Youth baseball program inspires others by example

Posted 8:46AM on Monday 22nd April 2002 ( 23 years ago )

CONYERS - A baseball program designed for children with special needs has gained momentum and support since its 1999 inception. Conyers civic leader Dean Alford and other organizers couldn't be prouder. Within a year, Alford raised $1 million to get the Miracle League Association off the ground and out on the field. Now, the nonprofit organization hopes to inspire others by example. Miracle League Association will launch franchises in 37 communities across the U.S., The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Monday. ``When you see the smile on these kids' faces when they slide across first base the first time in their lives, you can't help but think, 'How can we build more of these fields,''' said Alford's sister and the group's executive director, Diane Alford. The first satellite league is expected to open Saturday in Mrytle Beach, S.C. Others are expected to follow in Alpharetta in north Fulton County, Birmingham, Ala. and Port St. Lucie, Fla. Similar programs also are planned for New York and Los Angeles, organizers said. The way it works, Alford said, depends on several factors. Once a community says it's interested, Miracle League officials advise making sure a wheelchair-accessible field can be built in or near existing parks. The organization provides guidelines for fundraising and recruitment. Miracle League will loan groups $50,000 to get started. Corporate sponsors and grants provide the rest. But start-up costs can run anywhere between an estimated $400,000 to $1 million, officials said. ``We're not wealthy. We're not celebrities,'' North Metro Miracle League president John McLaughlin said. ``We're just people who believe this can happen.'' The Miracle League Association has more than 200 players, money in the bank and a specially-designed, wheelchair-accessible field at the Rockdale Youth Baseball Association complex in Conyers. The program has attracted national attention lately People magazine and Bryant Gumble have visited. NBC crews also came to town recently.

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