Making daily differences through collaborations

There are the job skills training and placement, the financial counseling and tax preparation services, the support for the LGBT community, and the assistance to help former inmates assimilate back into communities.

All of those Goodwill NCW programs help various parts of our communities build stronger lives.

And then … there are baseball fields. One in Appleton, at Memorial Park. Another in Manitowoc, at Dewey Street Park.

That's where Goodwill NCW's Miracle League programs give hope and opportunity for kids with cognitive and physical disabilities, from 4-19 years of age. And that's where the power of people, working together for the right reasons, is on full display.

Playing on a special rubberized field — to allow use of assistive devices such as wheelchairs and walkers — and with the help of able-bodied "buddies," the participants in the Miracle League of the Fox Valley and the Miracle League of the Lakeshore build lasting relationships.

"Our top organizational value mandates that 'we put people first … all people,'" said Bob Pedersen, Goodwill NCW's CEO and president.

"So, with that as the strongest support beam in our mission's house, if you will, our support of the Miracle League was an easy and important step for us to take. When you attend a Miracle League game, you see first-hand how we support great people who make a difference.

"Miracle League programs depend on strong community support, from local government to committed parents, and from financial sponsorship to the volunteer 'buddies' who experience something they might never have considered before.

"When it all comes together, and you see the smiles on the faces of everyone involved, you understand that it's named Miracle League for a reason."

A Miracle League game ends after two innings, with a "seventh-inning stretch" in the middle. Every player hits, gets on base, and scores.

Player and volunteer registration for the Lakeshore program (miracleleaguelakeshore.com) ends April 3. Player and volunteer registration for the Fox Valley program (foxvalleymiracleleague.com) closed Friday.

Both the Lakeshore and Fox Valley Miracle Leagues celebrate Opening Day on June 6, with play starting June 8.

Almost 200 players and almost 300 volunteers experienced the Fox Valley's Miracle League operations in 2014.

In the Lakeshore league's first year of operation, more than 62 players and almost 90 volunteers participated.

Pedersen said Goodwill NCW is happy to explore other Miracle League opportunities within the organization's service area.

Goodwill NCW is also the presenting sponsor of the 2015 TRIUMPH Mile in Green Bay on June 12, the night before the annual Bellin Run.

The one-mile course around Astor Park uses able-bodied "angels" to help the "captain" participants (people with disabilities) experience an endurance athletic event. The race is administered and hosted by myTEAM TRIUMPH, a non-profit athletic mentoring program for children, teens, adults and veterans with disabilities.

After supporting the Bellin Run for several years, the sponsorship for the TRIUMPH Mile is a natural progression for all parties.

Goodwill NCW will have a truck on-site at the Bellin, to collect donations of used running shoes. The sale of donated clothing and other housewares generates revenue to support the retail and human services mission of Goodwill.

Aside from its 27 programs and services, Goodwill NCW supports other community organizations, projects and events through financial contributions, partnerships and volunteers. For examples, go to goodwillncw.org/programs/partnerships.

— Dan Flannery is vice president of community relations for Goodwill NCW.

More about Goodwill NCW

A partnership between Goodwill NCW (North Central Wisconsin) and Gannett Wisconsin Media organizations in Green Bay, the Fox Cities and Oshkosh, "March to Goodwill" creates awareness of Goodwill's human services mission, and the organization's need for donations of used clothing, housewares, electronic goods and furniture.

Goodwill NCW serves 35 Wisconsin counties, from the east side (Manitowoc) to the west side (La Crosse) of the state, and operates 25 Retail Stores and Training Centers. The organization is based in the Goodwill NCW Community Center, 1800 Appleton Road, Menasha, and served more than 68,600 Wisconsinites through its 27 programs and services, partnerships and facilities.

Goodwill NCW operates three stores in the Green Bay area (East, West, Ashwaubenon), four stores in the Fox Cities (Darboy, Grand Chute, Menasha, Neenah), an Outlet Store in Appleton, and one store in Oshkosh. Each store accepts donations.

Goodwill NCW offers eight Donation Express locations — standalone store-fronts, staffed by team members who can assist with your donations — in the Fox Valley, from Howard to Oshkosh. More than 40 donation bins are throughout the Green Bay area, the Fox Cities and Oshkosh.

Online: goodwillncw.org. For retail and donation locations: goodwillncw.org/donate/where/

For a video about Goodwill NCW's Miracle League baseball programs: bit.ly/MiracleLeagues

GoodStories blog 'from the heart of Goodwill NCW'

Goodwill NCW's new blog, GoodStories, launches today, to share stories of how the organization's programs and services, partnerships and collaborations make a powerful difference across its 35-county service area.

Dan Flannery, Goodwill NCW's vice president-community relations, will oversee the storytelling effort and do much of the writing.

Flannery said the blog (goodwillncw.org/GoodStories) will focus on "who we are, who we serve, and how we make a difference every day across the state. These will be stories from the heart of Goodwill NCW."

After 34 years as a journalist — including more than 28 years at The Post-Crescent — Flannery joined Goodwill NCW last July.