Welcome to The Miracle League
of the Chippewa Valley!
The Miracle League of the Chippewa Valley gives children ages 4-19 who have cognitive or physical disabilities the opportunity to play baseball on a rubberized field. That special field allows players the use of assistive devices such as wheelchairs, walkers and braces, helping to alleviate falls and trips.
We’ve completed our third season of play with 135 players at the Miracle League Field at Jeffers Road Park on Eau Claire’s northwest side. The field was dedicated in June 2017, with regular-season play running two nights each week until late July, with an optional all-star game in August.
Players and volunteers alike continue to make new memories on our beautiful field, with family and friends cheering them on from the bleachers!
Season update: With the extension of Gov. Evers’ Safer at Home order until May 26 and in the light of the ever-evolving COVID-19 pandemic, the Miracle League of the Chippewa Valley is taking precautionary measures and postponing the start of its Miracle League baseball season. We will make a final decision about the 2020 season by June1. If we are able have a season, it would not start until July 6. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we keep the safety of our players, volunteers, families, community members and spectators at the forefront of our decision-making.
If you’d like to help as a financial donor, we’re happy to have you! To make a financial donation, click here. Player registration for the 2020 season is now closed. To register online as a volunteer — helping our kids enjoy their time on the field, umpiring, helping with scheduling or any other purpose — click here.
The Miracle League of the Chippewa Valley is making a huge difference for children in Wisconsin’s greater Chippewa Valley — kids who have wanted to play ball but haven’t had the opportunity. In Miracle League play, they get the same opportunities as any other kid!
What happens in Miracle League play:
Every game has two innings. Every player bats. Every player scores. Every player is accompanied on field by a volunteer “buddy,” who must be at least 14 years old. That buddy stays with that player for every game of the two-month season. The teams and players are introduced to the crowd before the game, and the national anthem is played. Between innings, we do a “seventh-inning stretch” and sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” Volunteers also serve as announcers, umpires and coaches.
Player and volunteer registration:
Player registration for the 2020 season is now closed. Volunteer registration options: Click here for online form or mail-in form.
A Miracle League is not about competition. It’s about relationships and being part of a team, often for the first time.
Our player-buddy relationships last for the season and often beyond, and are the heart of the Miracle League. It’s heartwarming for the families and friends of our players to see how their children develop those friendships with their buddies.
STATUS REPORT
Our steering committee, building awareness team (BAT) and capital campaign committee have developed the volunteer organization and organizing construction of our Eau Claire facility. We had six teams and 75 players in our 2017 inaugural season, and grew to eight teams, 135 players and 180 volunteers in our 2019 season!
Two important steps have been achieved: Registering The Miracle League of the Chippewa Valley with the national Miracle League and becoming a program of Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin (NCW) so that we have an instant nonprofit structure and home, and are fully ready to accept donations.
Our field and facility are at Eau Claire’s Jeffers Park, also the home to Eau Claire National Little League Baseball and Eau Claire Fastpitch Softball programs.
A $525,000 capital campaign funded construction of our specially equipped field at Jeffers Road Park, owned by the City of Eau Claire. The facility was opened and dedicated June 3, 2017. To make a financial donation to help with our ongoing operational costs, click here.
Goodwill NCW is our 501(c)(3) program home and has made a lead-off gift of $100,000 toward field construction.
We’re always looking to add more players and buddies, enlist program sponsors and create a strong, sustainable organization that serves the greater Chippewa Valley.
If you’re interested in volunteering, contact Miracle League of the Chippewa Valley program leader Amy Standiford at astandiford@goodwillncw.org or Tim Wavrunek, manager of business and partnership development, at twavrunek@goodwillncw.org.
Join our mailing list to stay up-to-date on our program’s growth and opportunities!