Poughkeepsie … Dutchess County is again sponsoring the annual ThinkDIFFERENTLY/Disability, Dream & Do Baseball Camp, offering children with physical, developmental and intellectual disabilities a free day of baseball fun on Saturday, June 17th at Heritage Financial Park, formerly known as Dutchess Stadium. A partnership among Dutchess County Government’s “ThinkDIFFERENTLY” initiative, Disability Dream & Do (D3day) and the Hudson Valley Renegades, the camp takes place from 9:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., providing participants the chance to learn baseball skills from Renegades players and coaches in a supportive and inclusive environment.
County Executive William F.X. O’Neil said, “This yearly camp showcases the spirit of our ThinkDIFFERENTLY initiative, which has made Dutchess County a more welcoming and accessible place for residents and visitors of every ability. I’m grateful to the Hudson Valley Renegades and Disability, Dream & Do for their continued collaboration toward this wonderful event. I encourage families to sign up their children today and join us for a memorable day of baseball and fun.”
Registration is free and can be completed online at d3day.com/register-hudson-valley. Space is limited, and spots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. All participants will receive a complimentary event T-shirt, lunch and tickets to the Renegades’ game on Sunday, June 18th.
Renegades General Manager Tyson Jeffers said, “We are thrilled to host the ThinkDIFFERENTLY/Disability, Dream & Do Baseball Camp once again at our home park, Heritage Financial Park. Our players and coaches love working with these amazing kids and sharing their passion for the game. We are proud to be part of this community and this initiative that celebrates diversity and inclusion.”
Volunteers play a crucial role in ensuring the success of this camp, and residents are invited to share their time and talents to help bring their neighbors with special needs a morning of baseball fun they’ll long remember. Local individuals, teams, businesses and organizations are invited to sign up to volunteer at d3day.com/register-volunteer.
The spirit of inclusiveness is embodied by the ThinkDIFFERENTLY/Disability, Dream & Do Baseball Camp, and all residents are encouraged to nominate someone who goes above and beyond to help those of all abilities for the “Pulling Each Other Along” Award. The annual award, presented at the conclusion of each game, honors the notable contributions of those who have selflessly helped others in the disability community. Residents are encouraged to nominate someone they know for the “Pulling Each Other Along” Award at d3day.com/peoa-award.
Doug Cornfield, executive director of the Disability, Dream & Do, said, “We are honored to again partner with Dutchess County Government, the Hudson Valley Renegades and other community groups to empower children with disabilities to dream big and do what they love. We know so many in the community share that vision, and we urge residents to go online and recommend nominees for the ‘Pulling Each Other Along’ Award so we can recognize those in Dutchess County who consistently support individuals with special needs.”
Dutchess County Government’s ThinkDIFFERENTLY initiative was launched in 2015 to foster a more inclusive community for individuals with special needs. Since then, the initiative has expanded to include more than 100 municipalities throughout New York State and beyond that have adopted ThinkDIFFERENTLY resolutions. More information about the initiative is available at thinkdifferently.net.
