The Miracle League of Alexandria

Living Legends of Alexandria is pleased to announce the selection of Living Legends for 2020. The 2020 Living Legends were vetted from an array of nominations that were submitted by the public and received through fall of last year. These community leaders were chosen based on their having met one or both of two selection criteria as evidence of having improved the quality of life in the City of Alexandria by having led the creation or redevelopment of something which wouldn’t have existed without their involvement or demonstrated substantial and sustained contributions over a significant period of time.

Carol Bailey and Ryan Bailey – As the mother of a son with special needs, Carol Bailey has worked for over 25 years with various organizations supporting individuals with disabilities. She and her son Ryan have been longtime volunteers in the Del Ray community.

Donald Simpson Jr. – A third-generation Alexandrian, Donald Simpson Jr. has continued the legacy of his father and grandfather with a commitment to the youth of Alexandria through support of numerous educational and athletic programs and local nonprofits.

Lindsey Swanson and Katy Swanson – Lindsay, Katy and the Swanson family formed the Kelley Cares Foundation in the wake of the tragic loss of Kelley Swanson in 2005. The foundation has continued Kelley’s passion to help the special needs community with numerous projects, including the building of the Kelley Cares Miracle Field.

The 2020 Legends will be formally recognized and introduced to the public at the 13th annual Meet the Legends reception on March 19 at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. The mission of Living Legends of Alexandria, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is to identify, honor and chronicle the lives of individuals who have made significant contributions to improve the quality of life in Alexandria.

For information, to volunteer, become a sponsor or nominate a future Legend, visit www.AlexandriaLegends.org  or contact [email protected]

The full list of honorees can be found at
http://connectionarchives.com/PDF/2020/011520/Alexandria.pdf

The Miracle League of Alexandria’s Board, players and parents congratulate Carol, Ryan, Donnie, Katey and Lindsey on their selection. They will be joining Bill Rivers of the MLA, who was selected for the Living Legends in 2013.

The Miracle League of Alexandria players and board members would like to say a special THANK YOU to the Tech Painting Company and Affordable Signs and Banner of Alexandria their recent donation of in-kind services to the Miracle League of Alexandria (MLA).

We especially would like to thank Ryan Hutton, Felipe Duran and Manuel Tejada from Tech Painting and Monica Benz and Ken Boland of Affordable Signs and Banners for their assistance to get the logos repainted in the parking lot and a new one placed on the playing surface at the Kelley Cares Miracle League Field.

The services donated will continue to go to helping those individuals with special needs, as well as help our players continue to enjoy baseball at the field and offers them a rare chance to participate in outdoor sports activities safely.

Thank you for caring so much about the special needs community in Alexandria. It is our pleasure knowing people like yourselves who are so devoted to helping out others.

Again, thank you for your support on behalf of all of us here at MLA,

Mac Slover
Chair, Miracle League of Alexandria

Ryan Wallace, youth player in the Miracle League of Alexandria represented the City of Alexandria at 2019 National Miracle League All-Star games in Sioux City Iowa September 6 – 8. Ryan was one of 100 participants from 25 states from across the United States and Mexico.

The honored participants represented 60 chapters of the Miracle League who were nominated to play by their leagues. The Miracle League is a national program founded in 2000 in Atlanta, Georgia and has grown to over 300 teams from the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. The Alexandria program began in the spring of 2011 with the rubberized surface, Kelley Cares Miracle Field completed in November 2012. The Miracle League program is specifically for youth and adults with special needs to enjoy outdoor recreational opportunities and plays baseball in the spring and fall each year.

During the weekend of activities, Ryan and his mother, Jenebah Moore, his brother Franklin Wallace along with Miracle League of Alexandria coordinator, Mac Slover, (retired from the Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities) and Chairman of the MLA attended the games. The group was greeted with a welcoming sign for each player and their families as they came off the plane by a local high school cheerleading team in Sioux City. Later that day they attended the special mixer and Taste of Sioux City kick-off event including a kickball game, putt putt golf, special sensory zip lines, splash water pads, musical pads, food, music and much more on Friday night, the games on and a celebration gala and awards program on Saturday. Each of the participants was provided a special all-star uniform for the game, gift bags, prizes, an all-star medal, and a special engraved bat along with other special awards at the gala.

The all-star game provided Ryan and the other participants the opportunity to play the baseball games in a special “field of dreams” atmosphere setting as the players were introduced coming out of the corn stalks behind the field, an announcement of their names and pictures on the video scoreboard, play by play announcing and music. All the families and spectators cheered on each player loudly when they hit the ball, ran the bases and scored.

Mac Slover stated “After going to Ohio last year, I did not think it could have been any better, but Sioux City was spectacular with its Miracle Field with the ornamental corn stalks behind it simulating the movie “Field of Dreams,” the video scoreboard and its special sensory components in the complex like the water park, putt putt course, playground, and merry-go-round accompanying it. It really provided everyone attending a sense to think you were in heaven. There is even a sign on the centerfield fence that says it all, “Is This Heaven, No Its Iowa!,” a saying from the movie. For me, the most important of the weekend was seeing how excited Ryan was being there and participating and making friends with other participants from around the country and Mexico. More importantly, it gave his mother, Jen, and brother Franklin a chance to be able to meet other families, but most of all how proud they were of Ryan playing this wonderful game of baseball and experiencing this weekend with Ryan. I am just lucky I had the chance to be a part of it too and network with so many wonderful people there. “It was about being a family and supporting each other” Slover stated.

Jen Moore stated “Thanks to Mac, the Miracle League of Alexandria and the Kelley Cares Foundation for being instrumental in us having this wonderful experience with the Miracle League All-Stars. We had an awesome time! I have learned from this experience that these children are so much more than their disabilities and with a little help and support like we get in Alexandria, the sky is the limit for them.”

Ryan’s team, the White Sox played the opening game of the day to a packed field of spectators and received rounds of cheers throughout the game and many congratulations following it.

The 2020 National Miracle League All-Star Games will be in Houston, Texas. Slover stated “we have already begun to plan for next year games. We have already picked up a sponsor that we will be announcing in the next couple of months. The sponsorship will pay for the entire family and MLA representative’s trip to the all-star games.”

The Miracle League of Alexandria begins its fall baseball season on September 14. The youth games are held on Wednesdays from 4:30 – 6 pm and the adult games are on Saturdays from 1 – 2:30 pm at the Kelley Cares Miracle League Field, located at the Lee Center, 1108 Jefferson Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.

For information or to make a donation to the league, go to www.miracleleagueallstargame.com.

View the entire gallery.

Ryan Wallace, his mother, Jenebah Moore, his brother Franklin Wallace along with Mac Slover, MLA Volunteer Coordinator will be attending the 2nd Annual National Miracle League All-Star game in Souix City, Iowa, September 6 – 8.

Ryan selected to represent Alexandria, will be participating in the event with other athletes from around the United States and Canada. Congratulations to Ryan, his family and Mac for representing the Miracle League of Alexandria! Ryan has been a participant in the MLA program since 2011. Mac will be attending as the MLA Volunteer Program Coordinator and will be an “Angel in the Outfield” Buddy at the game.

Congratulations Ryan on his selection!

News Release: Miracle League bringing All-Star game to Findlay

This past weekend, September 14 – 16, in Findlay, Ohio at the Blanchard Valley Health System Miracle Park, the Miracle League of Alexandria’s Donald Anthony was one of over 90 participants to participate in the inaugural National Miracle League All-Star Baseball Games. 

View the entire gallery.

Donald represented the City of Alexandria playing with participants from 25 states from across the United States and Canada. The honored participates represented 60 chapters of the Miracle League who were nominated to play by their leagues. The Miracle League is a national program was founded in 2000 in Atlanta, Georgia and has grown to over 300 teams from the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. The program was started with play in Alexandria in the spring of 2011 with the rubberized surface, Kelley Cares Miracle Field completed in November 2012. The Miracle League program is specifically for youth and adults with special needs to enjoy outdoor recreational opportunities and plays baseball in the spring and fall each year. 

During the weekend of activities, Donald and his parents, Marion and Jackie Anthony, along with Miracle League of Alexandria coordinator, Mac Slover, (former Regional Program Director for the Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities who retired after 30 years in June) and Diane Ford attended the special mixer and Taste of Findlay kick-off event on Friday night, the games and a celebration gala and awards program on Saturday. 

Each of the participants were provided a special all-star uniform and shoes for game, gift bags, prizes, an all-star medal and other special awards at the gala. 

The game provided Donald and the other participants the opportunity to play the games in a major league atmosphere setting with the announcement of the player’s names before and during the game, their picture on a video scoreboard, play by play announcing and music. All the families and spectators cheered on each player loudly when they hit the ball, ran the bases and scored. Mac Slover stated “The biggest joy of the weekend for me was seeing how happy and excited Donald and the other participates were. I loved watching them and seeing their families smile and laugh, knowing how proud they were to be playing this wonderful game of baseball.” “I am especially glad that Marion and Jackie got to experience this weekend with their son, Donald. I am just lucky Diane and I had the chance to be a part of it too and network with so many wonderful people throughout the country and Canada.” “It was about being a family and supporting each other.” Donald’s team, the Yankees played the third game of the day to a pack field of spectators and received rounds of cheers throughout the game and many congratulations following it. 

Donald’s parents Jackie and Marion stated “On Saturday morning Donald was off to the big game! He got his baseball glove in hand and ready to play Baseball! We were thrilled to see his name and picture on the scoreboard showing him from the Miracle League of Alexandria. We were so excited to see him sent the ball screaming across the field as he was off to the bases. It was what he had hoped for all day. The baseball game was incredible, and we were so proud to watch him play a game he dearly loves. Wow, it brought us so much joy to see this!” 

The 2019 National Miracle League All-Star Games will be in Sioux City, Iowa. Slover stated “we are already planning for next year games.” For information on the games this year go to www.miracleleagueallstargame.com. 

The Miracle League of Alexandria begins its fall baseball season on September 19. The youth games are held on Wednesdays from 4:30 – 6 pm and the adult games are on Saturdays from 1 – 2:30 pm at the Kelley Cares Miracle League Field, located at the Lee Center, 1108 Jefferson Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. 

Written by Mac Slover