The Fort Hunt Youth Association is dedicated to the youth of our community. Our goal is to create a safe and fun athletic environment where our young people can learn and grow. Hundreds of volunteers work hard all year in support of this goal, and demonstrate incredible dedication to, and care for, our neighborhood youth.

It is very painful for anyone who cares about children to hear of the allegations made against Mr. Hamilton. The fact that he was previously a coach in our program makes that pain even greater. We are committed to doing everything we can to assist the authorities in this case. Like all members of our community, we are saddened by the harm that is reported to have come to the young victim.

Mr. Hamilton has not been in the FHYAA program for many years. He stopped coaching and umpiring in approximately 2002. The events in question were reported to have occurred well before that, in 1997. We have asked anyone in our program with further information that might assist the police to please come forward.

The FHYAA has always taken, and continues to take, strong proactive measures to protect our children. We adhere to a program of background checks for coaches and other volunteers, submit and assess lists of potential coaches before any season begins, require each coach to sign a Code of Conduct, and continually monitor all of our activities for any behavior that is not in keeping with our highest standards. In addition, the baseball program is affiliated with Little League Baseball, an organization which has developed strong policies and procedures for protecting youth and implemented these programs around the world.

If these allegations are proven to be true, our organization joins the rest of the community in our concern for the victim and in the feeling of betrayal by one of our own. As always, we rededicate ourselves to the protection of our young people. Our mission is to do just that, so that they all might enjoy the most positive experiences possible.

Sincerely,

The FHYAA