Miracle League of Palm Beach County to begin 17th season; gets $100K donation
Nearly 20 years ago, Julia and Jeff Kadel had just finished watching a TV show on their living room couch and came up with an idea that would forever impact people’s lives.
Julia Kadel is the executive director of Miracle League of Palm Beach County, which has programs in Palm Beach Gardens and Delray Beach that give every child with special needs the opportunity to play baseball.
The couple founded the league in 2005 and started playing games in 2007.
“Here we are nearly 20 years later and for other people to embrace our mission, there are no words to describe that,” she said. “It is very humbling and it’s very rewarding.”
Former Major League Baseball players Johnny Bench and Dennis Martinez are among the many superstars to throw out first pitches at games or be involved in some way with the baseball league for special needs youths and young adults.
“You know what your purpose is here on Earth,” Julia Kadel said. “They see your values, and they see your mission and they want to be a part of that, and we want to expand that. There is no other greater joy.
“We say it is not just about baseball,” she said, “because there is so much more to it. We have volunteers who have been with us since they were teenagers, then maybe went away to college and have come back.”
Programs begin April 4 in Palm Beach Gardens and April 6 in Delray Beach. There will be 10 teams with 14 players each and an eight-member cheerleading squad. Palm Beach Gardens will feature four of the teams, while Delray has the rest. They also have countless volunteers helping.
Each player bats once in each inning and all base runners are safe. Every player scores a run before the inning has been completed and the last batter up gets a home run.
“We have some (families) that just play in the spring, and we have the rest who will play in the fall,” said Julia Kadel, who has been in talks with the county about starting a third site at John Prince Park in Lake Worth Beach located near the CMAA Lake Worth Therapeutic Recreation Complex.
She said they hope to open in the fall of 2025 and added there would be a bridge constructed over a canal to help with access.
“It would also have a turf field,” she said. “(The county) loves what we have done at our other two locations. They would incorporate a program at the therapeutic complex and that one would be more for adults.”
The Kadels and their team also helped spearhead the effort by Palm Beach County in hosting the Miracle League fifth annual All-Stars Weekend in Palm Beach County.
Instead of having their annual November fundraiser to help defray costs of running the Miracle League, they opted to hold the national event that attracted 125 Miracle League players and about 300 family members from across the country.
“The feedback I got well exceeded my expectations,” Julia Kadel said. “So much so that the leagues in the southern part of the United States want to do an annual thing and host it here every year.”
She also estimated that the weekend event probably cost $150,000 to stage and with sponsors and donations, they were still a little bit short. They are still in the process of coming up with a theme for this November.
The Kadels were recognized by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission Hall of Fame for Most Outstanding Sports Contributor.
“We knew that we had a lot of making up to do this year in the fundraising arena,” Julia Kadel said, “and we always say that we have angels in the outfield, and sure enough, there was an angel who happened to see a video of our All-Stars and the impact that we made in November and chose us as his charity of choice.”
Delray Beach’s Kevin Buxton recently donated $100,000 to the organization. Buxton won Ten-X’s Battle of the Bids competition, where players wager on commercial real estate sales prices, and he pocketed the $1 million in prize money. The winner is also given $100,000 to contribute to a charity of their choice and Buxton selected the Miracle League of Palm Beach County.
“He blessed us with that gift,” she said. “It was a tremendous gesture and took a lot of stress off us having to raise that kind of money this year. He basically put us back to whole again.
“In this league, we do more than just play sports — we create an inclusive space where every athlete is seen, heard, and most importantly, valued,” she said. “It’s not about winning or losing but about cherishing the spirit of the game and the joy of participation.
Julia Kadel said the league also serves as a networking opportunity for the family to find out about nutrition, other programs and care, and to give families a short break to take in the joy of watching their kids succeed on the diamond.
“The growth and accomplishments of each individual is a testament to their resilience and strength, and I couldn’t be prouder of each and every participant,” she said. “Every laugh, every high five, every cheer — they are all victories in their own right, painting the canvas of what inclusivity and genuine camaraderie looks like in sports.”
Julia Kadel said they don’t see plan to move on anytime soon.
“Even if I won the lottery, I would do this until the day I can’t,” she said. “It’s been an honor to serve these families. It gives the people a feeling of purpose to advocate being more inclusive. To see the people witness the joy and satisfaction on these faces lasts a lifetime.”