FAIRFIELD – The Hope Center, a pet project of the late Joe Nuxhall, is one step closer to reality following a successful COVID Still Can’t virtual fundraiser for the Nuxhall Foundation.
The month-long campaign garnered donations totaling $325,013 – more than 85 percent higher than last year’s inaugural campaign, which raised about $175,000.
The foundation canceled the Miracle Ball – the annual in-person fundraiser – due to COVID concerns during the last two years. Each day during the virtual campaign, videos were posted featuring stories of players, their families, volunteers and celebrity supporters.
The bulk of the money raised will be set aside for construction of The Hope Center, Nuxhall’s pet project. It would be a 28,000 square-foot facility for athletes with disabilities that will also house The Nuxhall Foundation and become home to the Butler County Special Olympics.
The center would include space and modified equipment for athletes to participate in basketball, boxing, rock climbing, bowling, an adaptable fitness center, and other activities.
It was something former Reds player and longtime announcer Joe Nuxhall began planning before his 2007 death.
“We’ve been silently raising money over the past couple of years for this,’’ said Tyler Bradshaw, the foundation’s executive director.
The goal of the upcoming campaign, dubbed Swing for the Fence – slated to begin next July – is to raise enough of the estimated $6 million Hope Center price tag to break ground by the end of 2022.
“We’re putting together the fundraiser, centered around the 10th anniversary of the Miracle League. We’ve already received pledges of in-kind work on the project,” Bradshaw said.
“It’s an ambitious project. But it’s time to bring it home. We think it will take a year to build the building and we hope to open at the end of 2023 or beginning of 2024.”
The foundation paid for construction of the Joe Nuxhall Miracle League fields on Groh Lane in Fairfield, used by more than 200 athletes with disabilities ranging in ages 4 to 78. It opened in 2012.
“This money that was raised (virtually) allows us to ramp up the behind-the-scenes work that has to be done for the Hope Center,’’ Bradshaw said.
The virtual campaign was kicked off with a $25,000 matching grant from The Hatton Foundation and Walt Lunsford of 9258 Wealth. Gifts ranged from $10 donated by individuals, to a gift of $100,000.
“Our supporters are actively engaged in helping us make another miracle,” said Kim Nuxhall, Joe Nuxhall’s son and the foundation’s volunteer president and chairman.
“We are continually in awe of the trust and belief that so many people have in us to serve our special needs athletes. My dad is looking down over us with a huge smile right now and we are filled with tremendous gratitude.”
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