The City of Andalusia announced Friday it has scored the biggest grand slam of the fundraising initiative for the Miracle League Project – a $40,000 grant by the Baseball Tomorrow Fund.

The funds, which are given through a joint initiative of the Major League Baseball Player’s Association and Major League Baseball, will support the establishment of the Miracle League of Covington County for children with disabilities by providing funds for the development of an accessible field in Johnson Park.

“The Baseball Tomorrow Fund appreciates the City of Andalusia’s commitment to offer youth baseball and softball opportunities for all players in its community,” said Cathy Bradley, executive director of the Baseball Tomorrow Fund. “We are proud to support the growth of accessible programs across the country.”

The Baseball Tomorrow Fund (BTF) is a joint initiative between the MLB Players Association and MLB designed to promote the growth of youth baseball and softball throughout the world by awarding grants to support field renovation and construction projects, equipment and uniform purchases, coaches training material and other selected program expenses. Since its formation by MLB and the MLBPA in 1999, BTF has awarded more than 620 grants totaling more than $22 million to non-profit and tax-exempt organizations in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa and Asia.

Bradley commended the city’s recent $1.5 million redevelopment of eight youth baseball and softball fields at Johnson Park.

As part of the Miracle League project to serve children with disabilities and support an existing T-ball program, the city will replace one of the youth field’s turf with a rubberized surface that will benefit an estimated 400 players.

“This is a wonderful opportunity, not only for our program, but for the children who play the game,” said Dwight Mikel, project coordinator. “It is fantastic that the Baseball Tomorrow Fund recognizes the importance of providing special needs children in Covington County an opportunity to experience the great game of baseball.”

Other major supporters of the project include the Solon & Martha Dixon Foundation, Andalusia Rotary Club, Taylor Linen Services and the Jones Family. For a complete list of those who have donated, see Page 2.

Those interested in making a donation may contact Barbara Tyler at 428-1127 or mail to Miracle League of Covington County, P.O. Box 1971, Andalusia, AL 36420.

Currently, the project has more than $200,000 in pledges and $125,000 cash in hand.