History

History of the “Miracle League of Frisco”

In late Fall of 2005, after some discussion with the Frisco Community Development Corporation, the Frisco Parks & Recreation Department and the Frisco City Council, all agreed to work together to provide two key items to make a Miracle League Field a reality in Frisco:

• A location for the specialty field
• Initial funding for the project.

During an informal discussion between Cacy Saffery and Rick Weiland (Director of Frisco’s Park and Recreation), Cacy volunteered to help make the organization a reality.

In mid December 2005, Cacy Saffery, his wife Dana and Felicia Reed, meet with Rick’s staff; Steve Walsh, Dudley Raymond and Scott McCollum to discuss how to formally establish a 501c3 organization, which we now know as the “Miracle League of Frisco” (MLF).

Cacy’s initial call was to Susan Cooley of Schell, Mitchel and Cooley, who agreed to handle all of the legal set-up pro bono.

Over the next month, Cacy was able to pull in directly or indirectly the following people to help with the planning and who ended up forming the initial Board of Directors.

Original Board of Directors

Cacy received a call from a woman named Julie Pici (a beauty pageant contestant) who wanted to name MLF as her charitable organization. Turns out Julie was at every MLF function throughout our first season and a valuable volunteer for MLF.

This core group of leaders held their first meeting in January 2006 and had no idea what it would lead to or how they would get there.

During the next 112 days, the planning team organized their structure, established by-laws, raised funding, recruited players, buddies and more volunteers. They asked anyone who would listen for advice. Steve Peck, of The Michigan Miracle League, flew to Frisco and spent a couple of days passing on everything we did not know and desperately needed to know. Prior to MLF, many of the volunteers and board members did not have a personal connection with a special needs child.

Key MLF Dates:

December 2005: Miracle League of Frisco is formed and proceed to charter as a 501(c)3 organization.

04/22/06: Inagural MLF Opening Day – over forty athletes and buddies participate

05/30/06: “Duece” of the Frisco Rough Riders, makes his first appearance at an MLF baseball game.

09/16/06: Soccer is introduced as a MLF sport, on both synthetic and grass fields. Six teams, two of which were wheel chair/walker athletes participate.

02/24/07: Frisco Mayor Mike Simpson hosts the “Mayor’s Roast” benefiting the Miracle League of Frisco; raised $34,271.82.

04/21/07: Second MLF Opening Day for baseball; MLF field formally renamed for the Mayor of Frisco and dedicated as “E. Michael Simpson Miracle League Field”

07/07/07: Bowling is introduced as a MLF sport, with 43 athletes participating.

02/01/08: Pablo Ricchetti, of FC Dallas, selects MLF as his non-profit to support and begins developing “Pablo’s All-Star Jersey Raffle” project.

03/15/08: FC Dallas vs LA Galaxy soccer charity game at Pizza Hut Park, with David Beckham as the main draw. MLF benefits with a check for $22,500.00

History of the Original Miracle League

Frisco’s Michael E. Simpson Miracle League Field is located within Frisco’s Harold Bacchus Coummunity Park.

The custom-designed field incorporates a cushioned synthetic turf that accommodates wheelchairs and other walking assistance devices, while providing a safe atmosphere for children with disabilities to participate and enjoy.