Joey Page has always felt a sense of excitement when entering his community’s baseball fields.

“I played baseball in high school,” said Page, a senior manager of operations in Rockingham County, North Carolina. “It’s been a passion of mine and I love to coach it and my son loves to play it, along with football and basketball.”

But it’s more than winning, he says. Youth sports in his small rural town north of Greensboro are as much a venue for community and comradery, as for competition. And for Page, company pride.

Through grants from Williams, the district has added lights to three fields at Wentworth Elementary so games can be played at night, and in support of student robotics. Most recently, funding was awarded to replace the high school baseball scoreboard, purchase risers for the middle school chorus and install safety gates at the football stadium.

Many of the gifts were initiated by Page and in support of his volunteerism and deep connections with his community.

Page grew up in Rockingham County, returning during college to work at a Williams compressor station over summer breaks, then permanently a few years later.

He and his wife, a former second-grade teacher, volunteer as tutors, coaches and team boosters. And when they see a need in their community, they act.

“Even before we had kids, we volunteered,” Page said. “It’s just something we’ve always done. We love our community and we want to make a difference.”

Williams’ grant programs help to make that change, he said. The company supports employee volunteerism by contributing to the local organizations that employees are involved with, along with annual grants, matching gifts and support of United Way organizations.

“If Williams is willing to do those grants and donations and give that support back to the community, I’m that person who asks for it,” he said.

On his most recent trip to the baseball fields, to take a photo for this story, Page said he felt a great sense of pride at seeing Williams banners there.

“It really means a lot that Williams supports the organizations I love,” he said.

Annie Ellis, chief financial officer for Rockingham County Schools, said public school systems often have limited finances.

“Donations from outside organizations, like Williams, allow us to provide our students with additional resources to increase the quality of their educational experience. We sincerely appreciate the support from Williams and we are thankful to have Mr. Page advocating for our students.”

Williams in North Carolina

Williams support of Rockingham County Schools is part of $1.7 million in corporate giving throughout the state since 2010.

Williams operates 695 miles of transmission and gathering pipelines in North Carolina, with capacity to transport 92 percent of the natural gas that enters the state.