The James S. Kunzman Foundation started in Belen because that's where the Kunzman family story started. Sam Kunzman's parents met at the Rio Communities golf course, where his father, James S. Kunzman, was the club pro. On March 21, 2026, the foundation made its first gift, a $5,000 check to Belen Little League, and Sam says this is only the beginning.
Key takeaways:
- JSKF chose Belen first because Sam Kunzman's parents met at the Rio Communities golf course, where his father worked as the club pro.
- The foundation is named for Sam's late father, James S. Kunzman.
- The first gift is $5,000 for equipment, starting with catcher's gear, then bases, balls, tees, and jerseys.
- Longer term, JSKF wants to help with facilities and with recruiting players and coaches.
- Las Cruces and Albuquerque Little Leagues are next, with plans to reach other states.
Sam Kunzman is an Albuquerque native who works in real estate private equity in Dallas. When it came time to pick a starting point, Belen was personal. His parents met at the Rio Communities golf course, where his father was the club pro.The league made the choice easy. "The stars just aligned," Kunzman said. "As you can see, they already have an incredible community."
The foundation carries the name of Sam's late father, and so does its purpose. Sam says the mission comes from watching families get priced out of the game."America's pastime should be for everybody," Kunzman said during a break in the opening ceremony. "A lot of people are being priced out, and I thought that was wrong, un-American." He added: "That was not what my father believed in."
Michele Todd, a Belen Little League board member and equipment manager who also helps coach two teams, says the gift will replenish basic gear, starting with catcher's gear."It's going to help us buy better quality equipment," Todd said. "Unfortunately, the equipment we can afford doesn't quite last as long as we'd like it to." Her verdict on the check: "It's a wonderful amount of money."Kunzman says the focus is gear that lasts. "It's for multi-season impacts," he said, meaning items a league can use for years. Bases, balls, tees, and jerseys come first, with bigger needs to follow in later years.
Kunzman reached out to former University of New Mexico baseball coach Ray Birmingham in December. Birmingham, who travels the state giving clinics, agreed to join the effort for the long haul. As Kunzman tells it, Birmingham's answer was, "I'm totally in, but I don't want to be a part of a fly-by-night."Birmingham sees the first gift as a starting point. "Little League is 'community' and our communities are kind of fading a little bit," he said. "It's not just today. It's the start of a snowball effect."
Kunzman says he's still refining the details, but the direction is clear. "In the future, we want to help solve bigger problems," he said, naming "recruitment of new players, recruitment of coaches." Las Cruces and Albuquerque Little Leagues are the next targets, and he wants to expand to other states."The whole goal is to try and bring people together, keep kids playing," Kunzman said. "Then, in the future, expand the game to get more kids playing. It's just about equality of opportunity."And he's in it for the long run. "This is not something I can walk away from," he said. "It's a big responsibility."
Why did JSKF start with Belen Little League?
Sam Kunzman's parents met at the Rio Communities golf course, where his father was the club pro, and Kunzman says Belen already has an incredible community.
Who is the foundation named after?
The James S. Kunzman Foundation is named for Sam Kunzman's late father.
What is the $5,000 gift for?
Equipment. Belen Little League plans to start with catcher's gear, then bases, balls, tees, and jerseys, with a focus on gear that lasts multiple seasons.
Who is Ray Birmingham and what is his role?
Birmingham is a former University of New Mexico baseball coach who gives clinics around the state. Kunzman asked him to join in December, and he agreed to help on a long-term basis.
Where will JSKF go next?
Las Cruces and Albuquerque Little Leagues are next, with plans to expand to other states over time.
