- June 22, 2026
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For 15 years, the Miracle League of Manasota has been fostering meaningful community connections through America's favorite pastime. On the baseball field, local children and adults with disabilities get to play ball, unwind, socialize with new friends and celebrate every successful swing.
The 501(c)(3) now has a new fundraising partner on Longboat Key through the local Kiwanis Club chapter.
The club presented a $3,500 check to Executive Director Chris Cushman on June 17. The proceeds are from the club's spring pancake breakfast.
Originally, the club earmarked the funds for the local Sarasota-Manatee chapter of Family Promise. However, when that branch had to close its doors and couldn't accept the funds, Kiwanians had to find a new charitable partner.
Past President Michael Garey suggested the league based on his daughter Amela's experience volunteering with the group as a high schooler. The league partners the participating athletes with volunteer buddies for the games to run the bases with them.
Garey said she took great memories from the experience.
"She loved it so much," Garey said, adding that there were often a few tears of joy shed at getting to share in such a meaningful connection with community members.
The league hosts two 10-week seasons every year. The spring and fall seasons each include a five-week youth league and a five-week adult league.
"We see so much improvement in our athletes," Cushman said. "They build self-esteem and confidence in themselves. We're a fun league, and not competitive."
He said there is nothing quite like seeing the joy on the athletes' faces as they hear their names being announced at bat or when they celebrate a high-flying hit with their teammates.
Cushman said the funds will go a long way in supporting the mission. Although the program relies upon the volunteer efforts of about 40-50 people during the season, the league still needs to manage maintenance costs for keeping the field at 6050 Longwood Run Blvd. in tip-top shape, and other program expenses.
"We just had the surface redone six months ago, and it looks fantastic," he said.
Cushman said he got involved while running his sports photography business. Organizers invited him to photograph a game.
"Honestly, I had never heard of The Miracle League before then," he said. "I started doing their picture day for a year, got to know some of the board members, and they asked me if I wanted to come on as the executive director."
Taking the helm was a full-circle moment for Cushman, who graduated from Auburn University with a degree in special education, which he didn't get to pursue professionally until then. With the encouragement of family members, he took on the leadership role and said it has been even more rewarding than he anticipated.
Throughout the season, athletes forge long-term friendships. Cushman explained that the league is divided into a youth and adult division, with participants ages 4 to 24 filling in the former and adults into their 80s filling out the latter.
Some athletes have been returning every year since the launch of the Sarasota program.
"A lot of our athletes have been with us from day one, 15 years ago," Cushman said.
The original Miracle League started in the late 1990s in Atlanta when the Rockdale Youth Baseball Association brought a 7-year-old player in a wheelchair to join a team. The effort expanded globally, and now there are more than 350 Miracle League Organizations across the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada and Mexico.
Cushman said the local chapter includes about 170 athletes.
Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key President Danielle Gladding said board members found the league to be in line with the club's mission of supporting community connection and education.
"The Miracle League is a perfect fit," she said.
She said the league will also benefit from the upcoming fall and spring pancake breakfasts.
The league is currently at capacity with enrollment, and Cushman said it always welcomes extra volunteers. Often, groups will come from local schools, churches, clubs, other sports teams and businesses to help keep things running smoothly on and off the diamond.
One of Cushman's favorite moments is when teenagers from local baseball teams come out to volunteer. Some may have never spent any significant amount of time socializing with someone using a wheelchair or diagnosed with autism before then. He said it is heartwarming to see any trepidation melt away by the end of the day spent encouraging players.
"It's really neat to see some of these teams come back," he said. "The athletes see them, and they see the athletes, any everyone is high-fiving. It's such a neat Saturday morning for everyone."
He said this support has a two-fold benefit of also allowing caretakers the space to sit in the stands and cheer on the players.
Cushman said the league is grateful for all the local support it receives, including through the philanthropy of the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Baltimore Orioles, who provided substantial funding for building the original field.
