# Cardinals Care, Boniface Foundation, And Gateway Region YMCA Celebrate “Opening Day” For New Adaptive Sports Complex

- Link: https://www.nyrdcast.com/cardinals-care-boniface-foundation-and-gateway-region-ymca-celebrate-opening-day-for-new-adaptive-sports-complex/
- Published: 2024-06-25T15:24:00-05:00
- Author: Eugene Tierney

### **_CARDINALS CARE, BONIFACE FOUNDATION & GATEWAY REGION YMCA CELEBRATE “OPENING DAY” FOR NEW ADAPTIVE SPORTS COMPLEX FEATURING PAUL GOLDSCHMIDT FIELD_**

[⌊Cardinals News⌉⌊Cardinals News⌉[

**ST. LOUIS, Mo., May 10, 2024 – **Today, the St. Louis Cardinals and Cardinals 
Care, the team’s charitable foundation, in partnership with the Gateway Region YMCA
and Boniface Foundation, celebrated a new YMCA Adaptive Sports Complex on the campus
of the South County YMCA.  The complex features a Miracle League Baseball Field,
funded by Cardinals Care and the Boniface Foundation, an adaptive playground, and
a multipurpose field for youth and adults with disabilities.

[⌊Cardinals Care⌉⌊Cardinals Care⌉[

”I am thrilled to celebrate this special Opening Day for the new Adaptive Sports
Complex with our partners at Boniface and the Gateway Region YMCA,” said **Bill 
DeWitt III**, President, St. Louis Cardinals and Board Chairman, Cardinals Care.“
It is truly fitting that this field carries the name of [Paul Goldschmidt](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/goldspa01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-06-25_br),
who has demonstrated a passion for making baseball more accessible so that everyone
can experience the camaraderie and life lessons that the game teaches.”

“We are so excited to make this investment in support of the Gateway Region YMCA’s
service to the adaptive community,” said **Win Reed**, Boniface Foundation Chairman.“
Adaptive sports programs have a significant impact on the well-being of youth with
disabilities, and this amazing new facility will help ensure these youth are able
to learn, grow and thrive for years to come.”

The centerpiece of the $5 million sports complex is the baseball field, with a cushioned,
barrier-free surface and barrier-free dugout to provide accessibility for players
with disabilities.  The field is designed to have a look and feel similar to Busch
Stadium and provide participants and their families with a “major league” experience,
including a silhouette of the Gateway Arch on the outfield, just like the St. Louis
Cardinals home field. 

The complex also includes fixed and lawn seating, a fan plaza with shelter canopies,
concessions, and a dynamic, electronic scoreboard featuring “Paul Goldschmidt Field”
in honor of the St. Louis Cardinals MVP first baseman.  Paul Goldschmidt Field is
the 25^(th) ballfield that has been dedicated as part of the Cardinals Care Youth
Ballfield program.

“It is a tremendous honor to be the namesake of this Miracle League Field that will
provide the opportunity to play the game I love to those who may not otherwise have
the chance,” said Goldschmidt.  “I am grateful to all of the community partners 
that made this dream field become a reality.”

In addition, the complex includes an inclusive and fully accessible playground, 
running track and multipurpose field for soccer, flag football and other sports.

“The Gateway Region YMCA currently serves more than 1,000 children and adults with
disabilities,” stated **Tim Helm**, President and CEO of the Gateway Region YMCA.“
This new facility is a natural expansion of our work, allowing our Y to provide 
much more sports programming to those with disabilities throughout our entire region.
We are so thankful to the St. Louis Cardinals and Cardinals Care, Boniface Foundation,
and Miracle League for this tremendous investment to provide equal opportunities
to this underserved community.”

The Y will run Miracle League Baseball and other programming for youth and adults
at the new facility, and continues to run basketball and other indoor sports for
those with disabilities.

“We are grateful to the St. Louis Cardinals, Gateway Region YMCA, and the Boniface
Foundation for partnering with us on this amazing new resource,” said **Stephanie
Davis**, Vice President of National Programs at Miracle League. “These fields create
such an exciting and joyous experience for the kids and their families, and it means
so much for them to be able to enjoy the game of baseball.”

As part of the partnership with the Miracle League, the Y and St. Louis will host
the Miracle League All-Star Game in 2025, when disabled youth from across the country
will be able to play and compete.

**— STL —**

**About Cardinals Care**

Cardinals Care was established to give fans a way to team up with Cardinals players
and the organization to help children in our community—both on and off the baseball
field.  Established in 1997, Cardinals Care has invested over $31 million to support
St. Louis area children, built or renovated 25 youth ball fields in local under-
resourced neighborhoods, and distributed over $17 million in grants to nonprofit
organizations. 

Since 2004, Cardinals Care has orchestrated the innovative Redbird Rookies program,
a free co-ed baseball/softball league for kids who otherwise might not have the 
opportunity to play.  In addition to providing all the uniforms and equipment needed
for each team, Redbird Rookies also provides extensive off-field support in the 
areas of health, education, mentoring and the cultural arts for each of the nearly
2,500 kids who participate in the program each year. 

In 2023, Cardinals Care launched the Cardinals Nike Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities(
RBI) program in cooperation with Major League Baseball to provide greater baseball
and softball opportunities for youth ages 14-18 in our community. To learn more 
about all of Cardinals Care’s programs visit [cardinals.com/community](http://cardinals.com/community)
and follow **@CardinalsCare** on X, Facebook and Instagram.

**About Boniface Foundation**

Boniface Foundation is a private foundation dedicated to providing support for charitable
and educational activities that promote individual and community health and well-
being in St. Louis counties and city.

**About Gateway Region YMCA**

The Gateway Region YMCA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit strengthening community through
youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Serving more than 260,000
members and program participants, the Y offers 24 health and wellness branches, 
operates in close to 100 community sites, and includes YMCA Camp Lakewood and Trout
Lodge in Potosi, Missouri, and the Campus Y student leadership facility at Washington
University.

The Gateway Region YMCA provides $2.4 million in financial assistance annually to
those who otherwise could not afford its services. The organization also employs
more than 4,000 full-time and part-time individuals and engages more than 1,100 
volunteers annually. The Y is a proud member of the United Way of Greater St. Louis.
For more information, please visit [www.gwrymca.org](http://www.gwrymca.org) or 
call 314-436-1177.

**About Miracle League**

The Miracle League is a non- profit organization that builds baseball fields and
develops baseball leagues for children and adults with special needs worldwide. 
The organization removes the barriers that keep children with mental and physical
disabilities off the baseball field and lets them experience the joy of America’s
favorite pastime. But it’s more than playing a game. The Miracle League is about
making new friends, building self-esteem and being treated just like other athletes.

### Share this:

 * [  Facebook ](https://www.nyrdcast.com/cardinals-care-boniface-foundation-and-gateway-region-ymca-celebrate-opening-day-for-new-adaptive-sports-complex/?share=facebook)
 * [  X ](https://www.nyrdcast.com/cardinals-care-boniface-foundation-and-gateway-region-ymca-celebrate-opening-day-for-new-adaptive-sports-complex/?share=x)
 * [  Email ](https://www.nyrdcast.com/cardinals-care-boniface-foundation-and-gateway-region-ymca-celebrate-opening-day-for-new-adaptive-sports-complex/?subject=%5BShared%20Post%5D%20Cardinals%20Care%2C%20Boniface%20Foundation%2C%20And%20Gateway%20Region%20YMCA%20Celebrate%20%22Opening%20Day%22%20For%20New%20Adaptive%20Sports%20Complex&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nyrdcast.com%2Fcardinals-care-boniface-foundation-and-gateway-region-ymca-celebrate-opening-day-for-new-adaptive-sports-complex%2F&share=email)
 * [  LinkedIn ](https://www.nyrdcast.com/cardinals-care-boniface-foundation-and-gateway-region-ymca-celebrate-opening-day-for-new-adaptive-sports-complex/?share=linkedin)
 * [  Mastodon ](https://www.nyrdcast.com/cardinals-care-boniface-foundation-and-gateway-region-ymca-celebrate-opening-day-for-new-adaptive-sports-complex/?share=mastodon)
 * [  Nextdoor ](https://www.nyrdcast.com/cardinals-care-boniface-foundation-and-gateway-region-ymca-celebrate-opening-day-for-new-adaptive-sports-complex/?share=nextdoor)
 * [  Pinterest ](https://www.nyrdcast.com/cardinals-care-boniface-foundation-and-gateway-region-ymca-celebrate-opening-day-for-new-adaptive-sports-complex/?share=pinterest)
 * [  Reddit ](https://www.nyrdcast.com/cardinals-care-boniface-foundation-and-gateway-region-ymca-celebrate-opening-day-for-new-adaptive-sports-complex/?share=reddit)
 * [  Tumblr ](https://www.nyrdcast.com/cardinals-care-boniface-foundation-and-gateway-region-ymca-celebrate-opening-day-for-new-adaptive-sports-complex/?share=tumblr)

### Like this:

Like Loading…

### _Related_