Charlie Ward opens 'Champions Ranch' in Tallahassee

From prayer to preparation, all rooted in purpose, standing on the first field at the Charlie Ward Champions Ranch was a dream come true.Not just for Charlie Ward or wife Tonja. It's a dream realized for the entire city craving sports venues that can cultivate the next generation of champions, on and off the field or court. Located at 5601 Capital Circle Southeast, the first multipurpose field was celebrated Oct. 29 with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting celebration.Members of the Boys and Girls Club of the Big Bend, all in crimson red T-shirts, were the first children to feel the turf grass underneath their sneakers and on their small hands when they tumbled to the ground.They did soccer drills with members of the Florida State University School Soccer Team, hurled and caught footballs soaring in the air and enjoyed the grandeur of the field in south Leon County. For many, this was what it was all about."At the end of the day, you have dreams and aspirations of doing something," said Charlie Ward, a former NBA star and Heisman trophy winner from his championship-winning days playing Florida State football.Now, the Thomasville, Ga., native, who has played sports his entire life, is the head coach of Florida A&M's men's basketball team and a living example of the heights and impact that can be achieved."To actually see it happen ... three years ago, it was a vision," he said. "We were talking to people and selling the dream and now we're here."Ward: 'The dream is coming true'The ranch will house several structures on its 112 acres and should take about 10 to 15 years to complete. Phase 1 and 2 are to be done within the next five years.Watching from their seats, Tonja's mom and Charlie's parents watched the flurry of activity buzzing around their children. Tonja said it was "really incredible" to have them there and see this day. "Our parents were friends before we were born," she said. "To be a part of their legacy, they have been such an example for us. I know my father is in the great crowd of witnesses looking down and proud and excited about what's happening."Tonja said both her parents and her husband's parents are educators, adding that they've "always been about kids. For them to see us continuing their legacy of serving kids, I think they are full of joy as well."Charlie Ward Sr., 86, said the Lord has guided him and his wife of 62 years just as He's guiding Charlie and Tonja in this massive undertaking. "It's a dream, and the dream is coming true," he said, just before the event began. "That's the way it's supposed to be, giving back to the community because you can't do it all by yourself."The next steps for the project include finalizing designs for the cafe and restroom building. They're hoping for a legislative appropriation in funding to help support the building's construction. Also, the Wards are hoping to close out with a fundraising bang that will kickstart construction for the next multi-purpose field. Their organization, the Charlie Ward Family Foundation, is leading the charge and hops to raise $2 million by the end of the year. In addition, the foundation has secured a $500,000 matching grant."We want people to help us match that $500,000 because that can turn into a million dollars by the end of the year," Tonja said. "So, that's the focus."Donations can be made to championsranch.org and click "invest" to support the effort.Event comes in the wake of one of the city's darkest times At the ribbon-cutting, dozens of major donors, project contributors, supporters and elected officials donned black cowboy hats for extra flair.Leon County Commissioner Carolyn Cummings, who was among them, said she was overjoyed to see the dawn of a promising project. She said her "heart and soul is with our children.""Anything that's going to uplift our children and allow us to embrace them and put them in a safer place, a safe haven, I'm in," said Cummings, who also serves on the Leon County Children's Services Council. She also called the timing of the event "impeccable," and said it reminded her of the famous opening line of "A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...." Less than a week ago, one of the worst mass shootings in Tallahassee's history resulted in 11 victims shot and one grandmother injured while fleeing on Perry Street, following Florida A&M University's homecoming football game Oct. 24. Six victims were children; the youngest was 11 years old.Anthony Rivers III, 15, was arrested the day after the shooting and charged with 11 counts of attempted homicide and possession of a firearm by a delinquent. He was formally charged as an adult Oct. 27 and booked into the Leon County Detention Facility.The incident has shaken the community and only amplified the cry and demand of many for more intervention to curb gun violence, particularly involving young people.Florida State University President Richard McCullough said he can't imagine what it's like for "some of these kids that grow up in tough situations.""I grew up poor, but I had a mother and a father and I had a family," said McCullough, who grew up in Mesquite, Texas, which is near Dallas.Some children, he said, may be raised in a single-family household where that parent is working two jobs to pay the bills. There may not be a village or support system to deter the child from certain friend groups or a kid "could go as far as being in a gang because that's kind of like their family," he said. "Then (they're) set off on a wrong path," McCullough said. "It's hard to recover from that ... Getting involved in something like sports, where you can get that energy out and find a family group, you need that extra group of people that will be your family."He said that can make all the difference in Tallahassee. And many attendees at the event are convinced the Champions Ranch will be a part of making that difference.Manuel Rico, boys soccer coach at the Florida State University School, a K-12 public charter school in Tallahassee commonly known as Florida High, said it's going to be "an amazing opportunity for this side of town.""I think (the) more ... the facility grows, it's just going to impact more and more lives," Rico said.Contact Economic Development Reporter TaMaryn Waters at tlwaters@tallahassee.com and follow @TaMarynWaters on X.This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Charlie Ward opens 'Champions Ranch' in Tallahassee