News & Stories
A Dugout for Everyone: Building Inclusion On and Off the Field
Photo credit: Dream Team Northern Michigan
Image description: A baseball player in a wheelchair and a teammate in a "Trojans" jersey pose together on a baseball field.
Bringing a community dream to life requires a plan, generosity, and collaboration, a trifecta that Dream Team Northern Michigan happily experienced with its recent Field of Dreams Dugout Project. The Grand Traverse Civic Center baseball fields are a popular site for community members of all ages and area visitors. These also happen to be the fields of choice for the Dream Team, but up until this year, none of the dugouts could adequately accommodate the needs of the players.
Dream Team Northern Michigan is a nonprofit baseball league designed to provide a safe and inclusive team sport experience for area youth and young adults with disabilities. In 2023, the nonprofit received one of our Community Funds grants to assist in updating the dugouts of two baseball fields. The upgrades included new roofing and improved drainage, path repaving, restroom renovations, and expanding the dugouts to provide wheelchair accessibility and access for safety and emergency medical use.
“The dugouts were at least 40 years old and in rough shape,” shared Dayna Ryan, Dream Team Director. “We spearheaded the Dugout Project but knew we couldn’t do it alone. We knew we needed support from our community to make this happen.”
The Dream Team turned to the community for support, receiving material and financial donations, discounts from local businesses, and sponsorships alongside receiving one of our Community Funds grants.
“We were inspired to apply for a Community Foundation grant because of the organization’s commitment to inclusion, diversity, and creating accessible spaces,” said Dayna. “The Dugout Project was right in line with the Foundation’s overall vision and mission.”
Community Funds helped bring the Dugout Project to fruition, and grants like these wouldn’t be possible without support from donor partners like Terry Beamsley. A full-time Leelanau resident, Terry has a long history of involvement in community foundations and working with nonprofits.
“I am a true believer in the community foundation concept because if we pool our resources, we can do so much more for the good causes that everyone wants to support,” said Terry.
Our immediate past Board Chair and current Board Director, Terry loves donating to the funds she values most and chooses to do much of her giving through recurring donations.
“There’s always a need—there’s no such thing as meeting all the needs of your community, and people frequently think that donations to foundations need to be big, exciting amounts, and that’s not true. I can make a real difference by contributing a little bit continuously, which helps the organization on an ongoing basis. Recurring contributions can have a big impact without hurting your pocketbook.”
As a recurring donor to the Focus Fund Endowment, Terry is proud to have contributed to the Dream Team’s inclusion efforts.
“I have family members who are mentally and physically disabled,” she shared. “I know what a difference it can make to someone to have access to things most of us take for granted. It’s not just about helping them play baseball; it’s helping them feel that they’re a valued part of the community.”
Erin Smyth, a Dream Team coach and educator for students with autism, is thrilled by the project’s success: “The players are so excited for the new dugouts. They have room to spread out, which is so important for our players with sensory needs. They are able to focus more on the game and each other.”
What’s more, Brittney Ruckle, a Dream Team player who uses a wheelchair, can, for the first time, be in the dugout with her teammates. “Dream Team offers Brittney the opportunity to play a sport where she receives social engagement, fun, success, and friendship,” shared Kris Ruckle-Mahon, Brittney’s mom. “Thanks to our community angels, Brittney and her teammates are allowed this life-changing experience!”
Through collaborative teamwork, the Field of Dreams Dugout Project was a resounding success. The joint effort enabled a valuable part of our community to enjoy a fun, all-American pastime, proving that when we work together, dreams can come true in our region.
Writer: Alex Dailey