Sen. Scott Beason makes Miracle League grant announcement at event.



By Adam Smith

The North Jefferson News



The Gardendale Rotary Club held its second-annual gala last Tuesday night in Birmingham.

The purpose of the event was to raise funds for a water filtration project in Nicaragua, in addition to other community projects.

Gardendale Rotary Club President Mark Argo said he had received many positive comments about this year’s gala.

“It showed signs of maturity with it being just the second year,” he said. “It was an excellent program and we felt very good about it.”

Last year’s Rotary Club gala, which raised more than $30,000, donated all of its proceeds to the Miracle League project. Rotary Club officials have said a portion of this year’s gala proceeds will also go toward the project, though a specific amount has not been finalized.

This year’s gala raised about $18,000, according to Rotarian Aaron Box. He said it would be up to the Rotary board to determine what amount would be given to the Miracle League this year.

Several door prizes were given away throughout the evening, but all gala attendees who purchased the $250-per-couple tickets were eligible for the $20,000 grand prize. That prize was split between Sharon Box and John Wicker.

The grand prize giveaway wasn’t the only exciting part of the evening, as gala attendee Sen. Scott Beason, R-17th, made a big announcement regarding the Miracle League project’s future — the awarding of a $50,000 grant.

Beason said he had received confirmation from officials at the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) that the grant had been approved. Gardendale Mayor Othell Phillips also confirmed the grant while speaking to the Rotary Club last Wednesday.

Though the check will be used for the project, it will be granted to the city and will likely be used on infrastructure projects associated with the field.

Jeff Dennis, who has spearheaded the Miracle League efforts locally, said the grant may enable construction to begin on the park before the end of the year.

He said an additional $10,000 to $15,000 may be needed to complete the entire project, but he said it’s his hope that baseball can begin on the field in the spring.

Recently, the Gardendale City Council designated a field at Luman Harris Park to be used for the Miracle League Field. The field will feature a rubberized playing surface and other safety features that will enable special-needs children a location to play baseball.

“This is one of those things that’s not just a Gardendale project, it will serve people beyond this district,” Beason said. “It’s a worthy project and it will be a huge success. I’m just glad to be able to help in some way.”