SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (February 18, 2025) – Charlie Clines, longtime philanthropist and financial professional from The Woodlands, Texas, has been elected as the newest At-Large Member of the Little League® International Board of Directors.
“The Little League International Board of Directors continues to strengthen its membership each year, and as we look ahead to the 2025 season and beyond, we are honored to officially welcome Charlie as our newest at-large member,” said Steven P. Johnson, Little League International Board of Directors Chairman. “With our organization’s continued focus on providing additional support to our local leagues and breaking down the barriers of entries to enhance access and opportunity, Charlie’s background and expertise both as a professional and at the local league level will be a tremendous asset to not only the Board but to the entire Little League organization.”
An experienced financial and philanthropic professional, Clines is no stranger to the Little League program, serving as a local league board member from 2017 through 2020 for Town and Country Optimist Little League in San Antonio, Texas, where he helped to fund a $300,000 rebuild for the fields of the underserved community. Additionally, he has 15 years of Little League umpiring experience, including five years as Chief Umpire, for First Colony Little League in Sugar Land, Texas, which includes experience serving as the umpire at the Texas East State Tournament.
“As someone who has been dedicated to supporting my community and local league firsthand, it is an honor to be elected to the Little League International Board of Directors and play a small part in helping to chart the future of this incredible organization,” said Clines. “The Little League organization does so much good for communities and families all around the world, and I look forward to lending my own experience and professional expertise to the board as we continue to find ways to make the Little League program more fun, innovative, and enjoyable for all.”
Clines recently retired as the CEO for The Charles Butt Foundation, where he led the philanthropic efforts of Charles Butt (Chairman and Owner of H-E-B Grocery Company), centered on ensuring that all of Texas’ 5.6 million public school children receive a high-quality public education. In addition to that role, Clines serves on a variety of other boards including Uvalde CISD Moving Forward Foundation,The Holdsworth Center, Raise Your Hand for Public Schools, and the San Antonio Zoological Society. His previous experience also includes more than 30 years of partner experience in Houston, serving between KPMG and RSM, LLP, where he helped deliver financial and investment planning services to high-net-worth clients.
About the Little League® International Board of Directors
The management of the business affairs of Little League Baseball®, Incorporated, is vested in the International Board of Directors. The Board has the control of the corporation and the power to appoint such standing committees as it shall determine and to delegate such responsibilities as it shall deem advisable.
Along with more than a dozen at-large members from a variety of occupations and backgrounds, the Little League International Board has nine Field Directors, each representing one of Little League’s nine regions, who are nominated by their peers for election to four-year terms by their region’s District Administrators.
The members of the Little League International Board of Directors are volunteers in this service to Little League® Baseball and Softball. They receive no compensation for their dedicated work on behalf of the program and the children of the world.
About Little League®
Founded in 1939, Little League® is the world’s largest organized youth sports program, with approximately two million players (ages 4-16) playing baseball and softball in communities across every U.S. state and more than 80 other countries. Operated by more than one million volunteers, Little League believes in the power of youth baseball and softball to teach life lessons that build stronger individuals and communities. From professional athletes and award-winning celebrities, to public officials and other influential members of society, Little League graduates have taken the lessons they learned, both on and off the field, to create the next chapter of the Little League story. Each year, millions of people follow the hard work, dedication, and sportsmanship that Little Leaguers® display at our seven baseball and softball World Series events, the premier tournaments in youth sports. For more information, visit LittleLeague.org, and follow Little League (@LittleLeague) on Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. When we all come together, we are truly One Team. One Little League.
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For more information contact:
Kevin Fountain, Little League® Senior Director of Communications
E-mail: KFountain@LittleLeague.org ; Website: LittleLeague.org/Media
Office: 570-326-1921, ext. 2325; Cell: 570-295-7728
