For Ayden Roitstein, his connection with the Little League Challenger Division® goes far beyond the baseball diamond. In 2020, Ayden was introduced to the program for the first time through Murrayhill Little League in Beaverton, Oregon. He quickly signed up to be a Buddy – a person who assists Challenger athletes as needed in the areas of batting, base running, and defense.
His experience within the program moved him and led to his decision to connect his Bar Mitzvah project – a meaningful community service that is a rite of passage for Jewish youth – to the Challenger program.
“When I was coming up with a Bar Mitzvah project, I was struggling to come up with ideas. I started brainstorming about the different things in my life that I am passionate about, and my mind just kept going back to Little League and the Challenger Division,” said Ayden.
“Throughout my time as a Buddy, the Challenger Division athletes have made a bigger impact on me than I have made on them. This was an opportunity for me to give back and help a program that I love.”
Much of Ayden’s inspiration came from observing the commitment and effort it took for Challenger families to arrive at the fields and get everything ready for a game.
“I always noticed that it was a hassle for families to get their equipment to and from the fields,” said Ayden. “I just wanted to help them by raising funds and purchasing a trailer that would make transport easier. Hopefully, with my efforts, we will see a lot more Challenger athletes on the field.”
That idea sparked a months-long project and an outpouring of generosity and enthusiasm. Volunteers and families in the community joined the effort, and his entire MurrayHill All-Star team came and volunteered alongside him. In the end, Ayden raised more than $5,000 for the league’s Challenger Division, which was way beyond his expectations.
“It was a very emotional day to present that check,” said Steve Roitstein, Ayden’s father. “This is something that we want to continue. Although it was Ayden’s Bar Mitzvah project, why not have this event annually?”
One of the most meaningful moments for the family came when a Challenger volunteer, who just received a once-in-a-lifetime service medallion, gave her award to Ayden after learning that he was the young man behind the donation. For Ayden’s parents, Steve and Stephanie, it was hard to put into words how incredibly proud of their son they are and the impact that he had on the Murrayhill community.
“Every parent will always be proud of their son, daughter, or children. You give them different guidelines as they grow up. Whether that is teaching them how to treat others, giving back to your community, or just teaching them manners,” said Steve. “After you teach them these different lessons, it is up to them to utilize them. As parents, we could not be more proud of what he has accomplished.”
On the day of Ayden’s Bar Mitzvah celebration, baseball was at the center of it – from the theme to Ayden’s project and a memorable surprise that capitalized the night: a historic Game 7 of the 2025 MLB World Series.
“You could not have scripted it any better,” said Steve. “It was a baseball-themed Bar Mitzvah, and Game 7 was on. I don’t think there was a television in the whole venue that didn’t have the game on.”
As Ayden and his parents look to the future with hopes of making this into an annual event, they will continue to participate in and celebrate the Challenger Division, emphasizing the importance of inclusion, one of Little League’s five core values.
“Not everyone is the same,” said Ayden. “We all go through different challenges, and they have their own. But just because someone has a disadvantage does not mean that they can’t play. That is why I wanted to do this. Everyone deserves an opportunity and a chance to play the game that I love so much.”
Learn more about one of Little League’s core values, inclusion, and how we live out each and every day by visiting LittleLeague.org/Who-We-Are. To learn more about the Little League Challenger Division, including how you can sign up to be a volunteer in your own community, visit LittleLeague.org/Challenger.