February 2023 Volume 5

INDUSTRY NEWS

Finkl Steel Helps “Forge” the Future of Our Youth

Do you ever wonder how you can give back to the community or how to make a difference in someone’s life by volunteering your time? Finkl Steel Chicago’s Forge Shop Supervisor, Ricky Grimaldo, decided to do just that. Ricky is cofounder of an organization called Midwest Forge Fastpitch, a nonprofit girls travel softball team. The name of the organization truly speaks to their mission and goals. Founded in the Midwest and a blue-collar area, they wanted to embrace the idea of the dedicated and hardworking steel industry. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the definition of forging is to “form by heating and hammering.” The forging process provides a means of removing voids in a wrought casting, which helps to create uniformity to help maximize the performance of steel. Just like the forging process, Midwest Forge Fastpitch creates a team of young women that grow stronger when put under pressure. The mission of Midwest Forge Fastpitch is to help young women develop a strong character and self-confidence while doing something competitive and fun, with the goal of helping them develop and grow. The girls receive quality instruction to help develop their skills. “We want to give these girls the moral compass to help lead them in the right direction through the sport of softball and teach them how to deal with adversity”, their site says.

The organization wants to be able to offer the girls on the team mentorship, guidance, a second family, and a “safe haven” where “they can learn, grow, have fun, and enjoy their favorite sport.” Since its start, the organization has had so much interest that they needed to start a second team. They now have two teams, both named Midwest Forge. One team consists of teens 12 years old and younger, while the other is ages 13-14. Finkl Steel’s pride in Ricky’s efforts was matched by a sponsorship of the team. Thanks to the Finkl sponsorship, the girls can play the sport they love and receive quality training that focuses on growth and development. Their logo and custom-made jerseys proudly read “Forge,” which further showcases what they stand for. Finkl Steel is proud to support this amazing organization and the development of our local youth! If you’d like to learn more, please feel free to check out their social media sites: https://linktr.ee/midwestforge.

FIA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2023 62