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Category: Adaptive Programs

Miracle League: A Place for Everyone to Play

Posted on by Zac Jagow

Miracle League: A Place for Everyone to Play

There’s something special that happens at Monroe Rotary Field on Saturdays every spring. Athletes from all over the county gather to play Miracle League Baseball. Miracle League programs are designed for individuals with diverse abilities requiring additional assistance to play the game. This program is adapted to be an inclusive, stress-free, non-competitive game where everyone plays and everyone finds success. This year, the baseball season kicks off on Saturday, April 20 with its 25th Anniversary celebration.

Lake Stevens brothers, Edge and Ezra Burkett, can’t wait to get back out on the field. You can tell how much they love Miracle League Baseball by the way their faces shine when they talk about it.

“It is the best sports program ever!” said Edge.

Edge and Ezra have medical conditions that impact their mobility. Traditional sports settings aren’t the best fit for the brothers.

“Miracle League Baseball allows my boys the opportunity to play and compete in a sport they love,” said Jannet Burkett, Edge and Ezra’s mom. “Edge has some mobility outside of his wheelchair, but the chair makes it easier for him to participate with his peers. Everyone can play.”

Miracle League Baseball joins other YMCA of Snohomish County Miracle League programs, including basketball and bowling, providing opportunities for athletes to experience the fun of playing recreational sports all year long.

Gina Casagrande, current Mill Creek Family YMCA Executive Director, worked closely with Miracle League Baseball when she was the Executive Director at the Monroe/Sky Valley Family YMCA and has been instrumental in bringing Miracle League Basketball to the Y.

“Miracle League is a place for everyone,” said Casagrande. “We want to get the word out and share with families who might feel like they need a spot for their child to play a sport. This is a judgment-free, positive place where we support all athletes, meeting them right where they’re at.”

All Miracle League athletes are partnered with a volunteer buddy to help them compete. In baseball, they help them hit the ball, run the bases, and play defense in the field. Parents and guardians are encouraged to sit in the stands to watch and cheer for their player.

“One of the special things about Miracle League sports is the parent network and support parents receive from each other,” said Casagrande. “Our parents rarely get a break, especially when their child may face additional daily challenges. Miracle League is a place where parents can sit back, relax, and let us help the athletes on the court. Parents can just be a spectator and cheer for their child.”

Miracle League programs are free and open to the community, made available through generous contributions to the YMCA’s Community Campaign.

To learn more about Miracle League Baseball, please visit: Miracle League Baseball – YMCA of Snohomish County. The Y invites the community to come out to Miracle League Opening Day on April 20 for food, fun, and lots of baseball and smiles.

Mill Creek Y Launches Miracle League Basketball

Posted on Updated on by Abbey McGee

MILL CREEK, WA. February 12, 2024 – Miracle League Basketball, a new adaptive sports program for athletes with diverse abilities, kicks off its inaugural season at the Mill Creek Family YMCA on Sunday, February 25. This program joins other YMCA of Snohomish County Miracle League programs, including baseball and bowling, providing another opportunity for athletes with diverse abilities to experience the fun of playing recreational sports all year long.

“I got a phone call from a mom who was looking for a place for her child to land and she was told by others to contact the Y,” said Gina Casagrande, Executive Director, Mill Creek Family YMCA. “Typical sports settings were not the best fit or most inclusive for her child. I told her that she came to the right place and that we would love to offer a basketball program. It’s a priority for us to provide a place for all kids to play sports.”

Miracle League sports are designed for individuals with diverse abilities requiring additional assistance to play the game. This program is adapted to be an inclusive, stress-free, non-competitive game where everyone plays and everyone finds success. Miracle League basketball is free and open to the community.

Casagrande was heavily involved in Miracle League Baseball at the Monroe/Sky Valley Family YMCA before moving to the Mill Creek Y. She knows first-hand what a valuable program it is for athletes and their families.

“Miracle League is a place for everyone,” said Casagrande. “We want to get the word out and share with families who might feel like they need a spot for their child to play a sport. This is a judgment-free, positive place where we support all athletes, meeting themn right where they’re at.”

The six-week season meets on Sunday mornings when the Y is quieter and less busy, to provide the best environment. To start, the program will have two age divisions: age 5-11 and age 12+. The program may grow to accommodate age 18+, depending on interest level. Each group will play for an hour.

All Miracle League Basketball athletes are partnered with a volunteer buddy to help them dribble, shoot, and learn the game. Parents and guardians are encouraged to sit in the stands to watch and cheer for their player. The Y is actively recruiting volunteer support for this upcoming season.

“One of the special things about Miracle League sports is the parent network and support parents receive from each other,” said Casagrande. “Our parents rarely get a break, especially when their child may face additional daily challenges. Miracle League is a place where parents can sit back, relax, and let us help the athletes on the court. Parents can just be a spectator and cheer for their child.”

To register for Miracle League Basketball, please visit ymca-snoco.org/sports/. For more information about volunteering, please contact Gina Casagrande at [email protected].

The Y Receives Over $170,000 in State-Funded Grants to Support Inclusivity

Posted on Updated on by Kiana Yerxa

The Y Receives Over $170,000 in State-Funded Grants to Support Inclusivity

Stingrays Adaptive Swim Team and Y School-Age Care to Benefit

EVERETT, WA. December 6, 2023 – The YMCA of Snohomish is the proud recipient of two substantial grants from the State of Washington, a testament to the Y’s commitment to fostering community growth and enhancing the lives of its diverse members.

Empowering Athletes with Diverse Abilities: Stingrays Swim Team Grant

Due to their dedication to uplifting and helping others, the Mukilteo Family YMCA was honored with a $79,111 grant from Washington’s Department of Social & Human Services. This grant is directed towards supporting the Stingrays Adaptive Swim Team, a program that provides athletes with diverse abilities the opportunity to engage in swimming as a sport. Through practices and competitions with Special Olympics Washington, the Stingrays staff and volunteers teach athletes physical training and stroke technique, as well as promote Y core values. Funds will be used to cover equipment costs, meet support, and participant entry fees.

“This funding is a gamechanger for the Stingrays Swim Team,” said Cynthia Kelly, Executive Director at the Mukilteo Family YMCA. “It enables us to continue fostering inclusivity, promoting physical wellbeing, and instilling values that extend far beyond the pool.”

Nurturing Inclusive Learning Environments: Child Care Equity Grant

The Y secured a $94,450 grant from Washington’s Department of Children, Youth & Families that will help ensure culturally-responsive programming through training and a new position that will support YMCA of Snohomish County’s Heatherwood Early Childhood Education Center. This grant is dedicated to the hiring of a Family Support Specialist who will play a pivotal role in creating an environment within child care programs free of bias, where children can learn to appreciate and respect uniqueness and differences.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to enhance our child care programs and promote an environment where every child in our care feels valued and respected,” said Megan Proost, Director of Child Care Advancement at the YMCA of Snohomish County. “This funding will help us lay the foundation for a future generation that embraces diversity and leads with empathy.”

These grants will allow the Y to further develop instrumental programs that reflect the organization’s ongoing commitment to building a stronger, more inclusive community. To learn more about the Stingrays Adaptive Swim Team or YMCA Child Care, please visit ymca-snoco.org.

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The YMCA of Snohomish County is a 501(C)(3) Non-Profit Organization. Donations are tax-exempt FIN: 91-0565561

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The YMCA of Snohomish County is a 501(C)(3) Non-Profit Organization. Donations are tax-exempt FIN: 91-0565561