Pirates Charities partnered with Moon Township Miracle League to open the Miracle League of Moon Township Miracle League Field
Today The Groups Celebrate Opening Day Of The Inaugural Season In Moon Township
Pirates Charities, the philanthropic arm of the Pittsburgh Pirates, joined with the Miracle League of Moon Township today to officially open the Miracle League of Moon Township at People’s Park Miracle League Field.
In 2018, Pirates Charities pledged $150,000 to the project and joined many local representatives for groundbreaking ceremonies at the onset of the construction of the facility.
The new field, located in Moon Park, is designed to promote inclusive, healthy environments for persons living with disabilities in Moon Township and the surrounding communities. The project includes the Miracle League athletic field for athletes with special needs; a 9,500 square foot custom, adaptive playground; and a fully ADA accessible restroom facility.
“The support of Miracle League programs throughout our area is something that is of utmost importance to our organization and to see a project like this come to fruition in our community, words cannot describe our sense of pride,” said Pirates Chairman Bob Nutting. “As families and players return to outdoor activities this summer, we are excited that this project will allow hundreds of children and adults in the area the chance to experience the great game of baseball while developing relationships with others in their community. I want to personally thank Mike Magulick and his team for their hard work on this inspiring project and we look forward to working with and supporting the organization for years to come.”
The Miracle League Field will complement the existing Miracle League fields in the Pittsburgh region and serve players from areas such as Montour, West Allegheny, Moon, Sewickley, Weirton, Steubenville, Beaver County and surrounding communities. This marks the eighth Miracle League project in the tri-state region in which Pirates Charities has played a vital role in constructing.
The Miracle League field allows those with special needs to realize their dream of playing baseball, many of them for the very first time, and provides children and adults the opportunity to develop relationships with their peers and coaches while playing on their very own field.
“Today, thanks to Pirate Charities’ leadership and commitment to the Miracle League program, 50 athletes played in front of cheering friends, family and the community,” said Mike Magulick, President of the Miracle League of Moon Township. “Perhaps most importantly, they were called teammates for the first time. We are excited that another 80 athletes will have this opportunity over the next few weeks. Today was an emotional milestone for so many families and the board of the Miracle League of Moon Township is humbled to have helped our athletes make these memories.”
Since 2009, Pirates Charities has donated more than $1.3 Million in support of a total of 10 Miracle Leagues throughout the areas in which the team has a footprint. Pirates Charities has played a vital role in the construction of seven Miracle League Fields, including the region’s first field in Cranberry Township, Pa.
More than 250 Miracle League organizations operate across the country with the goal of empowering children and adults challenged by any form of special need to experience the joys and thrills of baseball regardless of their ability to play. The Miracle League, whose motto is “Every child deserves a chance to play baseball,” allows for each player to bat once each inning and that all batters are “safe” and score a run before the inning is over. Games are two innings long and each team and each player always win.
The Miracle League of Moon Township will host an official ribbon cutting ceremony for the entire site later this season as COVID-19 restrictions become lifted. For more information on the Miracle League of Moon Township, including project updates and fundraising information, visit miraclesinmoon.org.