home and visiting teams. “Strikeouts for Katie” incurred the costs and obtained the permits for the project.
School Board President Jane Bertone thanked the group and family on behalf of the school board and the Downingtown Area School District for the donation.
“It’s a very nice gesture to remember Katie,” Bertone said during the Feb. 11 school board meeting. “And her experience at Downingtown was very positive.”
Katie, 31, was a Downingtown resident. She died in a car accident on March 4, 2014 on the Route 30 bypass near Reeceville Road in Caln.
“Strikeouts for Katie,” according to its Facebook page, consists of a co-ed softball tournament and fundraiser in memory of Castaldi. The inaugural event was held in May 2014.
“Katie Castaldi was an extraordinary young woman. She was a diligent person who lived by the motto: ‘work hard, play hard.’ She was always spending quality time with her family and friends, and Capone, her dog,” the group posted on a website, www.youcaring.com/nonprofits/strikeouts-for- Katie. “Katie was known for her smile that could light up a room, and personality and essence that just drew you in. Katie was outgoing, radiant, and an extremely loving person who touched the lives of all those that met her.”
Castaldi worked as a hair stylist and image consultant for 15 years. She worked for Ultimate Image, which is a hair salon and spa in Jeffersonville, Pennsylvania.
Some of the proceeds from “Strikeouts for Katie” have been donated for scholarships at the Technical College High School, Brandywine Campus, for cosmetology, according to the website, www.strikeoutsforkatie.com. The scholarship in Castaldi’s name is referred to as Katie’s Kurls. Donations have also been made to Lock’s of Love and the Downingtown Little League.
The Technical College High School, Brandywine
Formally known as CAT Brandywine
Strikeouts for Katie granted three scholarships to the cosmetology program at The Technical College High School, Brandywine formally known as CAT Brandywine. Katie was a Class of 2000 graduate from CAT Brandywine. Katie went on to be a very successful Master Stylist for sixteen years doing what she loved.
The Technical College High School specializes in providing high school students with the technical training and academic preparation to be successful in work, college, and life.
There are many reasons to choose a career and technical education, including:
- Developing the technical skills critical to obtaining a successful and rewarding career
- Higher earnings and greater job opportunities than unskilled workers
- Training in the highest-paid and most sought after careers
- Head start on college through dual-enrollment programs
- Work experience and on-the-job training through cooperative education and school-to-career programs
The mission of the Technical College High School, a partner for economic and workforce development, is to engage students in the academic and technical preparation necessary to continue their education, launch their careers and become lifelong learners.
Technical College High School – Brandywine Campus
443 Boot Road, Downingtown, Pennsylvania, 19335
Telephone: 484-593-5100 | FAX: 484-593-5060
Other Recipients
Thank You Letters
Mana on Main Street
Pantene Beautiful Lengths Fund at The Greater Cincinnati Foundation
St. Josephs Church Downingtown
St. Josephs House
TCHS Brandywine
Rescue Me’s Pit Bull Rescue