The Wharf recently announced its pledge of $20,000 to the Miracle League of Coastal Alabama, which will be a fully accessible complex for children and young adults with special needs and other developmental disabilities. The facility is currently under construction in the city of Summerdale but will serve all of Baldwin County.
The Miracle League is a nonprofit organization of volunteers dedicated to providing an opportunity for children and young adults with special needs and other developmental disabilities to play baseball, regardless of their disabilities. The first Miracle League field opened in Conyers, Georgia, in April 2000. There are presently 240 plus Miracle League Organizations across the country including Puerto Rico and Canada, while serving 200,000 plus children and adults.
“Contributing to the work that the Miracle League of Coastal Alabama is doing for the families and children of our area is truly an honor for us at The Wharf,” said The Wharf General Manager, Jim Bibby. “We’re excited to see it come to life and have a great appreciation for the impact it will have in our community for many generations.”
The Baldwin County facility will be made up of a specialized baseball field featuring a custom-designed synthetic, cushioned and rubberized surface that will eliminate any barriers to wheelchairs, walkers or other mobility devices as well as handicapped accessible dugouts, restrooms, drinking fountains and a boundless playground where children of all abilities are able to play together side by side.
More than 800 school-aged public school students alone in Baldwin County will benefit from the association and its amenities. Additionally, one of the main focuses of the Miracle League is to build self-esteem and encourage new friendships while being treated just as any other athlete. The Miracle League uses a “buddy” system – pairing each player with an able-bodied peer, which teaches many things beyond the sport itself.
“We are so excited to have The Wharf join us in making dreams come true for our special needs residents and their families,” said Miracle League of Coastal Alabama Development Committee President Bruce White. “This is a $2.7MM project and with generous donations like this, our development team just surpassed the $1MM mark in funds raised to date. We are very thankful to The Wharf for their support.”
The donation comes as part of The Wharf’s newly developed charity giving campaign titled, “The Wharf’s Anchor Campaign #AnchorForCommunity.” The Wharf’s Anchor Campaign donated more than $85,000 to local nonprofits and organizations along the Gulf Coast in 2021 with plans to increase the amount for 2022.
If you are interested in making a donation to the Miracle League of Coastal Alabama or to learn more, click here. For more information on The Wharf or to plan a trip, visit alwharf.com.
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