"We were talking about creating a game for the moms to play,” explains Amy Douglass, “but we wanted the game to have more of an impact and decided to raise money to support people who have Crohn’s Disease and Colitis.”
Amy tells the story of how almost five years ago, she and four friends formed the Betty League Softball Tournament as a fundraiser, after Amy’s daughter, Ella Perry, had been diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease.
“The name of the League came from The Betty restaurant on E. Paces Ferry,” explains Amy. “The five of us were all enjoying dinner on the patio at The Betty, and these ladies and I thought it would be fun to have a moms' softball game and donate the collected funds to a charity.”
They decided that the softball league’s beneficiary charity would be the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.
“We named the League after ‘The Betty’ because I didn’t want Crohn’s Disease to define my daughter,” says Amy. And that was how the Betty League was born.
Born and raised in Chattanooga, TN, Amy attended GPS, Princeton University and UVA Law School, before moving to Atlanta in 2004. Currently, Amy is an attorney with Rollins, Inc. Amy has two children, Ella Perry (14) and Charles (12).
Like many other children and adults, Ella Perry has struggled with Crohn’s Disease. She began presenting symptoms at the end of 2020 when she was 10. In early 2021, Amy brought Ella Perry to see her pediatrician, Dr. Kelly West. Dr. West ran an IBD panel and sent Ella Perry to a GI doctor. She was quickly diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease.
Amy is determined to help find a cure in her daughter’s lifetime. Thus, the Betty League Softball Tournament began in 2021 and has grown into a major fundraising event raising over $100,000 in just a few short years for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.
“This incredible contribution to the Foundation is why we are honored to recognize Amy as the Elvin C. Price Volunteer of the Year,” says Kim Brammer, Regional Director of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. Amy will be recognized at the Foundation’s Torch Gala on February 8, 2025.
Amy says, “It is an incredibly special group of individuals who participate in the Betty League. They are showing their children empathy, kindness, and how to support one another. What a wonderful example to show our kids!”
The League has gone from two teams to six teams, growing each year. It started with 20 women and last year there were 75 women playing in the League.
The next Betty League event will be held on Saturday, May 10th, 2025. It is on the Saturday of Mother’s Day weekend, and this event will mark their 5th Anniversary. Family and friends will come out to enjoy a night of softball. There will be a food truck for dinner, treats for kids, and wine/beer/cocktails for participants and fans. “Kids come and cheer on their moms, and families and friends love cheering on all of the ladies in the League,” says Amy.
Amy is humbled by the recognition as the Foundation’s Volunteer of the Year. She says, “The Volunteer of the Year award makes me uncomfortable because it doesn’t feel like it’s mine to be celebrated. We are all consistently showing up for each other.”
She continues, “I will accept the award on behalf of the League. I couldn’t have done any of this without the support of my family and friends. They have all gone on this journey with us. The fact that everyone has been so supportive is truly amazing.”
“Everyone has a struggle in life – health related or otherwise, but the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation has been such a gift to my daughter, so I will continue to give back as long as I can.”
Kim says, “The Foundation has played a role in every major breakthrough in Inflammatory Bowel Disease research due to events like the Betty League. With dedicated volunteers like Amy, the advances are incredibly promising.”
Amy smiles, “We are hopeful that there will be a cure in the near future. With the support of donors, volunteers, cheerleaders, and softball players, we can all make a difference.”
They decided that the softball league’s beneficiary charity would be the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.