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This above video was presented by a group in the South. Susan and Cynthia have begun the process to build a much needed Miracle League Field in the Long Beach, CA area.
This is their story:
In 2014, Mikey (Susan’s son, pictured ) wanted to play baseball like his big sister, Bella, had before him. The local baseball league allowed him to play as long as she joined the same team to assist him. The experience made us realize that our community needed a league exclusively for Special Needs children.
We started six years ago with nine players and a handful of volunteers and have grown beyond our wildest dreams to as many as 60 players and 25 adult volunteers. A team of ‘typical’ kids, ages 11-13, play with us at every game and the relationship between our Special Needs players and the other baseball families has benefited everyone. But we have outgrown the fields and sincerely wish to provide participation opportunities to more families and their children.
Our research led us to an organization called The Miracle League in Conyers, Georgia. They run an international group that aids and gives structure to anyone who wants to start such a group in their community. Operating under their organizational umbrella not only gave us autonomy but the vision to expand our services to older children and adults.
By building our own facility, the Beach Cities Miracle League will help us remove the barriers that keep the Special Needs community off the baseball field, such as:
*difficulty in navigating natural grass and dirt
*non-ADA dugouts
*unfenced playing areas
At this time, we have officially joined the Miracle League Organization, formed a corporation and filed for 501(c)3 non-profit status. As of August 2021, our 501(c)3 non-profit status has been granted.
Our sincere thanks to all who are willing to help us jump start this worthy cause. We are hundreds of hours into this adventure and know we have many, many more ahead of us but are driven daily by the deep belief in the goodness and miracles this effort will produce. We’ve already seen them happen and want to spread the joy.
This is their story:
In 2014, Mikey (Susan’s son, pictured ) wanted to play baseball like his big sister, Bella, had before him. The local baseball league allowed him to play as long as she joined the same team to assist him. The experience made us realize that our community needed a league exclusively for Special Needs children.
We started six years ago with nine players and a handful of volunteers and have grown beyond our wildest dreams to as many as 60 players and 25 adult volunteers. A team of ‘typical’ kids, ages 11-13, play with us at every game and the relationship between our Special Needs players and the other baseball families has benefited everyone. But we have outgrown the fields and sincerely wish to provide participation opportunities to more families and their children.
Our research led us to an organization called The Miracle League in Conyers, Georgia. They run an international group that aids and gives structure to anyone who wants to start such a group in their community. Operating under their organizational umbrella not only gave us autonomy but the vision to expand our services to older children and adults.
By building our own facility, the Beach Cities Miracle League will help us remove the barriers that keep the Special Needs community off the baseball field, such as:
*difficulty in navigating natural grass and dirt
*non-ADA dugouts
*unfenced playing areas
At this time, we have officially joined the Miracle League Organization, formed a corporation and filed for 501(c)3 non-profit status. As of August 2021, our 501(c)3 non-profit status has been granted.
Our sincere thanks to all who are willing to help us jump start this worthy cause. We are hundreds of hours into this adventure and know we have many, many more ahead of us but are driven daily by the deep belief in the goodness and miracles this effort will produce. We’ve already seen them happen and want to spread the joy.
Co-organizers5
Playmakers
Beneficiary
Cynthia Brannon
Co-organizer
Mike Gomez
Co-organizer
Kelley McCarty
Co-organizer
Linda Frankel
Co-organizer