[blockquote]When we think of hometown heroes the usual suspects of firemen, policemen or first responders come to the forefront of our minds.
However, since 2008, many families have found heroes in an assuming man— Billy Shain, special needs school bus driver for Daviess County Public Schools, and his wife Tami.[/blockquote]
As foster parents, in 2003, the Shain’s welcomed two special needs boys into their home.
The couple couldn’t deny a bond had formed, and adopted their foster sons, and eventually their sister.
Billy and Tami wanted to give their sons opportunities to grow as individuals and in the community by being on a team, just as they had done with their biological children.
Due to their developmental needs, the boys would be unable to participate in conventional sports programs. Through some investigating, Billy located a special needs baseball program in a neighboring community.
Having coached baseball and softball, he felt that this could be an activity he could share with his boys while also supplying the opportunity to play a fun sport.
The boys had a blast! But, in an unfortunate turn of events the following year, the league disbanded.
The Shains were frustrated and imagined other special needs families would also like to have the option to participate in sporting programs.
Billy could see it was unlikely others would step up to the plate with a program like this, so it would seem God was calling him.
Though initially frustrated from the special needs league disbanding, Billy chose to allow this to fuel a productive fire. He ignited a movement for a grass roots effort to launch a sports program for special needs children and their families in the Owensboro area.
Billy envisioned a program where families, who are often heavily burdened physically, mentally, emotionally and financially, as they care for a special need child, participate in a free activity where barriers have been removed and having fun is the only prerequisite to participate.
Billy spoke to local sports organizations, businesses, churches and city government seeking support and a safe handicap-accessible place for youth and their family to play baseball.
Though it would take two years he said, “It fell into place as God would have had it.”
After a phone call to Cliff Hagan’s Boys and Girl Club, Billy was offered a field to play and was introduced to a fellow with the same passion— to bring baseball to any child who had the desire to play regardless of physical or social limitations.
Billy accepted the role as League President and worked alongside local supporter and baseball lover Charlie Pierce. They announced their very first season of Two Rivers Buddy Baseball (TRBB) and accepted kids ages 5-20 with any physical or mental disability, completely free of charge.
That year, 43 special needs children and their families participated, free of charge, in Buddy Ball.
Even after the success Shain and Pierce saw with TRBB, the two never lost perspective that is was about so much more than baseball or any other sport.
Games rules differ from traditional sports by fostering an enjoyment of the game and fellow participants. There is no score; they stand on the fact that each person playing is a winner.
There is little asked of participants and families. They must agree to abide by three attainable rules:
1. Have fun!
2. Don’t get hurt!
3. Go home tired!
With a successful first season, Two Rivers Buddy Ball applied and received non-profit status the following year, and eagerly looked towards the future.
Owensboro citizens saw the impact Buddy Ball was having on families and volunteers and embraced the program with open arms by providing financial support, facilities and volunteers to expand the sports offerings individuals can participate in.
Since 2008, Two Rivers Buddy Ball, in addition to continuing baseball, has added an annual fishing tournament, basketball (fully equipped with cheerleaders), swimming, soccer and bowling.
The events provide a support system for parents, respite for families and a relaxing atmosphere that fosters fun for all.
Each year TRBB sees anywhere from 75-100 volunteers, has seen their budget increase from a modest $3,500 to $20,000 for 2012 and serves approximately 200 kids from seven Kentucky counties and one county in Indiana.
With the growth of this program, Owensboro is home to one of the largest special needs sports leagues in the United States.
Last year our community had 95 kids participate in TRBB baseball, while Louisville who has two leagues had 60 participants.
In 2011, TRBB saw a great need to connect families with local services and held a Special Needs Awareness Fair.
The Shain’s had no idea how many people might attend this event, but were humbled to have 20 vendors and over 500 attendees. It was such a success that another fair is scheduled for July 28, 2012 at Lewis Lane Baptist Church.
All activities continue to be free to families. Having no cost to parents is a driving passion for everyone associated with Buddy Ball. They pray they never see a day where the organization wouldn’t have funds to cover the number of children who wish to participate.
TRBB does not apply for governmental grant funding and has no paid staff. Buddy Ball continues to maintain a strong volunteer base and be financially supported by the generosity of the greater Owensboro area. It is facilities like Bowl-A-Drome, Kentucky Wesleyan College, Panther Creek Park, Apollo High School, OMHS HealthPark and Lewis Lane Baptist Church that allow sporting activities to be possible.
Buddy Ball launched a campaign called “10 a Month” and simply asks supporters to give $10 a month (equivalent to $.33/day) to be used to expand programming and fund additional participants.
All donations are tax-deductible and the benefits can be seen year round on the smiling faces and grateful hearts of the TRBB families.
Billy Shain will tell you that the requirement for volunteering is simple, “If someone doesn’t have the heart for it, they just don’t need to come.” He volunteers anywhere from 20-40 hours per week, apart from his job driving a bus, because this is a mission.
Shain admits there are instances where doubt creeps in. He has wondered if Buddy Ball was beneficial to specific children/families.
After an encounter with a grateful Mom, he received a clear answer and affirmation that this program is changing the lives of others, not just his own.
The first year TRBB hosted basketball they had a young man who was wheel chair bound. Because of mobility limitations, this man could not play on the court with the others.
With a Fisher Price basketball goal, Billy sat with the young man for 45 minutes and rolled the ball down his legs and into the hoop, repeatedly. Though not on a basketball court, the young man played a modified version of the game.
Shain wondered if this family would return. He really felt like there wasn’t as much to offer this family as others. In his mind, he had not helped this young man as much as other people on the court.
A week later, that young man’s mom returned, crying in appreciation for Buddy Ball. Billy learned that prior to that night, the young man had never used his hand before, until he rolled the children’s basketball into that little hoop, over and over again. She was blessed with each basket her son made.
That conversation was divine confirmation to Billy that he could not place limits on what God can deliver to families through Two Rivers Buddy Ball.
For more inforation: tworiversbuddyball.com