Volume 10 | January 2019
Miracle League of CT News for the New Year
Welcome to 2019! We hope that the new year finds everyone happy and healthy. Below you will find lots of news about some upcoming events and programs for the coming months. We hope to see you all soon.
Sensory Friendly Sunday at the
CT Science Center
For all of our football fans Sunday January 27th is a tough weekend. We just came off of a weekend with 2 great games and we have to wait until February 3rd for the Super Bowl, but The Miracle League of CT has you covered with 2 great upcoming events.
On Sunday January 27th the CT Science Center is offering a Sensory Friendly Sunday thanks to The Miracle League of CT's sponsorship. Come on out to the Science Center in Hartford with the entire family to enjoy all that they have to offer in a comfortable, fun and judgement free atmosphere. The lights and sound will be dimmed to accommodate all of our friends with sensory challenges. They are even discounting the admission price if you purchase in advance. Click HERE to purchase your tickets today and be sure to stop by the Miracle League of CT table to say hi!
4th Annual Super Bowling Sunday
Sunday February 3rd is the day of the biggest NFL game of the year - The Super Bowl. Many of us will be spending the day very anxious because our favorite team, The New England Patriots, are once again playing in the big game. And for those who aren't Patriots fans, it's still a long time to wait for the kick off after 6pm. So why not come out in the morning to while away some of the long day to join us for our 4th annual Super Bowling Sunday event at Blue Fox Rock 'n Bowl, 1603 Hopmeadow St. in Simsbury from 11am - 1pm. This low cost event if for the entire family. Any family who has a child with an intellectual, developmental or physical disability is welcome to come out to catch up with some old Miracle League friends or to meet some new ones and to learn what The Miracle League of CT is all about. For just $5 per bowler (maximum cost of $20 per family) you get 2 hours of bowling fun, shoe rental, some pizza and a drink. Space is limited so you must register in advance by clicking HERE . We hope to see you all at the on the lanes!
The Return of Everybody Dance Now
Our first season of our new adapted dance program Everybody Dance Now was such a hit we've decided to continue offering the hit program with a spring session in 2 locations! Beginning on Sunday February 24th we will be offering another 8 week session in collaboration with the Ballet Theatre Company located at 20 Jefferson St. in West Hartford . Don't let the word "Ballet" in the dance studio's name fool you. Our professional instructors teach "Expressive Dance" to the students at the studio. That means that we will work with anyone's abilities to help each student to express themselves through the art of dance. The program is open to any boy or girl ages 4-21 who have any type of intellectual, developmental or physical disability. The 8 week program will culminate with a Dancer Showcase on the final day of the program, Sunday April 14th.
We are also offering the program to our friends in Southeastern CT at Studio 22 Dance Center located at 135 Boston Post Road in East Lyme . The program will begin on Saturday March 23rd and will finish up with their Dancer Showcase on Saturday May 18th.
Click HERE for more information or to register for either location. Space is limited, sign up soon.
Join Us for the Program That Started It All
Miracle League Baseball
Major League Baseball pitchers and catchers will be reporting for spring training in just a few weeks. That can only mean that now is the time to register your future big league player for the 2019 Miracle League of CT Spring Baseball Season.
The Miracle League will be changing things up a bit this spring. We are now offering 2 levels of play on different days.
For those who have enjoyed the Miracle League experience that we've offered since 2012 we have The American League. All American League games will be played on Sunday afternoons on the unique fully accessible Miracle League field in West Hartford. Same setup as in the past, every player will get 2 at bats and 2 turns in the field. No practice or drills, just game time fun. Games last 45-60 minutes each week.
For those who want to challenge themselves a bit more, new for 2019, we have The National League. The National League will meet on Saturday afternoons at 1pm also on the Miracle League field in West Hartford. What's new for the National League is some practice time and skill drills before game time each week. Since this is a pilot program, we have limited space in the National League. We will have one Miracle League of CT Team that will face off against a Challenger Baseball team from another town each week after the practice time. While the games will still be non-competitive, the level of play will be a bit more advanced. Practice and game time will last about 90-120 minutes each week.
For more information or to register for either The American or National League click HERE .
Volunteer News and Opportunities
WE NEED YOUR HELP! Miracle League volunteers are the backbone of our organization. Without their help we could not exist. We now have more opportunities for folks to give back to their community in some incredible ways. Check out the information below to see how you can help. Or even how we might be able to help you .
  • Become a Miracle League Baseball Buddy. Buddies assist players on the field as much or as little as needed. Buddies really don't need to know much about baseball at all. You just need to have patience and a desire to work with some incredible kids. You may volunteer for either Saturday play in the National League or Sundays for the American League OR BOTH!
  • Do you want to get your groove on? Come on out to be a dancer helper for our Everybody Dance Now program. Classes begin in West Hartford on Feb. 24th and in East Lyme on March 23rd. You really don't need to know how to dance, you just need to want to dance! You will be a one to one assistant with one of our dancers and you will also appear in the Dancer Showcase with your friend.
  • Come out to be a one to one helper for our brand new program Super Sports Saturdays at Chapter 126 in Bristol. We need volunteers for our new basketball program which meets each Saturday morning from 9-9:45 beginning on February 2nd. Or if basketball isn't your thing join us from 11:15-Noon each week on the same dates for our new tumbling program. You will assist one of our future gymnasts on the mats. You don't need to be an expert at either basketball or tumbling, you just need to want to help.

To learn more about any of the volunteer opportunities or to register as a volunteer for any of the programs click HERE to go to our webpage and then navigate to the specific programs that you would like to volunteer for.

More Big Volunteer News
Apply Now for the Ladd / Moran Memorial Scholarship
Applications are now being accepted for the 3rd Annual Ladd / Moran Memorial Scholarship for service to the special needs community. The $2500 college scholarship will be awarded to one graduating Connecticut high school senior who will be attending college in the fall of 2019. The scholarship is given in memory of 2 of our Miracle League players who sadly passed away much too early and to honor their family's continued commitment to The Miracle League in their son's honor. Please help us to spread the word about this important award. If you know of a high school senior from anywhere in the state who is deserving please have them go to our website by clicking HERE to download the application or send them to our website www.miracleleaguect.org/scholarship. Application deadline is April 1, 2019. The recipient will be honored at our 2019 Miracle League of CT Golf Classic Dinner on Tuesday June 4th.