Our Mission.

SpringSpirit exists to provide pathways for youth to realize life opportunities through sports, education, and mentoring programs based on Christian principles.

  • Our Story

    Melissa and Kenny Baldwin
    Co-Founders and President
    The foundation of SpringSpirit began several decades ago in San Antonio as Kenny Baldwin, President and Founder, grew up and played baseball in a neighborhood much like the one SpringSpirit serves today. He was given the opportunity to attend Rice University on a baseball scholarship and then played professional baseball before spending twenty-eight years as a successful consultant in the oil and gas industry. Kenny credits his success to strong coaches, great teachers,  loving mentors, and faith leaders who encouraged him throughout his life. It is his greatest desire to create these same opportunities and relationships for other under-served youth through SpringSpirit Baseball.

  • Our Team

    Click on a photo to learn more or a name to email each team member.

    Elaine Armitage
    Accountant

    Amanda Camario
    Community Engagement

    Ellie Cohen
    Mentoring

    Saul Cortez
    Facilities

    Jay Davis
    Chief Operating Officer

    Blanca Gallegos
    Education

    Oswaldo Gallegos
    Competitive Soccer

    Jesus Garcia
    Community Engagement

    Melanie Martin
    Operations/Admin

    Johnnie McCrory
    Asst. to Kenny Baldwin

    Ana Mendoza
    Community Engagement

    Gio Merchan
    Softball

    Yesenia Merchan
    Education

    Erik Munguia
    Rec Soccer

    Rachel Owens
    Chief of Staff

    Juan Ramirez
    Community Engagement

    Haley Reiser
    Special Projects

    Brenda Rivera
    Mentoring

    Lizandro Salazar
    Competitive Soccer

    Sara Sitsch
    Development

    Laura Smith
    Mentoring & Education

    Carin Thorn
    Development

    Ben Vigil
    Competitive Baseball

    Elmer Villa
    Rec Soccer

    Alison Young
    Development

  • Our Community

    Spring Branch is a vibrant, growing and dynamic part of Houston. Among the local churches, schools, businesses, non-profits and mix of residents there exist many interested stakeholders that are working to see the community grow and thrive. There is a level of passion and commitment shared for the overall development of Spring Branch. The 1970’s marked a significant change in Spring Branch with the building of apartment complexes. During the 1980’s the City of Houston sought to build public housing in the area and was opposed by concerned homeowners and civic leaders. During that same decade, Houston’s economy declined rapidly and area apartments were vacated to families looking for inexpensive housing. The change in occupants is significant because it changed both the demographic and socio-economic status in the region. Beginning in 1980 to recent times, U.S. Census figures show a rapid and growing increase in the number of Latin American immigration to the community. The clear characteristics, noted both in the past and present, is the abundance of inexpensive multi-family housing and the excellent education provided by SBISD.

  • Our Board

    Carlos Abello
    Gary Edwards
    Mark McAdams
    Reid Ryan
    Kenny Baldwin
    Ed Fikse
    Brooks McGee
    Steve Schwarzbach
    Melissa Baldwin
    Terrence Gee
    Stephen McNair
    Aimee Snoots
    Jeb Bartley
    Jay Graham
    Philip McRae
    Laura Sorrell
    Lance Berkman
    Ira Green
    John Meredith
    Richard Spitzer
    Keith Booke
    Mark Hamilton
    Jeff Miers
    Steve Stephens
    David Buck
    Bill Herman
    David Milich
    Trey Strake
    Steve Buckley
    Doug Hodo
    David Miller
    Keith Stubbs
    Linda Castaneda
    Ty Hoffer
    Michelle Mouton
    Ken Theut
    David Cecil
    Howard House
    Jeff Pennington
    Brian Thompson
    Gus Comiskey
    Eric Hudson
    Mary Tere Peresquia
    Beth Tilney
    Kevin Comiskey
    Steve Kim
    Tony Pilegge
    Tim Tully
    Chad Covey
    Peggy Kostial
    David Pluchinsky
    Jesse Tutor
    Jason DeLorenzo
    Mark Lange
    Blake Pounds
    Joe Walsh
    Jeff Dietert
    David Light
    Jon Prather
     
    Hill Dishman
    Jason Martinez
    Paul Primavera
     
    Bill Dore
    Baker McAdams
    Michael Rudin
     

  • Our Partners

    • The Stoller Foundation strives to be HIS witness “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

  • Our Core Values

    • Teamwork: We rely on the talent and experience of every member of our staff to meet our mission goals.  We will work as one team to achieve our common and individual goals.  We will communicate openly, share ideas and support each other.
    • Respect for the Individual: We strive to create a workplace where employees learn from others and each person’s unique skills, gifts and experience are recognized.  We will demonstrate grace, compassion and patience with colleagues, volunteers and participants.
    • Integrity: We believe that trust is built on honesty and ensuring that our behaviors match our words.   We will act ethically, legally and according to our Christian principles in all situations.
    • Focus on the Family and Community:  We are committed to improving the lives of the families and youth of Spring Branch.  We will serve them willingly and with humility.  We will listen to the community in order to understand the specific ways in which we can help and we will deliver quality programming. 
    • Perseverance: We will be consistent and dedicated in our mission.  We will serve with a positive attitude and remain focused when we encounter obstacles.
    • Operational Excellence: We are committed to building a team of competent, caring individuals who will represent the values of SpringSpirit Baseball.  
Elaine Armitage
Hometown: Tulsa, OK
Hobbies: hiking, jogging, dancing
Dream Vacation: Costa Rica
Favorite Athlete: JJ Watt
Favorite Quote: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Why I Love SSB: I love our core values: Teamwork, Operational Excellence, Perseverance, Focus on the Family, respect for the Individual, Integrity
Jay Davis
Amanda Camario
Nickname: Amandeux
Hobbies: mentoring, 70's-00's music
Dream Vacation: Italy
Favorite Team: Houston Astros
Favorite Quote: To be a rock and not to roll
Why I Love SSB: I love our staff.
Ellie Cohen
Nickname: Ouisie
Hobbies: surfing, hiking, camping, anything outdoors, eating great food and spending time with my husband, baby, and golden
Dream Vacation: New Zealand & Australia
Houston Restaurant Rec: Uptown Sushi
Favorite Athlete: Jose Altuve
Why I Love SSB: I love our community!
Laura Smith
Hometown: Houston, TX
Hobbies: cooking, gardening, being outdoors, listening to music and going to concerts, watching sports and other TV shows, reading, travelling and doing DIY projects with my husband
Favorite Quote:  "Who has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8
Houston Restaurant Rec: El Tiempo
Favorite Athlete: Jose Altuve and Serena Williams
Why I Love SSB: I love the people!
Sara Sitsch
Hometown: Bushland, TX
Hobbies: Watching netflix, obsessing over college football, reading, and playing cornhole with my husband
Favorite Quote:  "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." -Wayne Gretzky - Michael Scott
Houston Restaurant Rec: El Tiempo
Favorite Team: Texas Tech Red Raiders and Alabama Crimson Tide
Why I Love SSB: I love how our staff works together towards our mission as a team!
Saul Cortez
Nickname: Bond...James Bond
Hobbies: soccer, cooking
Houston Restaurant Rec: Niko Niko's
Favorite Athlete: Lionel Messi
Dream Vacation: Greece
Why I Love SSB: I love meeting new people!
Ana Mendoza
Hometown: Monterrey, Mexico
Dream Vacation: Greece
Things I love: chips and salsa, listening to music
Favorite Quote: "I don't read to know more, but to ignore less" Sor Juana Inez de la Cruz
Houston Restaurant Rec: Michaelangelo's
Why I Love SSB: I love our mission to transform lives.
Alison Young
Hometown: Houston
Hobbies: CrossFit, gardening, cycling, baking/cake decorating, hiking, reading
Favorite Quote: "Everything will be all right in the end. If it is not all right, it is not yet the end." --Patel, Hotel Manager, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Why I Love SSB: It is spiritually and emotionally fulfilling to see that, every single day, we are making a real and profound impact on kids' lives.
Blanca Gallegos
Houston Restaurant Rec: Del Friscos
Favorite Athlete: Michael Jordan
Things I love: flipping homes, running, cycling, cooking, event planning, gardening, traveling
Favorite Quote: Climb mountains not so the world can see you, but so you can see the world.
Why I Love SSB: I love collaboration to uplift the community in a holistic way.
Oswaldo Gallegos
Jesus Garcia
Houston Restaurant Rec: Katz, House of Pies, Bubba's
Favorite Athlete: Astros, Texans, Rockets
Things I love: making music, playing sports, hanging out with family & friends
My Mt. Rushmore: my grandma, Jimi Hendrix, MLK, Jesus
Favorite Quote: Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth. Muhammad Ali
Why I Love SSB: I love the culture it is helping build around the community.
Giovanni Merchan
Hometown: New York, NY
Nickname:  Gio
Things I love: sports, video games
Houston Restaurant Rec: Del Friscos
Favorite Athlete: Odell Beckham, Jr.
Favorite Teams: New York Giants, Mets and Knicks
Why I Love SSB:  I love everything!
Melanie Martin
Nickname: Mel, Felanie
Favorite Team:  UGA Bulldogs
Things I love: camping/hiking, reading, crossword puzzles, the Great British Baking Show
Dream Vacation: I want to Vanlife the National Parks and then maybe drive that van all the way to Patagonia.
My Mt. Rushmore: my mom, Tom Hanks, Rodrigo Blankenship, all dogs
Why I Love SSB: The staff are so supportive of each other! It's great that we are all working together as a team towards a common goal.