Casey's Clubhouse Back in Action

The Final Week

It is unbelievable how fast this semester has gone, and especially crazy how fast my time with the Miracle League of the South Hills has gone. Thinking back on the past 14 weeks, I have gained so much knowledge, have met so many people, and have learned so much about myself. I feel incredibly lucky for finding this organization, so much so that I plan to continue working with them over the summer. 

This past week, Tim and I rode out to the field to unload some boxes and get the place ready for opening day coming up in just a few weeks. A new, temporary storage shed was built for us to keep jerseys, hats, and the announcer equipment. There are some major plans in the works for an update to the seating at the Miracle League Field, and I am so excited for the plans to be finalized. 

The playground was already buzzing with the nice weather Pittsburgh has been having, and I cannot wait to see the crowds once we hit Opening Day 2019. I cannot express my love for this organization, and all who are involved. I encourage all Point Park students to consider this internship. It will be a once in a lifetime experience, I promise. 

Pulling Rosters, Creating Memories

Week 12

In week 12, we are continuing to plan for the 2019 Spring Season. We had an amazing turn out so far on sign-ups for both players and buddies. In just a few weeks, we have over 300 players registered, and over 200 buddies. We ran a fun promotion for early registration that went over really well, so we are thinking about running another sign-up promotion in the next few weeks to create some more buzz and get more players and buddies registered.

This past week, I have been working on the back end of the website, pulling registered players and assigning them to our 22 teams in the league. This is a much more tedious task than you would think, because there are 3 age groups, and two different competition levels within the Miracle League of the South Hills. I have to match each child/adult with their corresponding age level and ability level, and on top of that, many of the players and buddies have recommendations on which team they want to be on, and sometimes a specific person they want to be on the same team as.

We try to do our best matching the players and buddies with what they want, but sometimes we need to fill spots on other teams. In that case, we have had to reach out to a few families to ask if they would be okay being on a different team. These conversations do not usually go as well as we would like, and it's definitely one of the struggles of running an organization like this. 

Regardless, all of our athletes, families, and volunteers are eager to get the season started, and so are we!

The 2019 Pirates Charities All-Star Game

Week 12

The Miracle League is in a good place right now. We have everything planned out for the next few weeks, and we are anxiously waiting for the 2019 Spring season to begin.

On Tuesday this week, I got to attend a meeting with the Executive Director of the Miracle League, and two representatives from Pittsburgh Pirates Charities to pan out the Miracle League All-Star game that we will be hosting at our field in Upper St. Clair, PA this summer. We talked about the entire weekend, from the day of registration to Sunday evening when we have to shuttle the players and families to the airport to go back home.

This is exactly the kind of work I want to do upon graduation, so being a part of this meeting was awesome, and I learned a lot. We talked about food for each day, player appearances, mascot appearances, a timeline of events, transportation, and the price of tickets.

There are multiple events intertwined within this one weekend, so there are a lot of details that need to be drawn out. It's great for us to pair up with such an accomplished organization like Pirates Charities, because they had a lot of suggestions and ideas on how to best make this work for everyone involved. 

There will be a "fantasy camp" for the athletes to learn from the Pirates players, a Homerun derby, a day at PNC Park followed by a Saturday Pirate game, and 4 all-star games coached by some of Pittsburgh's famous MLB players. 

It is going to be a lot of fun and I am looking forward to continue working on this outstanding event.

Registration and World Down Syndrome Day

Week 11

Tuesday

Tuesday marked the opening of registration for Buddies & Players on the Miracle League of the South Hills website! To encourage early registration, we held a contest in which every buddy or player that registered by March 22nd was entered into a drawing for Pirates tickets. We sent that out on social media & got a lot of responses, it was a very successful way to create buzz about the 2019 Spring season. 

Last week was the start of the annual March Madness Tournament, and we ran a small fundraiser for this event by creating a bracket poll. Sean Casey came into the office that day to record a video of him making his "picks," and we also posted this to social media. Making interactive posts to our platforms has really increased the participation in fundraising.

Thursday

Thursday was #WorldDownSyndromeDay, so we spent a lot of time creating posts to social media to spread the word. To show support and create awareness, everyone is encouraged to wear mismatched socks. We spent a lot of time creating a campaign for the Miracle League to support the cause, and it seemed to start trend with our followers.

Dan Miller's Disability Summit

Week 10

Tuesday

Without any fundraisers or events coming up before the Pittsburgh Marathon in May, time in the office has been spent planning for the upcoming season. On Tuesday, I worked on creating signs for the merchandise stand and concession stand at the baseball field, and started editing the end of year "yearbook" I am in charge of creating for the organization. We plan on giving those out to players, coaches, and sponsors at the annual end-of-year banquet.

I also worked on creating a list of all the principals from local middle and high schools, and sent out an email with a flyer for volunteering for the Miracle League of the South Hills. In addition, I made a few phone calls to local restaurants to try to reserve a room for our runners to celebrate the end of the Pittsburgh Marathon. I have gained a lot of professional communication skills throughout this experience, and these are just two examples.

Thursday & Friday

For the past few years the Miracle League has attended Dan Miller's Annual Disability Summit, and I was lucky enough to have joined this year. The summit is for those who are affected by someone with special needs, and hundreds of vendors that support children and adults with special needs were in attendance. We were able to reach a lot of new people that have not worked with us in the past, and we also met many industry professionals that would be great to partner with in the future. 

Just as many individuals that stopped at our table were interested in volunteering as they were with playing in the league, so I am excited to hopefully see some new faces at our field this May!

1, 2, 3, Muscles for Miracles!

Week 9

Tuesday

This week we did a lot of planning for the upcoming Spring season. On Tuesday, we attended a meeting at the Miracle League field in Upper St. Clair, to chat with a woman who is petitioning to put adult changing tables in all public bathrooms across Western Pennsylvania. We discussed the idea and examined the bathroom space at the field to see if we even have room for the tables, and we came to the conclusion that we would need to expand the pre-exiting building in order to make it work. It was a great learning experience to be a part of a contracting meeting.

I also started working on reaching out to groups for volunteer opportunities throughout the spring season. It is my responsibility to get in touch with the group leaders, such as companies and high school sports teams, to organize a time for their groups to volunteer with the organization.

Thursday

In addition to the group volunteers, I am also in charge of handling the volunteer sign-up database. On Thursday, I created the 2019 Volunteer Sign Up on Sign-Up Genius, which is a public website that allows anyone to sign up to volunteer for the organization. 

On Thursday we also discussed possible softwares to use to create a "yearbook" for the Miracle League of the South Hills, and we come up with a few idea pages and what all should be included in the yearbook. I have gotten to do so many different things with the Miracle League, and have been able to take part in every aspect of running a non-profit. The hands-on experience I have received is invaluable.

Saturday

This was the last week of Muscles for Miracles. Although it is sad that this is the last event for our athletes until the season starts in May, they did so well the past 8 weeks and it was awesome to see them progress. 

Each athlete received a medal after their session, and they couldn't have been happier. This was the first year for the Muscles for Miracles program, and it was received so well that it will definitely grow to be even larger by next year.

A Sigh of Relief

Week 8

After all the excitement from the Bash last week, we had a calm week back in the Miracle League office. On Thursday, we spent the entire afternoon working on thank you notes to all of our donors from the Miracle Bash. There were almost 150 donations to the silent auction, and that's not including our sponsors, board members, and volunteers that all played a large role in the success of the event. We have a few people that still need to claim the items they won, but after we finished the thank you notes, the 2019 Miracle Bash has come to a close. We raised the most money in the history of the Miracle League of the South Hills, totaling at almost $130,000.

Saturday

This was the second to last week of Muscles for Miracles, and it was my favorite week by far. The athletes worked on the gym equipment half the time, and the other half they worked on defense. We had them practice fielding ground balls, as well as practicing throwing at a target. Sean and his wife Mandi were both in attendance this week, which instantly makes the atmosphere in the room more fun. The kids absolutely love Sean and Mandi. I have learned so much from them in how to interact and treat our Miracle League athletes. 

We made a Sean Casey "target" that the athletes got to aim at, and they successfully destroyed it with their throws! The reaction on their faces when they succeed is something like I have never experienced. This organization is so much more then fundraising and baseball, it's about these kids and making their lives a little bit easier and a lot more fun.

The Big Bang

Week 7

The Miracle Bash

Thursday

This week was it, the big event we have been planning for since day one of my internship. On Thursday, we rented a U-Haul truck, and loaded up all of the 149 auction items, Chinese auction items, decorations, and other materials to the Fire Hall where the event was to be held the next day. There was a lot of heavy lifting and steps involved, something I didn't think about that goes into a huge event like this.

On Thursday, it was just Tim (the executive director) and I. We did a lot of work in a short amount of time, making two trips back to the office to load up the truck and then unload at the fire hall. We uploaded some last minute items, and promoted everything on social media to create some last minute buzz.

Friday

We started nice and early Friday morning. We got the the fire hall at 8:30am, and continued setting up until about 5pm. In the morning, we had a lot of help. Mandi and Sean Casey, the founders, recruited a bunch of their friends to help us set up all of the silent auction items. We even had Sean and Mandi's daughters helping us out. Without everyone's help, we never would've gotten it all done in time. 

It took a lot of time to set up all the tables, put programs out, etc. This was the first big event I have played this much of a role in planning, and I learned just how stressful and time consuming it can be. Tim and I were there all day long. We got there at 8:30am, and I didn't get home until 1 am.

Luckily for us, the party was a huge success. We raised over 100,000 dollars for the Miracle League of the South Hills. It was incredible. So many people donated so much money, it was absolutely inspiring to be a part of. Sean and Mandi, who have been a part of this since the beginning (since 2008), said that this was the best Miracle Bash yet. All of the planning for this night was well worth it, and I am excited to see where the Miracle League of the South Hills goes from here.

This were paintings of Sean and Mandi, created live at the Miracle Bash by a speed painter. It was a surprise gift for them from the organization.

Baseball Cards and Last Minute Details

Week 6

Tuesday

This was our last week of prep before the big Miracle Bash next Friday, and we worked a lot on figuring out some last minute details. I did not fully realize what all goes into planning a huge event like this until now. For example, the executive director was showing me all of the insurance paperwork that we need to have for the event, especially since alcohol is going to be served. We also had to do some problem solving with the auction items, because we need to be able to display all of the posters, paintings, and photos, but without frames or without nailing anything to the walls of the venue. This has turned out to be a bit of a daunting task, but we figured out a way to present the items with some help from the caterer. 

Thursday

Thursday we did some more fine-tuning, and like I mentioned before, I worked on a  few things i never even thought about. One project I worked on was typing up descriptions for each of the auction items, so when we display them at the event, the guests are easily able to find out what is in each basket, or who autographed a certain item. We also made a guide for our volunteers, so when the end of the night comes and guests are collecting the items they won, the volunteers know which item it is, what item number it is, and where that item is located. This will keep us organized and on track for the end of the event. I also picked up a fun surprise for the kids in Thursday...baseball cards! They turned out awesome, and all of the kids and parents were so excited when we handed them out on Saturday.

Saturday

This week at Muscles for Miracles, we didn't work on any baseball skills, just all strength & conditioning. I was really impressed with the athleticism of many of the kids, and I think they surprised themselves! Many of the families have expressed that they want to continue training even after this program ends, and I think it so great to watch these kids have fun and push themselves in a way they never thought they were capable of.

Getting Ready for Registration

Week 5

Tuesday

On Tuesday this week, I worked on a few projects to finalize the details for the Miracle Bash coming up in less than 2 weeks now. I created a poster for the Bar & Food Sponsors that we can hang by the buffet at the event. This was an easy task, but it is an important step when planning a sponsored event because you are showing gratitude to the organizations that took the time to donate to our event.

We also finalized the program for the event. The front of it includes the schedule for the night, a few reminders including how to sign up for the silent auction app, and the food menu. It also includes a special "Thanks To" section to the people who were a huge part in making the event possible. 

The back lists every single person who donated to our silent auction, and I learned that this is a way to express to everyone how everything we received is truly appreciated, and we are grateful to have so much support from the community.

Thursday

I was able to work from home on Thursday, and I spent the afternoon making a few flyers from the upcoming Miracle League season. On March 20th, registration opens for players to register for the league, and it also opens for volunteers to sign up to be Buddies. Buddies are assigned to each child in the league, and helps them during their games. They are another helping hand to our athletes, and offer friendship to these amazing kids.

Saturday

Saturday marked week 4 of Muscles for Miracles, our winter training program. This week, the kids worked on fielding ground balls and the entire throwing motion, and I got to help in the cages. Some of the athletes listen extremely well, while others have a harder time paying attention. In the short time I have been working with them, I have learned how to work with them. It's important to be calm and patient, but also stern with them when you have to be. 

These kids have touched my heart in a way I have never experienced before, and I am so grateful to be a part of this organization.

Sid Crosby Makes an Appearance

Week 4

Tuesday

Now that the month of February is upon us, we only have a few weeks until the Miracle Bash. I worked on adding more items to the silent auction this week, and we received one of my favorite items so far - an autographed Sidney Crosby painting by a local artist. An art teacher from a local middle school painted this awesome portrait of Sid on a map of Pittsburgh, and Sean Casey, who is good friends with Sid, got him to sign it for us. We also decided to purchase Pirates Season Tickets for the Miracle League, and that purchase was solidified on Tuesday. We plan to use the tickets in the auction, as prizes for other fundraisers throughout the year, and to take care of our volunteers and donors. I then created a spreadsheet for all the games so we can keep track of who is given each ticket.

Thursday

I added even more items to the auction on Thursday, but we started thinking about another fundraiser that will be starting very soon. For the NCAA March Madness Tournament this year, we are holding a Bracket Challenge. Every bracket entered is $10, and all of the proceeds go to the Miracle League All-Star Game that we are hosting this summer. The winners receive awesome prizes like free Pirates tickets and other memorabilia. I used all of the information to create a flyer that will be sent out to our email. This event is in partnership with Pirates Charities, so it was important to include them in this flyer.

Saturday

Saturday was week three of Muscles for Miracles, and it was another great session. I took videos of all the athletes throws, so we can analyze them and show the athletes what they do well and what they need to work on. I had to stay a little late after the camp, because we received a few surprises for the auction. Sean Casey is friends with Eddie Vedder, the lead singer of Pearl Jam. Eddie sent us a signed ukulele, a signed ukulele song book, and a few Pearl Jam posters signed by the entire band. These items went for thousands of dollars in the past, so this is very exciting for the Miracle Bash. I am excited to see just how much money we can raise this year.

Donations, donations, and more donations

Week 3

Tuesday 

It's only been 3 weeks, but it feels like it's been months that I have been preparing for the upcoming Miracle Bash charity event. On Tuesday I drove down to Chatham Center downtown to pick up a donation from the Pittsburgh Penguins Charities. Once I got to the office, I added some more items to the online auction database, and created the tickets for the Miracle Bash for our sponsors of the event. We also decided to create a "yearbook" for the end of the of the baseball season this summer, so the executive director and I researched possible yearbook design companies to use as well as purchased a professional camera for the organization.

Thursday

Thursday I added a few more items to the auction database, and also worked on finding last minute donations. Back in December, a few Miracle League volunteers walked around to local businesses handing out donation forms and inquiring about donating to the 2019 Miracle Bash. We made an excel spreadsheet of all the businesses, and I went back through and called the places we did not hear back from. It was actually a great success, and we received a handful of last minute donations.

Saturday

This was week two of Muscles for Miracles, and the founder & president of the organization, Sean Casey stopped by! This week, the athletes all received a pack of resistance bands to take home with them, and the trainers at Teleo showed the athletes and their parents how they can be used at home. On the baseball side, the athletes worked on their swings in the batting cages, and also learned the proper way to field a ground ball. I spoke to a few of the parents, and they all expressed how much fun their kids were having at this camp. One dad told me that his son wants to look into continuing this training even after the 6 weeks of Muscles for Miracles. 

I so grateful to be a part of this organization and it's really exciting to see these athletes learn & excel.

The Start of Muscles for Miracles

Week 2

As we continue to get closer to the Miracle Bash, the Executive Director and I worked hard this week on uploading new auction items to the website, going to meetings, and getting other little things ready for the big day. This week was also the first week for Muscles for Miracles, a training program for our competitive athletes.

Tuesday

On Tuesday, Tim and I did a lot of running around. He introduced me to one of the workers at the local UPS store because I will be visiting the store an awful lot to drop of packages in the future. We also took a trip to the Southside, and walked door to door to different bars and restaurants looking for donations. We had some luck with a few giving business owners, but it was a hard task selling people to give to our organization.

Thursday

Thursday morning Tim and I drove to the venue of the Miracle Bash and met with the woman who owns the fire hall as well as the in-house catering company. We decided on the menu, the amount of tables, and created a diagram for the room. After the meeting we headed back to the office where I uploaded a few items to the website, created door prize baskets, and started to design a Miracle League poster for the gym underneath the office space.

Saturday

Saturday was the first day for Muscles for Miracles. This is a new program started by the Miracle League this year, and we teamed up with the owners of TELEO Performance, who owns a gym and training facility below the Miracle League office. We have 2 sessions from 1-2pm and 2-3pm that has 16 kids per session. I think that it was a great start, and the athletes seemed to really enjoy themselves. I got to help with registration and then I got to help in the batting cages. 

This was my first interaction with the athletes, and I cannot explain how amazing my experience was. I was really impressed with a lot of their abilities, and I am excited to watch them progress in the following weeks of this training program.