WHAT: The Washington Nationals, in association with the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation, The Annette M. and Theodore N. Lerner Family Foundation, the Miracle League of Montgomery County, the Kiwanis Club of Bethesda, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Montgomery Parks and the Montgomery County Recreation Department, will officially mark the grand opening of the Washington Nationals Miracle Field with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, August 1.
Located in South Germantown Recreational Park, the field will serve as the new home for the Miracle League of Montgomery County, which will provide children with mental and/or physical challenges the opportunity to safely play baseball. The field incorporates a cushioned synthetic turf that allows children using wheelchairs and walkers to “run” the bases without fear of injury.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony will include state and local government officials as well as Nationals players, owners and front office executives. Nationals players will also join Miracle League athletes on the new field for a brief game of baseball following the ceremony.
Distinguished guests include:
– Anthony Brown – Lt. Governor of Maryland
– Isiah Leggett – Montgomery County Executive
– Françoise Carrier – Chair, Montgomery County Planning Board
– Mary R. Bradford – Director, M-NCPPC Montgomery County Parks Department
– Gabriel I. Albornoz – Director, Montgomery County Department of Recreation
– Stephanie Davis – National Program Director, Miracle League
– Washington Nationals players, owners and executives
WHEN: Monday, August 1, 2011
Media arrival: 10:00 a.m.
Program begins: 10:15 a.m.
Media availability and photo opportunities will follow the program
WHERE: 17950 Germantown Park Drive, Germantown, MD 20874
Media interested in covering the event must RSVP to Alexandra Schauffler at 202.640.7702 or alexandra.Schauffler@nationals.com
About the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation
The Washington Nationals Dream Foundation and the Washington Nationals Baseball Club are committed to community partnerships that improve the lives of children and families across the Washington Capital Region. The Foundation’s cornerstone programs are focused on children’s education, health and recreation. A 501(c)3 charitable organization, the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation has committed to, among other projects, a partnership with the DC Government to build the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy to teach the game of baseball and provide after school educational programs for children in the DC region. For more information, visit nationals.com/dream.
About The Annette M. and Theodore N. Lerner Family Foundation
Established in 1986, The Annette M. and Theodore N. Lerner Family Foundation is a private family foundation run in consultation with all the members of the Lerner family. The foundation has contributed millions of dollars to numerous community, education, health, cultural and religious organizations in the DC area. Previous Lerner Family Foundation grant recipients include The George Washington University, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Food and Friends, the Johns Hopkins Oncology Center, Hadley’s Park, Imagination Stage, Georgetown Day School, Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, Weizmann Institute of Science, Hospitality High School of Washington DC, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, among many others.
About the Miracle League of Montgomery County
The Miracle League of Montgomery County is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that provides children with mental and/or physical challenges an opportunity to play baseball as a team. The League will be the first of its kind in Maryland and will serve children in Montgomery County, the surrounding counties, Washington DC and Virginia. Presently there are 240 Miracle League Organizations across the country and in Puerto Rico, Canada and Australia. The Miracle League is proud to serve more than 200,000 children and young adults with disabilities. For more information, visit www.MiracleLeagueMontCoMd.com.
About the Kiwanis Club of Bethesda
The Kiwanis Club has been a strong presence in Bethesda and Montgomery Co. for the past 66 years. The club is a part of an international organization dedicated to helping children worldwide, but specifically here in the community. Since 1945, the club has raised and donated millions of dollars to various children’s charities including RICA, Bethesda Cares, YMCA, Dwelling Place and many others.
About the Montgomery County Parks Department
Montgomery Parks is a department of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), which was established in 1927 by Maryland State Law to protect, preserve, and program parkland for the residents of the bi-county area. Montgomery Parks is responsible for the management and stewardship of more than 400 parks on over 35,000 acres of parkland and a wide variety of park and recreation facilities including hundreds of miles of paved and natural surface trails, athletic fields, community gardens, picnic areas, lakes, streams, ice rinks, tennis courts, and playgrounds, among others. The M-NCPPC has been nationally recognized for its high quality parks and recreation services and is regarded as a national model by other parks systems. www.MontgomeryParks.org.
About the Montgomery County Recreation Department
Since 1953, the Department of Recreation has remained dedicated to providing inclusive quality recreation programs and activities that serve the recreation and leisure needs of the Montgomery County community. The Department manages 32 facilities including community centers, senior centers, and indoor and outdoor aquatic facilities and provides thousands of programs such as out-of-school activities, aquatics, classes, youth and adult sports programs and leagues, senior programs, and therapeutic recreation that enhance the quality of life for participants of all ages, cultures, and abilities. The Department of Recreation is nationally recognized for its excellence in the provision of facilities and programs.
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Media Contacts:
Washington Nationals: Joanna Comfort – Joanna.Comfort@nationals.com, (202) 640-7711
Montgomery Parks M-NCPPC: Kelli Holsendolph – Kelli.Holsendolph@MontgomeryParks.org, (301) 650-2866
Montgomery County Recreation Dept: Judy Stiles – Judy.Stiles@montgomerycountymd.gov, (240) 777-6875