A Special Father’s Day Miracle
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Wanted to share the following post with all of you. This post comes from the Vice President of MARCOM (Marketing & Communications) Tim Hawley.
Take me out to the ball game. Take me out with the crowd . . .
Father’s Day is something special for all of us who are raising or have raised children. Through the ups and downs, we’ll all agree that the journey is worth it.
This Father’s Day will be a little more special, particularly for some parents of some very extraordinary kids. On Saturday, June 20, I am proud to say that American Dairy Queen Corporation is sponsoring Dilly® Bar Day at Bennett Family Park in Minnetonka, Minn., for the West Metro Miracle League. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the Miracle League, it was formed to give children with disabilities between the ages of three and 19 the opportunity to play baseball, regardless of their abilities. The belief of this organization is that “every child deserves a chance to play baseball.”
Organizations like the West Metro Miracle League depend on the support of companies such as Dairy Queen®, and for me, I am grateful the company has chosen to sponsor a cause near and dear to my heart. As the father of a seven-year-old special needs daughter, I can attest first hand the amazing impact this organization has on these children and on all the kids who play ball at Bennett Park.
Like many other parents who are in the stands and who help out on the field, I am grateful that our kids have the chance to participate in a sport they would not otherwise be able to partake in. For these kids, the entire experience builds self esteem, instills confidence and creates for them a sense of belonging.
The Miracle League also impacts the buddies of our kids – their peers all from other baseball teams within the park who help them bat, field, assist them around the bases and help with the fundamentals of the game. Buddies learn that the special ed kids are simply kids, just like they them. It is truly inclusion at work. Parents in the ball park are also exposed to these kids in ways that reinforce all the good that exists with this generation of kids and accept and embrace in ways never before considered.
All kids want to feel a part of something, but for kids with disabilities the Miracle League is truly magical. Often, there are more fans at Miracle League games than any other field at the park. Just watching them participate and then to see the unadulterated joy on each of their faces, humbles us all. I think I speak for all of the parents when I say that we are bursting with pride as we watch our sons and daughters enjoying themselves so much on the field.
So we hope you’ll join us if you are in the neighborhood on Saturday, June 20. The games are at 10:30 and noon. Even if you just want to stop by for a free Dairy Queen Dilly Bar, we’d love to see you.
See how the West Metro Miracle League makes these kids and our entire community shine in a touching video at miracleleaguemn.com/Minnetonka/video.html.
If you’d like to attend a game or get involved, please know that there are 100 Miracle League fields throughout the United States and more than 100 more planned for 2010. My hope is that our DQ® operators and customers across North America want to support and get involved themselves in the Miracle. Baseball and DQ… is there a better match?
Happy Father’s Day!
Tim Hawley
