Ankeny Miracle League

Ankeny Miracle Park – We Need Your VOTE!

miracleadmin — Mon, 06 May 2013 14:21:03 +0000

We are just $155,000 away from our $1.2 million goal for the Ankeny Miracle Park consisting of a Miracle League Field and All-Inclusive Playground. We have a chance to win $25,000 worth of playground equipment through the “Make a Difference Through Play” Contest sponsored by Kiwanis International and Landscape Structures.

Please vote for our project and spread the word! It’s simple and only takes a second. You can vote once per day through June 15. The projects in the top 10 will then be voted on by a committee (June 16-19) and the announcement will be on June 20. Your support is appreciated!

Click here to VOTE now!!!

A Successful “Night for Miracles”

miracleadmin — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 14:52:02 +0000

The Ankeny Kiwanis Club hosted a fabulous “Night For Miracles” on March 9, 2013 to benefit the Ankeny Miracle League & All Inclusive Playground. Chris Williams, Publisher of Cyclone Fanatic, hosted the event at the FFA Enrichment Center on DMACC’s campus. Silent Auction items were donated by various local restaurants, shops and entertainment venues and Christiani’s provided a delicious gourmet meal. Randy Munson inspired over 220 attendees with a touching story about his grandson, Quinton Munson, and the benefits he and his teammates have reaped from participating in the Miracle League. Rick Hermann captivated the room with his auctioneering humor in the Live Auction featuring trips to Sonoma, Orlando and Scotland as well as experiences to the Masters and Country Music Awards Show. Jason Brown and his band recognized Elizabeth Overberg and her achievement in raising funds for the Ankeny Miracle League Park on behalf of her friend, Ryann Marzen. Jason invited the girls and Quinton Munson onto the dance floor for pictures and personally thanked them for their inspiration. The event was a huge success thanks to the City of Ankeny and surrounding communities.

“A Night for Miracles” Presented by the Ankeny Kiwanis Club

miracleadmin — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 18:52:23 +0000

The Ankeny Kiwanis Club presents a “A Night for Miracles” on March 9, 2013 at 5 p.m. at the FFA Enrichment Center on the Des Moines Area Community College Campus. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Ankeny Miracle League & All-Inclusive Playground. The evening will begin with a cocktail hour and Silent Auction. Christiani’s, one of Des Moines’ finest caterers, will provide a delicious meal and open bar. A Live Auction will be led by Rick Hermann, Ankeny’s most entertaining auctioneer. Items include a Top Gun Experience, Trip to the Master’s, Disney World Family Vacation, Sonoma California Wine Country Getaway and much more. Jason Brown, a Nashville Country Recording Artist, will provide music entertainment. The Ankeny Kiwanis Club is accepting auction items valued at $25 or more. There are also sponsorship opportunities available.

Tickets are $125 each and can be purchased prior to March 1, 2013. To purchase your tickets and learn more about the event, visit http://www.ankenykiwanis.org/public/pub_page.aspx?PageID=97079 or contact the Co-Chair Jeff Anderlik at jeff.anderlik@yahoo.com

Thanks and hope to see you there!

KCCI 8 – City Just Short of $1.2 million Miracle League Goal

miracleadmin — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 18:13:59 +0000

ANKENY, Iowa —There’s an old adage that you’re not supposed to talk about money with friends, but a $1.2 million project in Ankeny is bringing two girls very close together.

“Their friendship is very natural. They just know how to talk to each other,” said Aaron Marzen, the mother of Ryann, 10, who has special needs.

Though Ryann does not talk, her friend, Elizabeth Overberg, knows just what she needs.

“She goes on the playground sometimes, but it takes a long time for her to get up the steps and go down the slide, and a lot of people just speed past, and she could get run over by someone,” Overberg said.

Watching things like that happen on the playground prompted Overberg to want to help. So far she has raised more than $800 for a new Miracle League to be put in Ankeny. A video of her on Youtube has generated nearly $8,000.

Miracle Leagues are a place for special-needs children to play baseball. They swing the bat, circle the bases and field the ball on a rubberized, wheelchair-accessible field designed especially for them.

Ankeny is currently $190,000 short of its $1.2 million Miracle League goal. Overberg has been going door to door asking for money since November.

“You wouldn’t think a lot of 9-year-olds would do this,” said Ryan Penning, the Recreation Supervisor for the city of Ankeny.

Des Moines already has a Miracle League, which is across the street from Principal Park. Penning said Ankeny’s project would also include an all-inclusive playground, which would be the first of its kind in the state.

The playground would include a sensory play center, a wheelchair-accessible glider, a roller table and ramps. Overberg said she looks forward to the day they can play there together. “She means a lot. Just with playing with her – she is really nice and sweet to me,” Overberg said. Penning said there are more than 3,500 special-needs children between the ages of 5 and 15 who live in Polk, Dallas, Boone and Story counties. He said more than 800 attend Ankeny community schools.Penning said they hope to have the project complete by late summer or early fall.

Elizabeth Overberg’s Ankeny Miracle League Donation!

miracleadmin — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 19:06:11 +0000

The Ankeny Miracle Park will consist of a Miracle League Field and All-Inclusive Playground designed for children with special needs. This will be the first of its kind in Iowa with the Miracle League Field co-located with the playground. With the help of her mother, 9 year old Elizabeth Overberg decided to embark on a door-to-door fundraising effort to help make the park a reality,

Elizabeth presented Parks and Recreation with a $721 donation from her efforts in December 2012.

Elizabeth’s inspiration was her friend, Ryann, who has a disability. She mentioned wanting to help raise money so the project could be built to benefit her friend and provide her the same opportunities she has playing organized sports and on a playground.

Elizabeth has submitted her fundraising effort to a contest sponsored by the Julie Foudy Sports Leadership Academy. Grand prize winners will be awarded a service role in the Special Olympics Florida State Summer Games. To vote for Elizabeth, please visit http://contest.juliefoudyleadership.com/

Click here to watch the video and make a donation to the Miracle Park Project!

FUNDRAISING

The Miracle League Park has raised $535,000 (cash on hand) in just one year and $1,000,000 in pledged contributions. The goal is to raise $1.2 million. Fundraising will continue throughout 2013 to ensure the facilities are completed as soon as possible.

For further information on contributing to the project contact Ryan Penning at 963-3574. All donations will be recognized on site.

CJM Financial contributes $10,000 to Ankeny Miracle Park

miracleadmin — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 20:05:53 +0000

ANKENY, Iowa – CJM Financial has announced a $10,000 contribution to Ankeny’s Miracle League Field and All-Inclusive Playground Project. The project, geared for youth and families with special needs will be the first of its kind in Iowa.

CJM Financial President Trent Murphy stated, “Our families have been blessed with six healthy daughters between my brother and I. Troy and I said that if we ever were financially able to give back we would do something to benefit children. With my wife being a certified special education teacher and my sister-in-law growing up in a hearing impaired family, what better opportunity than to help create a place where kids with special needs can learn and play?”

The Ankeny Miracle Park Project consists of a rubberized ball field and playground located together in Hawkeye Park aimed for children with disabilities to enjoy participating in an organized baseball league and play on a playground that is accessible to their needs.

The Project is being led by the Ankeny Kiwanis Club and City of Ankeny. The project fundraising goal is $1.2 million. With the contribution from CJM Financial, the total money raised thus far is $1,000,000. For more information on the project visit the website at www.ankenymiracleleague.com or contact Ryan Penning at 963-3574.

It’s A Miracle League White Out!

miracleadmin — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 19:43:46 +0000

Friday, February 8 is Miracle League Night at the Ankeny High School basketball games versus Waukee. It will also be Senior Night for the players. There will be a very special surprise presentation ceremony immediately before the girls’ varsity game. It’s going to be a big night! Come support the Ankeny Hawks and the Miracle Park!

Spectators asked to wear white in support of the AHS commitment to the new Miracle Park Project consisting of a Miracle League Field and All-Inclusive Playground that will benefit youth with special needs. For every game ticket sold, $1 will go toward the project. Special Miracle League t-shirts will be sold in the commons for $10 on Friday, February 8, from 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM. All proceeds go to the Miracle Park Project. Donation buckets for the ML will also be passed after the first quarter of the boys’ game.

For more information on the Miracle Park Project visit www.ankenymiracleleague.com or contact Ryan Penning at 963-3574.

HuHot Mongolian Grill Helping Hands!

miracleadmin — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 16:46:19 +0000

You’re invited to a “hands-on” fundraising event for Ankeny High School Key Club and Ankeny Miracle League! Help us raise cold cash with a hot fundraiser….and conquer hunger at the same time!

Join us as we become HuHot Mongolian Grill HELPING HAND$
Date: Monday, February 4
Time: 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: HuHot Mongolian Grill (2310 SE Delaware Ave. Ankeny)

Watch our Helping Hands volunteers spend the evening behind the big HuHot grill cooking up your meal for our cause!
HuHot will donate 10% of the event proceeds plus we earn 100% of the tips you leave our grillers.

Contact: Teresa Lawler, faculty sponsor at teresa.lawler@ankenyschools.org

Help AHS Key Club service group members raise money to donate to the
Ankeny Miracle League Field and All-Inclusive Playground project! Thanks so much for your generosity!

2nd Annual Vendor & Bake Sale!

miracleadmin — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 15:44:11 +0000

Northwest Elementary PTO cordially invites you to our 2nd Annual Vendor and Bake Sale!

February 9th from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM (Tickets: $1 or a canned good donation for the Neveln Center)

Get your sweets for your sweet heart and raise money for a great cause.
ALL PROCEEDS GO TO THE ANKENY MIRACLE FIELD!

****Northwest Elementary – 1202 W First Street, Ankeny****

Interested in being a vendor?? We are accepting applicants until Friday Feb. 8th.
Contact nw.pto@hotmail.com for more information.

The kids are excited to raise money for such a great cause in our community! Please come and show your support!
We also accept cash donations. Please mail then to Northwest Elementary, Attention NW PTO.

Thank you for giving your best to Northwest!!!

T-Shirts and Bracelets on Sale to Benefit Ankeny Miracle Park

performance — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 20:29:55 +0000

ANKENY, Iowa (June 28, 2012) - Progress on fundraising for the Ankeny Miracle Park project has been highly successful; still, the goal of raising $1 million dollars is still $330,000 away. To help with fundraising efforts, t-shirts and bracelets are now on sale. But get them soon–already, nearly $2,000 worth have been sold!

The t-shirts are $15 each and are white with the Miracle League of Ankeny logo. Material is 100% preshrunk cotton, and sizes range from adult small to x-large. The bracelets are $5 and say “Ankeny Miracle Park.” Because the shirts were donated by C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. and the bracelets were donated by the Vernon Company, 100% of sales proceeds go to the project! Items will be sold at Parks and Recreation special events throughout the summer; also, items may be purchased during regular office hours at the Parks and Recreation office at 210 S Ankeny Blvd.

Nearly 800 children have been diagnosed with some type of special need in the Ankeny district and more than 3,500 live in central Iowa. The future Miracle League Field and All-Inclusive Playground will be located in Hawkeye Park next to Terrace Elementary School and will provide children with special needs and their families a non-competitive co-ed baseball league for children with special needs; a network of Buddies to teach, assist and protect players during play; a 100 percent accessible playground; a playground that focuses on maximum play value; and an experience catering to kids with physical, cognitive and sensory disabilities.

The All-Inclusive Playground and Miracle League of Ankeny project is a joint collaboration between the City of Ankeny and the Ankeny Kiwanis Club. For more information, go to www.ankenymiracleleague.com.

Special thanks to C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. who donated the t-shirts and the Vernon Company for donating the bracelets.