Savannah River Site (SRS) teams knocked it out of the park during the 19^thannual SRS United Way Softball Tournament raising more than $22,000 for the 2023 SRS United Way campaign.

Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) Executive Vice President and Environmental Management Chief Operations Officer Mike Swain and United Way of Aiken County Director Ellen Luton threw ceremonial first pitches to kick off the two-day event that took place at Citizens Park in Aiken, South Carolina. 

Twenty-three teams from SRNS, Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), Centerra and Savannah River Mission Completion (SRMC) went head-to-head for the championship title. In the end, the SRNL Research Operations #2 team came out on top defeating the SRNS Fire Department team 23-10.

SRNS employee and tournament organizer Eric Schiefer has been involved with the event for the past 19 years and was one of the organizing committee members who helped establish the tournament in 2005. Schiefer mentioned that since the first SRS United Way Softball tournament, more than $325,000 has been raised to help those in need around the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA). 

“This event brings together hundreds of volunteers, spectators and players and has raised a tremendous amount of money over the years,” said Schiefer. “This year, over 300 participants from across the SRS complex took the field to support a great cause that will benefit the local community.” 

SRNS United Way Chair Lewis Arthur and Vice Chair Morgan Welch were thankful for the strong support and dedication from SRS employees. “The annual SRS United Way Softball Tournament is always a fun way to engage in a healthy competition while supporting a great cause. It’s an awesome opportunity to see everyone rally together, have some fun and donate over $20,000 to the local United Way Agencies,” said Arthur. 

This year’s campaign benefits United Way of Aiken County; United Way of the CSRA; United Way of Edgefield County; United Way McDuffie County; United Way of Midlands; United Way of Screven County; United Way of South Carolina, including Bamberg, Colleton, Hampton counties; United Way of the Lowcountry; United Way of Anderson County; and United Way of Barnwell County, including Allendale.