More Than a Job. A Chance at the Next Inning.

Just a team member and his job coach

When most people think about Casey's Clubhouse, they think about baseball.

They picture athletes crossing home plate, volunteers cheering from the dugout, and families filling the stands on a summer evening.

What many people don't see is what happens after the final out. For dozens of teens and adults with disabilities, Casey's Clubhouse is helping prepare them for something even bigger than baseball. Their next inning in life.

Building Confidence One Shift at a Time

The Next Inning was created with a simple goal: provide meaningful employment opportunities and real-world job training for individuals with disabilities.

What started as a small concession stand operation has grown into one of the most impactful programs at Casey's Clubhouse. Participants earn a paycheck, learn workplace skills, build friendships, and gain the confidence needed to pursue employment opportunities beyond our facility.

Today, team members work in a variety of roles including customer service, food preparation, money handling, concessions, announcing games, scorekeeping, facility support, and more.

For many participants, it's the first time they have ever been trusted with a job.

For families, it's often the first glimpse of what independence can look like.

"When Sean and I looked at our facility and decided to turn the field into a stadium, complete with an announcers booth, covered seating, and a place to sell some hot dogs, we didn't just want to build a building for nachos and ice cream. We wanted it to serve our participants in a more meaningful way. That's how the Next Inning was born," says CEO Tim Gebhart.

The Power of a First Paycheck

There is something special about watching a young adult receive their very first paycheck.

Not because of the amount.

Because of what it represents.

Responsibility.

Pride.

Accomplishment.

Casey's Clubhouse interns training a team member on the register

During the first year, one of our Next Inning team members, arrived eager to learn but unsure of what working would look like. Through consistent training, encouragement, and support, he developed the confidence needed to become a successful cashier and customer service representative.

His parents watched as a simple opportunity transformed into something much greater.

A belief. That story has been repeated over and over again. Parents who once worried their son or daughter would never find meaningful employment now see possibilities they never imagined.

"I handed him his first paycheck at the end of the season. I think it was a little over $100 or something. You could see the pride and accomplishment in his face as he opened it up," remembers Tim Gebhart. "I asked him what he was going to spend his hard earned money on."

"This is going straight into the bank, and I'm saving it for college," said our team member.

Sure enough, that Next Inning paycheck helped to cover the cost of books during his freshman year.

Creating Independence

Many families of individuals with disabilities spend years wondering what adulthood will look like. Will their child have opportunities? Will they be included? Will someone give them a chance?

The Next Inning answers those questions with action. Participants learn how to arrive on time, interact with customers, handle responsibilities, solve problems, and work as part of a team. They gain skills that employers are looking for while developing the confidence to advocate for themselves.

Perhaps the greatest success stories are the ones that happen beyond Casey's Clubhouse. To date, numerous participants have successfully transitioned into jobs throughout the community.

One family shared that they expected they would need to be a "forever job coach" for their son. After participating in the Next Inning, that belief began to change. With each shift, each interaction, and each new responsibility, he demonstrated that he was capable of much more than anyone had imagined.

"I wanted to send you a quick note of thanks. What you do everyday impacts our loved ones. My son is now proudly working at Chick-Fil-A. He loves it! After only six shifts at his new job, his job coach is fading (a huge yay!). We had been told by his transition program that he would need a forever job coach. I truly believe his confidence and skills were made ready by the Next Inning program where competence is presumed and respect is given. So, from a mom, thank you. Thank you for seeing our kids as people with so much to offer. What you do and we do as an organization makes a difference!"

That is the true purpose of the program. Not just employment.

Empowerment.

The People behind the success

Welcome to the Next Inning, how may I help you?

While our team members are the stars of the Next Inning, many of their successes begin with someone standing beside them during those first few shifts.

Those people are our Job Coaches.

Unlike traditional employment programs, Casey's Clubhouse relies heavily on volunteer job coaches who help participants learn workplace expectations, navigate challenges, and build confidence in real-world situations. They provide encouragement when tasks feel overwhelming, model appropriate workplace interactions, and help team members develop the independence needed to succeed.

What makes our Job Coaches special is that their goal is not to remain forever.

In fact, success is measured by how much they can gradually step away.

As the Next Inning continues to grow, the need for Job Coaches has never been greater. Every additional coach allows us to serve more participants, provide more individualized support, and create more opportunities for teens and adults with disabilities to gain meaningful work experience.

Simply put, there are individuals waiting for opportunities, and we need more people willing to walk alongside them. No prior experience is required. Just patience, encouragement, and a belief that every individual deserves the chance to succeed.

For many of our volunteers, becoming a Job Coach ends up being one of the most rewarding experiences Casey's Clubhouse has to offer. The impact lasts long after the shift is over.

Contact Lisa Carlisle, Director of Operations, if you'd like more information.

Earning a paycheck, one hot dog at a time.

More Than Baseball

The Next Inning reflects everything Casey's Clubhouse stands for. Character. Attitude. Selflessness. Enthusiasm. Yourself.

These values are taught every day on our field, but they are also taught behind the concession counter, in the announcer's booth, and during every shift worked by our team members.

The program gives individuals with disabilities a place where they are welcomed, valued, and expected to succeed. Not because accommodations lower expectations. Because support helps reveal potential. Every shift is another opportunity to learn. Every paycheck is another step toward independence. Every success story reminds us that the possibilities are far greater than many people realize.

Looking Ahead

As Casey's Clubhouse prepares for its largest project in organizational history, the future of the Next Inning has never been brighter.

Our upcoming facility expansion project will include a complete renovation and expansion of the Next Inning program. The new facility will create additional workspace, expanded training opportunities, enhanced workforce development programming, and the ability to serve more teens and adults with disabilities than ever before.

The goal is simple.

Help more individuals gain meaningful employment experience, develop greater independence, and discover what is possible when someone believes in them.

Because every athlete deserves a chance to play. And every individual deserves an opportunity for their next inning.