Teen Overcomes Challenges to Change Lives On, Off the Field
Once left out and bullied himself, the high school senior works to promote relationships that last beyond his free, one-day clinics for children with special needs.
As a child, Owen Sarwatka of Lutz says he was often left out on the playground and always picked last for sports. "I didn't have a lot of friends growing up," he said. "I was never really given the opportunity to get involved in games." But the Academy at the Lakes senior always had a passion for baseball, and as he got a little older, a passion for helping others. Now, the young founder of Everyone Can Play! helps children with special needs learn the game that gave him a sense of purpose—and other teens a chance to become involved not only as mentors, but as business leaders. Sarwatka's nonprofit organization, founded in 2010 as an Eagle Scout project, produces day-long clinics for kids with special needs. The clinics, which are …
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