About Us

Our Belief

Every child deserves a chance to play baseball

Our Mission

- - - Provide opportunities for children with disabilities to play Miracle League Baseball, regardless of their capabilities.
    - Promote community support and sponsorship of Miracle Leagues.
  - - Promote the construction of special facilities that meet the unique needs of Miracle League players and their families.

Our Thanks

Miracle League of Green Bay is possible largely because of the generosity of Dick Resch and former Green Bay Packer Brett Favre & his wife Deanna.

The Allouez Optimists Miracle League of Green Bay provides kids with mental and/or physical challenges, 4 to 19 years old, an opportunity to play baseball as a team member, with real uniforms, in an organized league, regardless of their capabilities.

Founded in 2006, it was one of only two Miracle League programs in Wisconsin at that time – the other was in Kenosha.

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At Miracle League of Green Bay, it’s all about the smiles – and there are plenty to go around. If you want to see the pure joy of playing baseball, just come on out to Resch Miracle Field.

Volunteers construct the playground named the Favre Family Miracle Recreation Area.

We have more than just baseball. The Favre Family Miracle Recreation area offers a handicap-accessible playground, named after its major contributors, Brett and Deanna Favre.

It’s our field of dreams. We built it and they have come. It’s a special place for special kids where we’re making miracles happen.

Donate Now

Want to have a positive impact on a special kid? Every little bit helps.

Our Board of Directors

This group is committed to providing an environment where the Miracle League of Green Bay can continue to fulfill its mission and thrive for generations.

Paul Liegeois, Founder
Gary Rogaczewski, Executive Director

Tim Jorgensen, President
Brad Lange, Vice President
Melissa Lundberg, Treasurer
Craig Francois, Secretary
Laura Mossakowski, Director
Rick Chernick, Director

Kurt Gajeski, Director
Scott Herber, Director
Jacob Jirschele, Director
Tom Olson, Director
Steve Seidl, President Emeritus
Jon Syndergaard, Director
Andrew Tobisch, Director

Paul Liegeois
Founder
Paul was the driving force in founding The Miracle League of Green Bay in 2006. He brought the idea to Green Bay after visiting a friend in Georgia. That's were he saw Miracle League for the first time and knew he wanted to bring the same joy of playing baseball to kids in Northeast Wisconsin.
Gary Rogaczewski
Executive Director
920-615-6609
Gary's been part of Miracle League in Green Bay every year except the first. That was 2008. Now, he's the Executive Director of the league, and his passion for giving these special kids the chance to play ball shines through as he ensures Miracle League is a great experience for everybody.

Our history

Dedication of Favre Family Miracle Recreation Area Shortly after his retirement from his electric and gas utility executive job of 33 years, our Founder and General Manager, Paul Liegeois, and his wife Mary Jo, visited with long-time friends and business associate, Dean Alford and his family in Atlanta, Georgia. Through discussion with Alford, now Chairman of the national Miracle League Association, he learned about the history and efforts of he and his Rotary Club in establishing the Miracle League program, and viewed the HBO video about the project. Intrigued by the concept, Liegeois brought the idea back to his Optimist Club in Green Bay, and in late 2005, decided to proceed to see if he couldn’t create the same wonderful program for the children in the Green Bay and surrounding areas. Read more.

Miracle League's national history

In 1998 Rockdale Youth Baseball Association’s coach Eddie Bagwell invited the first child with a disability to play baseball on his team; Michael a 7 year old child in a wheel chair attended every game and practice, while cheering on his 5 year old brother. In 1999, other children with disabilities were invited to play baseball. The players had expressed the desire to dress in uniforms, make plays in the field and round the bases just like their main stream peers. The league began with 35 players on four teams.

Our Sponsors

Field Naming Sponsor | $100,000

Dick Resch

Recreation Area Sponsor | $100,000

Brett Favre Fourward Foundation – Brett & Deanna Favre

Hall of Fame | $50,000 and up

Village of Allouez – In-Kind Use of Field Value
Anonymous – Playground Contribution

Angels in the Outfield | $25,000

Bernie & Alyce Dahlin Family Foundation
Schneider National Foundation, Inc
WPS Resources Foundation
Cloud Family Foundation
Green Bay Packaging Corporation
Procter and Gamble

League Hero | $10,000 - $25,000

Jack & Engrid Meng Family
Fred & Paula Schultz
Paul Van Laanen
Don & Darleen Long
Schreiber Foods Community Fund
Green Bay Home Medical Equipment
Dominion Energy
Pepsi Cola Bottling of NEW & Pepsi Refreshes America Proj. – Bleachers

Local Sponsor | $5,000 - $10,000

Associated Bank
Greater Green Bay Community Foundation, Inc.
Nature’s Way
Nicolet National Bank

League Sponsor | $1,000 - $5,000

Knights of Columbus – Abbot Pennings Council
Tom Dallman and Cheri Long
Sunrise Optimist Club of Green Bay
Gary Ziegelbauer & Marti Spittell
Tim & Judy Howald
Investors Community Bank
BayCare Clinics Foundation
Sunrise Optimist Club of Green Bay
Hermans & Associates
Kevin & Samantha Platkowski
Frank Mattia
Allouez Optimist Club Foundation
Wisconsin Public Service
DePere Christian Outreach Corp
Sue and Tom Olmsted
Timber Rattlers Baseball, Inc
Pink Flamingo Softball Tournament
ESPN Disney Worldwide Inc.- Monday Night Football “Fans Helping Fans”
VF Foundation (Jansport) – On Behalf of Tim Van Asten
Nicolet National Foundation
Caliente,Inc.
Shopko Foundation
Northeastern Wisconsin Sports Advancement, Inc – Red Smith Award
Target Stores Foundation
Johnson Bank
Green Bay Preble Optimists Foundation
K C Stock Foundation
Cornerstone Foundation
A.M.S. Annual Golf Outing – Lisa Kiley, Sponsor
Harp & Eagle, Inc (St. Brendan’s Inn )Annual Golf Outing – Barry Fitzgerald, Mgr./Sponsor
Ameriprise Employees – Proceeds from Booth at Appleton Octoberfest
Brian Strnad – In Memory of Barbara Strnad
Ameriprise Financial – Matching Gifts

League Sponsor | $500 - $1,000

Allouez Optimist Club
Northeast Green Bay Kiwanis
Donn Bramer, Bramer Photography – Trophy Sponsor
Steve & Mary Lynn Seidl
Steve Seidl & Associates
Bryan & Ann Spaeth
Wayne & Karen Destree
Jim & Sue Ritchay
Mike & Carol Debbout – Flag Pole & Flag
Morley Murphy Foundation
Karen Hilliard
Gene and Donna Eggers
Enzymatic Therapy, Inc.
Sherry Steffel
Optimist Club of Green Bay – Wednesday Noon
Francis Drew
Mike Devereau and Renee Soquet/Enzymatic Therapy, Inc.
Verizon Wireless Zone Foundation
James Frawley
Tony and Melissa Steffek
Steve and Denise Syler
Wells Fargo Bank
Women’s Club of De Pere
Ambrosius Studios & Redwood Inn – Trophy Sponsors
Volunteer Center of Green Bay – Award
Bellevue Business and Professional Association
Dan & Penny Bollom
50-50 Raffle Luxemburg Raceway – Jim & Teresa Anderson, Sponsors
Barb Rosin

Team Sponsor | $500 per season

2006

Allaura Financial Solutions
Max & Erma’s

2006-2009

Edward Jones Investments – Larry Barton, Financial Advisor

2006-2012

Gandrud Chevrolet Nissan Dodge Chrysler

2007

Bellin Health

2007-2008

BayCare Clinics
Superior Commercial Structures
Home Interiors

2007-2012

Laura Mossakowski, LLC – Financial Planning for Women
Saranac Glove Company
Donn Bramer Photography
Broadway Automotive

2008-2010

NEW i Tech

2008-2011

Al Naumann Financial, LLC

2008-2012

SCHWABE, NA. – Enzymatic Therapy
NEW ReBath of NEW

2009-2012

Shopko
Knights of Columbus – DePere Abbot Pennings Council

2010-2011

Johnson Bank
Logicalis

2010-2012

Allcox & Associates
KI

2012

Le Mieux & Son Toyota
My Brother’s Keeper, Inc.
USBank

Buddies Sponsor | $500 per season

2006-2012

Resource One Realty – Tom Monahan

2008

RE-BATH of Northeastern Wisconsin – Threse & Brent Martin
NEW i Tech – Kevin Platkowski

2009-2011

US Bank

2009-2012

Shopko
SCHWABE, NS. – Enzymatic Therapy, Inc.

2010-2012

2012

Camera Corner

League Sponsor | $250 - $500

Paul and Mary Jo Liegeois
Village of Allouez – In-Kind Village Hall Use/Field Maintenance
Howard-Suamico Optimist Club
Alloeuz Little League Baseball – Bats
Southwest Storm Baseball – Balls
Jim Steffel – In-Kind
Team Apparel,Inc – In-Kind
Kessenich Family – Norbert Coleman Memorial
Broadway Enterprises – Broadway and Van Boxtel
DePere Girls Softball – Helmets & Bats
Benchmark Consultants – Mike Audit
David & Colleen Van Zeeland
DePere Little League Baseball – Bats
Green Bay Retired Men’s Club
Ashwaubenon Friday A.M. Optimist Club
Frederick Schmidt
P & M Leasing
M&I Bank
Jeffrey and Katie Hampton
Dan and Penny Bollom
John O’Brien
Lynwood Hart
WPS Foundation – Matching Gifts
Knights of Columbus – Sts Peter & Paul #10552
Schroeder’s Floral – Anniversay Celebration
Marlon and Marieta Hermitanio
Gary Lichtenberg
Charlie & Ann Heidemann

Contractors

DeGroot, Inc
Northeast Asphalt, Inc
Fly Me Flag Company
JW Industries, Inc.
Village of Allouez
North American Specialty Flooring – Pro Traxx, Inc.
Liser Landscaping & Nursery
Northern Sound Contracting
Fortress Fence Company
County Materials, Inc.
Foth Companies
S. Lamp, Inc.
Superior Commercial Structures
Tweet-Garot Mechanical
Rob and Lori Schahczinski

Last updated: Feb. 10, 2019

FAQs

Who's eligible to play?

Any child between the ages of 4 to 19 with a mental or physical challenge who may be otherwise unable to enjoy playing the sport of baseball from anywhere in the Northeastern Wisconsin area.

Where are the games played?

At Resch Miracle Field at Optimist Park, the corner of Libal St. and Kalb Ave in Allouez.

When will the season start?

The season opening day is the first Saturday in June. Registration deadline is April 1st.

Where can I register?

Player Registration and Volunteer Registration is done online at this website, www.greenbaymiracleleague.com. Players may register any time after January 1 up to the April 1 deadline. Volunteers can register anytime, but are encouraged to sign up early so player assignments can be made. At least one parent of each player must be registered each season.

Fill in the online form, select “Agree” for the Player Release, click on “Submit” to send the form electronically. Registration is not complete until the player fee is received. Print out a copy of the completed form and send it with your check by April 1 to:

Gary Rogaczewski Executive Director
c/o Miracle League
2072 N Rock River Circle
De Pere, WI 54115

Is the field handicap accessible?

The field is rubber surfaced, completely safe, and handicap accessible. A new field was dedicated in 2007 and named “Resch Miracle Field.” In addition, the park also has the “Favre Family Miracle Recreation Area” – a shelter, with bathrooms and concession stand, and a safe, rubber surface, handicap accessible playground.

What's the cost to participate?

Cost per player is $45, which includes a major league look-alike team jersey, a baseball cap, and player insurance through the league. Team sponsors and scholarship donors help to defray costs of any child that has a hardship in paying the fee. No child will be turned away for inability to pay.

What times will games be played?

The season starts the first Saturday in June with an Opening Ceremony and closes on the first Saturday in August. All teams play on opening and closing days. Those are the only Saturday games.

Otherwise, each team plays once per week on either Tuesdays at 4, 5:30 or 7 p.m.; Wednesdays at 5:30 or 7 p.m.; or Thursdays at 4, 5:30 or 7 p.m. Please check the schedule for details.

How are volunteers involved?

Volunteers are needed primarily to serve as buddies to the participants (each player MUST have a buddy in order to play.) Other volunteering opportunities include buddy coordinators and team assistants.

Each player is matched with an able-bodied buddy (14+ yrs.) Buddies have strict rules to adhere to and assist the participant with batting, fielding and getting around the bases as much or as little as needed.

The player bats, fields, rounds bases, as nearly close to actual baseball league rules as he/she is capable of. Every player bats each inning, all batters are safe, there are no outs, and the last batter hits a home run. Games last two innings. In addition, each team will have a coach and team assistant. Players are pitched to, according to their ability to bat, and may use a tee, as necessary. Score ends in a tie.

Volunteers are needed! If you’re interested, please sign up online or contact Mel Rissling, Volunteer Coordinator, at 920-544-0072.

What type of baseball is used?

The official Miracle League baseball is a soft, regulation baseball-sized rubber ball, the kind used in T-Ball.

How did the Miracle League start?

The first Miracle League field opened in Conyers, Georgia, in April 2000. Word spread and, as of 2011, there were 250 communities in the U.S. with Miracle Leagues started. Over 100 of those have or are in progress of constructing the special-surface fields. The Miracle League Association has an aggressive plan to help 500 communities, like ours, all over the globe, build baseball complexes.

Is Miracle League a non-profit?

The Miracle League of Green Bay is a 501(c)(3), tax-exempt, non-profit, charitable organization.

Where does the league get its funding?

Funding is solely through public contributions, team sponsors, participant fees, and league sponsorship donations. Contributions are welcome. If you would like to contribute or sponsor a child, contact the League through the contact information on the About page.

Who do I contact for more information?

Gary Rogaczewski, Executive Director
Allouez Optimists Miracle League of Green Bay
1900 Libal St.
Green Bay, WI 54301
920-544-0072
Gary.Rogaczewski@gmail.com

Last update: June 14, 2022