Wednesday, April 14, 2010 03:55 AM
Publication: Bucks County Courier Times: The Intelligencer
BY DANNY ADLER
Internet users can help the Miracle League of Northampton win $25,000 to be used toward a special ball field for people with physical and mental disabilities.
All they have to do is visit www.refresheverything.com/ miracleleaguenhpa and click on the Miracle League's idea. League officials hope people will click over and over again.
As Miracle League organizers continue to push toward their $750,000 goal to build the rubberized fields, which allow people with walkers and wheelchairs to play ball, they are competing with 1,140 ideas in the Pepsi Refresh Project this month. The 10 ideas with the most votes at the end of the month will each receive $25,000.
The Miracle League of Northampton was ranked 118th as of Tuesday afternoon.
Debbi Katz, a league director, said the local league has raised roughly 75 percent of its goal through cash and in-kind donations. It still needs more money to meet its goal of breaking ground in June or July.
Township officials told the league that a certain amount of money must be in its coffers before construction can begin on the field at the Northampton Township Municipal Park.
"They don't want us to start the project and see it founder," Katz said. "They want to see enough money in the bank."
Township Manager Bob Pellegrino said the league has to have money for the "basic elements" of the plan before construction begins. He said the league could always raise money at a later time for frills.
Organizers say the Miracle League fields - one a baseball field and another a multipurpose field - would be open to people with physical and mental disabilities and seniors throughout the area to play baseball and other sports. If they win the $25,000 through the beverage company's contest, $20,000 will go toward the field surface and $5,000 will pay for bleachers.
While Katz is confident the league can raise the roughly $150,000 still needed, the organization is marshaling future events to raise cash and pursuing grant opportunities.
"We still need help," she said.
The Comcast Corp. is presenting "stROLL for a Miracle" at 8 a.m. April 24 at the future site of the rubberized fields. The event will feature a walk, followed by a 10:30 a.m. game by Miracle League players at the site. For more information, go to www.miracleleaguenhpa.org or call 484-386-6115.
There is also a $150-a-person dinner on May 20 at the Northampton Valley Country Club in the township's Richboro section featuring Eagles tight end Brent Celek, former Eagle Vince Papale, comedian Joe Conklin and Pete Ciarrocchi of Chickie's & Pete's bars.
There are 200 Miracle League organizations across the country and in Puerto Rico.
Danny Adler can be reached at 215-949-4205 or dadler@phillyBurbs.com.