The annual Miracle League Dinner, held Saturday at the Greenbush YMCA, was a living example of cooperation among local service clubs to honor those involved with the athletic group that provides activities for persons with special needs.

This year, members of the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club and the new Rotaract club it sponsors at the UAlbany School of Public Health teamed up with the East Greenbush and Sand Lake Kiwanis clubs and the host Y to present a Valentine-themed dinner for more than 60 guests.

Rotarians participating included Bill and April Dowd, Roberto Martinez, Andy Leyhane, Kevin Leyhane, John Justino, and two others in dual roles — Shannon Romanowski, representing both SRC and the Y, where she is the executive director, and Burke Adams, representing both SRC and the Miracle League, of which he is founder and president.

Rotaract members participating included club founders Kaitlin Driesse and Ashley Beaulieu as well as Carolyn Stover, Alexis Russell, Annette Highly, and Sam Leamy.

The Miracle League of the Capital Region offers baseball, basketball, bowling, football, soccer and track & field events to special needs Upstate athletes of all ages. All baseball, football and soccer games are held at Jaime M. Adams Field in East Greenbush, which opened in 2009 as the first multi-sport turf field in the U.S. specifically designed for such athletes.  Basketball games are held at the Boys and Girls Club in Rensselaer, and bowling takes place at the East Greenbush Bowling Center, Click here to find out more about the organization.

A few scenes from the event:

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