About MLAZ
Who We Are ?
Miracle League is a volunteer-based organization which was started in 2006 by a group of individuals who believed that special needs children needed a place of their own to play baseball. In 2008 Dan Haren Sr., father of Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitcher Dan Haren, and a 33 year veteran of community service, retired as Executive Director of the West San Gabriel Valley Boys and Girls Club,located in Monterey Park,California & moved to Scottsdale Arizona.
Dan took on the role of the Miracle League of Arizona's Board President & helped re-establish the momentum needed to develop a baseball facility in Northern Scottsdale located on the site of the old Cheyenne Elementary School (Frank Lloyd Wright & Via Linda).
The MLAZ Board of Directors is comprised of a group of community minded individuals who share the Mission of the Miracle League of Arizona. "To provide opportunities for children with physical and/or mental challenges to play Miracle League baseball, regardless of their disablilites. Our goal is to promote the construction and upkeep of specially designed facilities that meet the unique needs of Miracle League players and their families."
Our Mission:
- Provide opportunities for children with special needs to play Miracle League baseball, regardless of their physical or mental challenges.
- Promote community support and sponsorship of Miracle League of Arizona.
- Promote the construction of facilites that meet the unique needs of Miracle League players and their families.
We cannot change or cure the medical issues life has dealt disabled children. What we can do is provide them with an opportunity to experience the joy and benefits that come from playing our National pastime-baseball.
Why A Miracle League?
There is something about playing the game of baseball that lights up a youngsters eyes. But for children facing serious physical and mental disabilities that opportunity can often be difficult to achieve. Baseball diamonds weren't exactly designed with wheelchairs and crutches in mind.
Miracle League of Arizona teams play on a custom - designed, rubberized turf field that accomodates wheelcahirs and other devices while helping to prevent injuries.
But it's more than playing a game. The MLAZ is about making new friends, building self-esteem and being treated just like other kids. To help the athletes, MLAZ uses a "buddy-system" - pairing each player with an able-bodied peer.
The result is a bond that cannot be described. The "magic" of these relationships simply cannot be put in words. You need to see it.. you need to feel it. It is a connection that touches the heart of both the player & buddy, and lasts a lifetime.
The MLAZ serves children and young adults who suffer from any physical or mental disability which causes them to be excluded-whether intentional or not-from conventional youth baseball leagues.
According to the 2000 Census Bureau there are six million children in our country who have disabilities. Information supplied by the Scottsdale Unified School District, SUSD, states that there are 2,952 special needs children in the SUSD school district & an additional 3,117 special needs children not part of any on-site school program.
Information from the Division of Developmentally Disabled Dept. of Maricopa County states that there are 17,000 special needs children "registered" with County, and at least that same number who have NOT registered... so in excess of 34,000 potential Miracle League players in Maricopa County alone, are awaiting their new Miracle League field. Information gathered from Special Olympics estimate that there are upwards of 120,000 children throughout the Valley with "special needs." It's Time for these kids to......................
"Play Ball" !!!!!