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.