$15,000 in Donations to Miracle League
June 8th, 2015 by Joe Burgess
A.J. and Nikki Hood are a local family, that use Dow AgroSciences’ “Transfer” insecticide, on their cotton crop.
Recently, Dow AgroSciences sponsored a nationwide essay competition, designed to “transfer to my community” the company’s support for a local community’s charity.
When the Hood’s submission about Monticello’s Miracle League was recieved, it impressed the selection committee, who selected the project and as the national winning charity.
Dow presented the miracle league committee with a check for $10,000, Friday morning.
To make the occaision even more touching, Rogers Cockrill of Tillar & Co., contributed $2,500 to the effort, in support of AJ, who manages an 18,000 acre farm for them in Tillar.
Nikki told MLive that AJ’s brother, Braden, is disabled “, “So we have a soft spot for the miracle league.” This is why the Hoods also gave an additional $2,500 to the league.
The morning closed with a few touching coments from the Field of Dreams leading supporter, Karen Connelley.
When the field is completed, it will provide a funtional baseball field, that will make it possible for childran with a wide range of handicaps to “play ball,” just like all other childran.
Many local residents know Nikki, through City Drug, where she is a pharmacist.
AJ’s submission said…
“The Miracle League of Southeast Arkansas has set out to TRANSFORM the lives of children with disabilities. There is something magical about baseball, America’s favorite pastime. For a child with disabilities, however, that magic is almost impossible to achieve. The Miracle League’s goal is to remove the barriers that prevent these kids from playing and build a Field of Dreams in which every child, regardless of their disability, will be able to play baseball. This league is about more than just the game, they develop friendships, build self-esteem and they become the star athletes of this baseball diamond.
The Miracle League has set out with a lofty goal to build our Field of Dreams. The field itself is specially designed with wheel chairs, crutches and visual impairments in mind. The surface is made of recycled rubber to aid in accessibility and prevent injuries. The kids are paired with an able bodied buddy” that helps them bat, run the bases and score runs throughout the game. This is an expensive undertaking for our community but with your help we would like the TRANSFORM their lives, because every child deserves to play baseball.
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