Game Changers: The Conscious Culture 2019 Community Edition 45 Years of Community Servi | Page 18

Ever y Ch ild Deser ves A Ch an ce To Play Baseball
w it h Kar en Nu n n elly & Ver on ica Sablo
In early 2004, employees at Welcome Al Park, Our mission is to provide an opportunity for all
proposed a program called Buddy Baseball" The Special Needs kids to play baseball in a saf e an d
concept was born out of a lack of meaningful st r u ct u r ed environment, to inspire team play and
sports programs for special needs children in South spor t sm an sh ip an d t o pr ovide a social
Fulton County. They sought the help of the Park en vir on m en t f or k ids an d par en t s t o build
staff. guidance from the National Miracle League lasting friendships. The disabilities of our kids
and me assitance of Dr Jimmie Calloway, Clinical range from Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy and
Associate Professor of Kinesilogy and Health at Down's Syndrome to Autism Spectrum Disorders,
Georgia State University, in forming a Miracle the vast majority of which have never played
League of South Fulton, a 501c(3) non-profit baseball or any other team sport. To accomplish
organization. They received extensive training in our mission and goals, we enlist the help of
how to run a safe and effective baseball program volunteers, Angels in the Outfield Buddies, to assist
for Special Needs children.. the players in fielding the ball, batting and running
Starting with a core of 30 kids, today the number of
players in our program has evolved to well over 60.
the bases. We play two innings for each team and
everyone gets to bat, and there are no outs. At the
end of each game, a light group meal is ser ved
Our mission is to provide an opportunity for all w hile the parents and players socialize. There is a
Special Needs kids to play baseball in a saf e an d Spring and Fall season that allows eight games to
st r u ct u r ed environment, to inspire team play and be played each year. The last game is
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