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

    Administration

    Elaine Armitage
    Accounting
    Yesenia Merchan
    Operations
    Juan Ramirez
    Administration
    Rachel Owens
    Director of Operations
    Laura Smith
    Pitner Campus Director
    Johnnie McCrory
    Assistant to Kenny Baldwin
    Ana Mendoza
    Campbell Campus Director

    Development

    Alison Young
    Development
    Katie Whalley
    ​Development
    Kakki Lange
    ​    Development
    Jay Davis
    Corporate Development

    Competitive Sports

    ​Gabriel Castillo
    Baseball
    Elmer Villa
    Soccer
    Kevin Witt
    Baseball
    Chista Wallace 
    Softball Development Player
    Gio Merchan
    Softball
    Lizandro Salazar
    Soccer

    Education & Mentoring

    Sergio Razo
    Education
    Blanca Gallegos
    Whole Child Program
    Carin Thorn
    Education

    Community Engagement & Rec Sports

    Miguel Arteaga
    Community Engagement
    Sergio Razo
    Community Engagement
    Cristian Melendez
    Ministry
    Juan Ramirez
    Rec Sports 
    Michael Kidd
    Community Engagement
    Said Perez
    Ministry
    Sophie White
    Ministry

  • 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
    ​Jay Graham
    ​Mark McAdams
    ​Steve Scott
    Kenny Baldwin
    Ira Green
    Brooks McGee
    Aimee Snoots
    Melissa Baldwin
    ​Mark Hamilton
    ​Stephen McNair
    Laura Sorrell
    ​Lance Berkman
    ​Bill Herman
    Philip McRae
    Richard Spitzer
    Keith Booke
    ​Doug Hodo
    ​John Meredith
    Steve Stephens
    David Buck
    Howard House
    ​Jeff Miers
    Trey Strake
    Steve Buckley
    ​Eric Hudson
    ​David Milich
    Keith Stubbs
    Linda Castaneda
    Will Huthnance
    ​David Miller
    ​Ken Theut
    ​David Cecil
    ​Steve Kim
    ​Michelle Mouton
    ​Brian Thompson
    Gus Comiskey
    ​Duncan Klussmann
    ​Mary Tere Peresquia
    ​Beth Tilney
    Jeff Dietert
    ​Peggy Kostial
    Tony Pilegge
    ​Tim Tully
    Bill Dore
    Bob Kurtz
    ​David Pluchinsky
    ​​Jesse Tutor
    Gary Edwards
    ​Dan Lang
    Jon Prather
    Luke Vammen
    Cristina Feder
    ​Mark Lange
    ​Paul Primavera
    ​Trey Vick​​​
    ​Chris Ferazzi
    David Light
    ​Luis Rojas
     
    Ed Fikse
    Tommy Mann
    ​Michael D. Rudin
     
    ​Terrence Gee
    ​Jason Martinez
    Reid Ryan
     
    Mike Gilbert
    Baker McAdams
    ​Steve Schwarzbach
     

  • Our Founding 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.  
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
Jay comes to us as a seasoned and successful C-level business leader with many years of broad experience in the oil and gas industry. Additionally, he has been very involved as a baseball coach, where his teams have won over 30 titles, including 2 State Championships and a third place World Series finish. Finally, Jay and his wife Rhonda are extremely active and committed to their church, Faithbridge UMC in Spring, TX. Each of these facets makes Jay an ideal leader, positioned to take us to the next level as we continue to advance our mission of creating pathways that help our children become the well-rounded adults God created them to be.
Laura Smith
Hometown: Houston, TX
Hobbies: cooking, gardening, being outdoors, listening to music and going to concerts, watching sports and other TV shows, reading, traveling 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: Backstreet Cafe
Favorite Athlete: Jose Altuve
Why I Love SSB: I love the community!
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.
Michael Kidd
Homewtown: Brownsville, Texas
Favorite Athlete: Albert Pujols
Things I love: playing baseball, swimming, the Lord
My Mt. Rushmore: twin sister, parents, Pastor Dale, best friend Joey
Favorite Quote: "Failure is not fatal, success is not final, it is the courag to continue that counts." -Winston Churchill
Why I Love SSB: I love the mentality of serving without any expectation of accolades or praise.
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!
Johnnie McCrory
Hometown: Mobile, AL
Dream Vacation:  Switzerland, Austria
Things I love: sewing, gardening and my grandchildren
Favorite Quote: We can't help everyone, but we can all help someone. -Ronald Reagan
Why I Love SSB: The people bring such happiness to so many children and you can see the love they have for their job.
Yesenia Herera-Merchan
Nickname: Yessie
Things I love: watching my kids play ball or watching Giovanni singing
Dream Vacation: Turks and Caicos
Favorite Quote: Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance.
My Mt. Rushmore: God, My Dad, Mom, Maya Angelou
Why I Love SSB: It gives young athletes a platform and the motivation to strive to go to college or bettering themselves by acknowledging God first.
Rachel Owens
Hometown: All over! (military)
Favorite Athlete:  Jose Altuve
Things I love: rescuing animals, pilates, shooting
Favorite Quote: "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about."
Why I Love SSB: I love our mission!
Juan Ramirez
Favorite Athlete:  Ronaldo "Fenomeno" Nazario
Things I love: soccer
Dream Vacation: Switzerland
Favorite Quote: Motivation is what gets you started. Habits are what keeps you going.
My Mt. Rushmore: Mom, Dad, Andres Bautista (mentor), and my wife
Why I Love SSB: I love working with our kids!
Lizandro Salazar
Houston Restaurant Rec: Tiny Boxwood's
Dream Vacation: Venice, Monaco, Greece
Things I love: soccer, futgolf, kayaking, cycling
Favorite Quote: Truth sounds like hate to those who hate the truth.
Why I Love SSB: I love the staff!