By Kyle Coppola
Cecil Clark Chevrolet Steps Up to the Plate for Leesburg Youth Baseball
In a big swing for a small town, Cecil Clark Chevrolet is giving local youth a chance to play ball and a reason to believe.
This week, the longtime Leesburg dealership donated a $500 check along with baseball equipment including clipboards, equipment bags, a backstop, scorebooks, emergency kits, and more to the Leesburg Parks and Recreation Department in support of the city’s youth baseball leagues.
The gesture means more than just gear; it represents a deep commitment to the kids and families that make up the heart of the community.
“The fact that Cecil Clark puts so much effort into our kids — it’s mental. It means more than people realize,” said Vinny Niglio, a local coach. “More kids get a chance to experience the game because of it.”
Leesburg Recreation Manager Marcus Niblack agrees. “If it wasn’t for this generosity, our city wouldn’t have what we need. This gives even the most impoverished kids a chance to feel included — to feel like they belong.”
Recreation Supervisor Korey Jefferson, a proud product of Leesburg himself, said the impact runs deep. “It means everything when the community invests in our homegrown kids,” Jefferson said. “Smaller towns like Leesburg are built on good people stepping up. We all lean on one another.”
The donation is just one piece of a broader effort. Through June 23, Cecil Clark Chevrolet will host a community test-drive event, where each test drive by a parent or resident generates additional funds for Leesburg Parks and Recreation.
Joseph Clark, who delivered the donation on behalf of the dealership, is a third-generation Leesburg native and is now the owner of Cecil Clark Chevrolet. He graduated from Leesburg High, and this weekend, so will his son Walker.
“I coached for years in this town, and I know how much it matters,” Clark said. “We talk about giving back at every dealer meeting. It’s not just about big sales — it’s about doing the right thing.” “At the end of the day, this is about our kids and making sure they have every chance to succeed.” Says Clark.
In Leesburg, it’s not just about baseball. It’s about stepping up, giving back, and building a future one pitch at a time.
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
