Buddy Ball provides sports and fun for folks with special needs

The theme of Buddy Ball Special Needs Athletic League is “the game’s the same … just different.”

Buddy Ball is a local nonprofit program with Progressive Directions that offers free sports activities for people ages 3 and up who have physical, intellectual, or developmental disabilities.

After votes from the public, followed by a fundraiser challenge sponsored by
5 Star Media Group, Buddy Ball has won Gold Best Nonprofit in Clarksville’s Best, winning $24,000 worth of radio and digital advertising for their program.

How it started

Margaret Davis with Progressive Directions has been involved with Buddy Ball since it began in 2001. That year, there were four baseball teams that were part of the Challenger League of the Clarksville Nationals.

“At the end of the season, the athletes, the parents and the coaches asked, ‘What else can we do?’” Davis said.

Davis said a board of directors was formed, and volunteers were recruited. Members of Bikers Who Care attended that first meeting and provided seed money, and Buddy Ball was born. Davis added that BWC has been their No. 1 supporter since the organization started.

Baseball was the first sport for Buddy Ball, and then basketball was added, followed by bowling, cheerleading, street hockey, football and water polo. “If we can figure a way to adapt a sport, we’ll try it,” Davis said.

Many local Buddy Ball athletes also participate in Special Olympics Tennessee, and along with all of the free sports activities there are annual Buddy Ball Easter egg hunts, Christmas parties and proms.

“The residents of Clarksville-Montgomery County have embraced us and have been there for us for 20 years. There are hundreds of people that it’s a staple in their life. The community has been amazing not only with facilities, but also with donations, and with volunteers,” Davis said.

Davis also thanked Clarksville’s three Rotary Clubs – Clarksville Rotary, Sunrise Rotary and Sunset Rotary – for their support of the Rotary Field of Dreams, a special needs ballfield and ADA-compliant playground at Civitan Park that was also supported by the Clarksville-Montgomery County Community Health Foundation.

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