The Miracle League of Sioux City
The Miracle League of Sioux City is a 501(c)(3) that provides recreational opportunities for children and adults with disabilities. We are governed by a board of directors and are a member of the National Miracle League organization. Our facilities are open to all members of our community, but our Miracle friends are our priority. At the Miracle League, we create a safe place where our players can play baseball, but our mission goes so much further than points on a scoreboard. Our players participate in a program that promotes physical activity and a spirit of encouragement. They also develop relationships with coaches and members of the extended community that last forever.
The Miracle League (National)
The Miracle League removes the barriers that keep children with mental and physical disabilities off the baseball field and lets them experience the joy of America’s favorite pastime. Since the main barriers for these adults arise from the natural grass fields used in conventional leagues, Miracle League teams play on a custom-designed, rubberized turf field that accommodates wheelchairs and other assertive devices while helping to prevent injuries. But it’s more than playing a game. The Miracle League is about making new friends, building self-esteem and being treated just like other athletes. To help the athletes, the Miracle League uses a “buddy” system – pairing each player with an able-bodied peer. The result is a bond that cannot be described. The Miracle League serves children and adults who suffer from any physical or mental disabilities, which causes them to be excluded, whether intentionally or not, from conventional Baseball leagues.
Wanna Have A Catch
Baseball is rooted in this idea of eternal play and has the unique ability to remind us of our former selves. The simplest game of catch can provide the opportunity for deep reflection and connection to others. Author and baseball enthusiast Ethan Bryan discovered these truths when he committed to making time for the little things and played catch every day for a year. He then chronicled the stories he heard and the way his experiment had changed his perspectives in his book A Year of Playing Catch. His experiences are what inspired the Wanna Have a Catch? campaign. After reading Bryan’s book, Kevin Negaard, The Miracle League of Sioux City board member, immediately knew he wanted to embark on a similar journey that combined his love for baseball with his desire to deepen his spiritual life, forge new friendships, and strengthen old ones — but he wanted it to serve an even greater purpose. So, on January 18, 2022 (his birthday), Negaard will launch the Wanna Have a Catch? Campaign. As he plays catch for 365 straight days, he will be raising funds for The Miracle League® of Sioux City and all the families it supports.