The Miracle League of Southwestern PA

Television News Anchor Stacy Smith Joins Miracle League of Southwestern PA™
to Build a Field of Dreams for Disabled Children

PITTSBURGH, PA — FEBRUARY 12, 2008 — Stacy Smith, news anchor at CBS owned and operated KDKA-TV, has joined with the Miracle League of Southwestern PA to assist in building a baseball field specially designed for children with disabilities.

Smith, a local and well-respected newsman for more than 37 years including 25 in Pittsburgh, is joining the efforts of various local communities, volunteers, parents, donors, individual sponsors, and corporate sponsors of this local chapter to offer special needs children the opportunity to play organized baseball. He will have a number of responsibilities with the Miracle League of Southwestern Pennsylvania including recording public service announcements, speaking at social events and assisting in fundraising activities. Miracle League baseball provides the opportunity for children with mental and/or physical disabilities to experience playing baseball in a league-based environment.

“This group is setting out to do something that is so very important, and it’s not just about playing baseball. It’s about giving children with disabilities the chance to compete in an actual league just as their brothers, sisters and friends would,” said Smith, who was diagnosed with Polio at age 6. “With the right outlets, kids can do just about anything. It’s our job as adults to do whatever possible to make sure they have these opportunities. I am very excited about being a part of this group.”

Smith joined KDKA-TV in July 1983 as an anchor and reporter and co-anchored the 11 p.m. news for 15 years. During his years at KDKA, Stacy has garnered several key awards including co-anchoring with Patrice the breaking news coverage of the Crash of Flight 427 which earned KDKA-TV a Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award. In 1991 Stacy anchored the first Pittsburgh newscast to win an Emmy. Stacy also played a significant role in several Emmy Award-winning special reports including "After the Miracle" (a report on life after transplantation) and "Generation X" (a report on the 30 and under age group).

In addition to the Miracle League, Smith’s community involvement includes having served on the Board of Directors of Harmarville Rehabilitations Center, the Three Rivers Council for Independent Living, and as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Family House of Pittsburgh.

“Everyone involved in the Miracle League of Southwestern Pennsylvania are thrilled that Stacy has joined our team. His personal experiences bring a unique perspective to what we are trying to accomplish and his enthusiasm and passion for helping this effort and kids in this region is unmatched,” said Mike Sherry, president of the Miracle League of Southwestern Pennsylvania.

More than 25,000 children and young adults with disabilities participate in Miracle Leagues across the United States. And, according to 2000 census statistics, nearly 90,000 disabled children reside in Butler County and the surrounding counties of Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Clarion, Lawrence, Mercer, Westmoreland and Venango. With a specially designed rubber turf field to accommodate wheelchairs and crutches, the Miracle League makes dreams come true for children who desire to play ball just like most children.

The Miracle League of Southwestern Pennsylvania is committed to building the region’s first Miracle League field, which will be located in the new Graham Park in Cranberry Township. Among the key components of the field is its rubberized surface and bases that are flush with the surface of the field, to allow wheelchairs and children with braces and crutches to more easily move on.

For more information on the Miracle League of Southwestern PA, please visit www.miracleleagueofsouthwesternpa.com.

To arrange to speak with Mike Sherry or for more information, please contact Melanie Finnigan at 412-965-2096, or via e-mail at chaine5@aol.com.