They're Not Volunteers. They're MVPs.
- Case the Buffalo
- 1 hour ago
- 4 min read
If you spend just a few minutes at Casey's Clubhouse, you'll notice something that makes us different.
Yes, you'll see baseball. You'll hear the crack of the bat, cheers from the stands, and coaches encouraging athletes around the bases. You'll see uniforms, scoreboards, and plenty of smiles. But if you watch a little longer, you'll begin to notice something else.
A high school student celebrating a routine ground ball as if it were a walk-off home run. A college athlete kneeling in the dirt to encourage a nervous player before their first at bat. A retired teacher laughing with an athlete while they wait for their turn in the batting order. A young volunteer remembering every athlete's favorite walk-up song before they even step into the batter's box.
Those moments don't happen by accident.
They happen because of the people standing beside our athletes.
Most organizations call them volunteers.
We don't.
At Casey's Clubhouse, they're known as MVPs, Most Valuable Partners.
The name isn't a clever baseball reference. It's a reflection of the role they play in the lives of our athletes and their families.
The word volunteer has always felt too transactional. It suggests someone who gives a few hours of their time, completes a task, and heads home. While our MVPs certainly give their time, what they really give is much harder to measure. They give encouragement to an athlete who isn't sure they belong. They give confidence to a child trying something new. They give parents a chance to watch their son or daughter simply be a kid. And perhaps most importantly, they give friendship.
That friendship is where the magic happens.
Ask any parent what they remember most about their child's first season, and chances are they won't begin by talking about baseball. They'll tell you about the volunteer who never left their child's side. They'll remember the buddy who celebrated every hit, every catch, and every smile. They'll talk about the young person who made their child feel accepted without ever making them feel different.
That's why we believe our MVPs aren't helping our athletes play baseball.
They're helping them discover confidence.
Over time, those relationships become something much deeper. We've watched athletes sprint through the gates each week, not because they couldn't wait to play baseball, but because they couldn't wait to see their MVP. We've seen volunteers attend birthday parties, graduation celebrations, school musicals, and even weddings. Families stay connected long after the season ends because what began as a Saturday morning partnership grew into a lifelong friendship.
That's not volunteering.
That's family.
The remarkable thing is that the transformation doesn't happen only for our athletes.
It happens for our MVPs, too.
Every season, students arrive at Casey's Clubhouse because they need community service hours. Parents encourage them to volunteer. Guidance counselors recommend it. Coaches suggest giving back.
Many of them expect to spend a few weekends helping children play baseball.
Almost none of them expect Casey's Clubhouse to change the direction of their lives.
Over the years, we've watched former MVPs pursue careers in special education, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, nursing, medicine, recreation, and social work because of the relationships they built on our field. Others have become teachers, coaches, business owners, engineers, accountants, and police officers who simply carry a different perspective into their careers because of the people they met here.
They all tell a similar story.
"I thought I was coming here to make a difference."
"I never imagined how much these athletes would change me."
It's a lesson we've learned time and time again.
The greatest gift an MVP receives isn't listed on a volunteer certificate.
It's perspective.
It's gratitude.
It's understanding.
It's realizing that inclusion isn't something you create for someone else. It's something you experience together.
That's why more than 800 people return to Casey's Clubhouse every year to serve as MVPs, coaches, job coaches, announcers, and countless other positions that are necessary for the success of our organization. Many could spend their weekends doing countless other things, yet they choose to come back because they've found a community unlike any other.
They know they'll celebrate first home runs.
They know they'll witness an athlete overcoming fears.
They know they'll share hugs after difficult days and laughter after unforgettable moments.
They know they'll leave each Saturday feeling better than when they arrived.
Perhaps that's because baseball has never been the true purpose of Casey's Clubhouse.
Baseball simply brings us together.
Everything else happens because of the relationships.
Our MVPs don't just help during games. They mentor young adults in the Next Inning workforce development program. They encourage athletes through our Clubhouse Strength Team. They travel with us to destinations like the Field of Dreams, Cincinnati, and soon Palm Beach. They dance at Halloween celebrations, celebrate at year-end banquets, and become part of stories that continue long after the final out.
They aren't filling a volunteer shift.
They're helping create life experiences.
Every athlete deserves someone who believes in them before they believe in themselves. Someone who celebrates every small victory. Someone who offers encouragement after a strikeout and excitement after a base hit. Someone who simply shows up, week after week, ready to remind them they belong.
That's what an MVP does.
If you've ever wondered how you can make a difference in your community, we'd love to invite you to experience Casey's Clubhouse for yourself. You don't need to know baseball. You don't need coaching experience. You don't need to have all the answers.
You simply need a willingness to care.
Because years from now, one of our athletes may not remember the score of a game.
They may not remember every hit or every inning.
But they'll remember the person who ran the bases beside them.
They'll remember the high five after a difficult at bat.
They'll remember the smile waiting for them every Saturday morning.
They'll remember their MVP.
LEARN MORE on how you can be a part of Casey's Clubhouse.
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