CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – 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 with physical, intellectual or developmental disabilities.

After collecting enough votes in Clarksville’s Best, Buddy Ball is now in a fundraiser competition to be named Best Nonprofit, and they need your help.

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, 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.

Help them win Clarksville’s Best

Buddy Ball is one of two finalist charities in a weeklong fundraiser competition to be named Clarksville’s Best Nonprofit, and you can help them by making a donation at Buddy Ball’s GoFundMe page.

Each nonprofit will keep what they raise, of course, but the one who raises the most will be the Gold winner and receive $24,000 in free advertising from 5 Star Media Group. The Silver winner will get $12,000 in free advertising.

The fundraiser competition will end on Friday, Oct. 8, at 5 p.m., and the winner and runner up results will be announced on Nov. 18, along with all the other winners from the Clarksville’s Best contest.

To donate, go to the Buddy Ball GoFundMe page.

For more about Buddy Ball, visit the Buddy Ball website, email buddyball@progressivedirections.com or call Melanie Deskin, Buddy Ball coordinator, at 931-980-7451.

Chris Smith contributed to this report.