Hatton Foundation Gives $1 Million Matching Gift for The Hope Center

FAIRFIELD, OH (November 19, 2025)— Hope is growing at The Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields thanks to a record-setting gift.

The Hatton Foundation has announced they are contributing a $1 million dollar matching gift to The Nuxhall Foundation to support construction of The Hope Center—a year-round, indoor recreational facility designed for athletes with physical and developmental disabilities. This donation represents the largest single gift ever given to The Nuxhall Foundation.

Lunsford announced the gift on behalf of The Hatton Foundation board at the 2025 Miracle Ball, the annual gala-style fundraiser hosted by The Nuxhall Foundation.

Hatton Foundation Executive Director Walt Lunsford Announces a million-dollar matching gift on stage at the Miracle Ball.

“Walt and his leadership of the Hatton Foundation are indeed taking us off the Hope Center launch pad,” says Kim Nuxhall, President and Board Chairman of The Nuxhall Foundation. “This amazing grant, for which we are forever grateful, will have such a positive impact on our mission not just for years, but for many, many decades to come. That Hatton Foundation is helping us with an historic opportunity to do more good, and we won’t let them down.”

Walt Lunsford and the Miracle League leadership team and all-stars watch as Donzetta Nuxhall cuts the ribbon to open the Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields in 2012.

This isn’t the first time that The Hatton Foundation has completely transformed the work being done by The Nuxhall Foundation. In 2011, The Hatton Foundation offered a lead gift of $500,000 to support construction of The Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields—an accessible, inclusive baseball facility for individuals with special needs.

“That first gift from Walt and The Hatton Foundation is the primary reason we were able to build this dream,” says Nuxhall. “Since then, we’ve seen thousands of lives made more full and more complete because he shared the vision for what we could create.”

Artist's rendering of The Hope Center exterior.

Now, The Nuxhall Foundation is on the cusp of being able to break ground on The Hope Center: a 31,000 square foot indoor facility that will expand the organization’s mission, opening up opportunities for athletes with disabilities to play every sport during every season. The facility will feature:

• An arena for new sports and events that will provide a permanent home for the Butler County Special Olympics,

• A multipurpose recreation room with accessible fitness equipment and play opportunities, including a wheelchair zipline and accessible ball pit,

• A community room with seating for more than 150 guests to host health and wellness programming,

• A fully-equipped concession stand with workforce development opportunities for the special needs community,

• The Nuxhall Archives: a permanent display of Joe Nuxhall’s life and career as Cincinnati’s most beloved sports icon, and

• Permanent headquarters for The Nuxhall Foundation.

Take a Virtual Tour of The Hope Center

The Arena, a central feature of The Hope Center to be build at The Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields.

The building will be a home for partner organizations serving the special needs community across all of Greater Cincinnati to deliver their life-changing and transformational programs for individuals and families, including accessible recreation, wellness care, educational programming, group fitness, respite care, personal consultations, therapy appointments, and more.

“Walt and The Hatton Foundation have given us incredible momentum to turn plans on paper into a permanent place to belong for our special needs all-stars,” says Tyler Bradshaw, Executive Director for The Nuxhall Foundation. “Their belief in our mission and the work we do encourages us to reach for big, bold dreams. The Hope Center is a once-in-a-generation project that will transform the health and well-being of our entire community, turning the Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields into a world-class destination and gold standard in inclusive recreation.”

Walt Lunsford on stage announcing a million dollar matching gift from The Hatton Foundation, alongside Nuxhall Foundation Executive Director Tyler Bradshaw.

The Nuxhall Foundation is currently conducting their “Heading for Hope” capital campaign to fund the project. In total, The Nuxhall Foundation plans to raise $12 million for the project: $10 million to fund construction of the facility, and $2 million for a maintenance/operational endowment to ensure long-term sustainability. Including the grant from The Hatton Foundation, the Nuxhall Foundation has raised more than $5.3 million towards the campaign goal. If the matching challenge from The Hatton Foundation is fully met, the campaign total will move to $6.3 million.

Donate to The Hope Center

With current fundraising progress and projections, The Nuxhall Foundation is aiming for a 2026 groundbreaking for the project.

The deadline to meet the million-dollar match offered by The Hatton Foundation is December 31, 2025. Donors who wish to give and support the project can:

·       Give online at www.nuxhallmiracleleague.org/donate

·       Give via mail to: The Nuxhall Foundation, P.O. Box 18146, Fairfield, OH 45018

·       Give via Venmo: @nuxhallfoundation

·       Set up a 3-year pledge at www.nuxhallmiracleleague.org/pledgehope

·       Discuss giving by contacting Nuxhall Foundation Executive Director Tyler Bradshaw at info@nuxhallmiracleleague.org

“Over the years, our donors have stepped up to the plate at every important moment to move our mission forward,” says Bradshaw. “Now, we are in the midst of the greatest opportunity we’ve ever been given to bring this project home. We believe in our supporters and everyone who loved Joe, knowing that they are going to knock this one out of the park and help us meet (and exceed) the million dollar match.”

Walt Lunsford and Kim Nuxhall at the 2024 Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields Opening Day Parade.

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About The Nuxhall Foundation

The Nuxhall Foundation is the legacy foundation for former Major League Baseball pitcher and longtime Cincinnati Reds broadcaster, the late Joe Nuxhall. The Nuxhall Foundation carries forward three important legacy projects. A central project of The Nuxhall Foundation is The Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields—an entirely accessible baseball and recreational facility where every player with every challenge gets every chance to play. Historically, nearly 300 athletes with physical and developmental disabilities aged 4 to 80 participate in programs at the Miracle League Fields. The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Scholarship (in conjunction with the Fairfield Community Foundation) provides more than $40,000 per year in scholarship money to student athletes at all 14 Butler County high schools. Very soon, the Joe Nuxhall Memorial Scholarship will cross the million-dollar mark in scholarship money awarded. The Joe Nuxhall Character Education Fund pitches good character to young leaders throughout Greater Cincinnati by delivering and supporting programs that stress the importance of integrity, humility, respect, and kindness. In 2024, The Nuxhall Foundation launched a $12 million capital campaign to construct The Hope Center, a year-round recreational facility for athletes with special needs that will help to create the world's most comprehensive athletic campus for individuals with disabilities. 

For more information, visit http://www.nuxhallmiracleleague.org.

For all media inquiries or to schedule an appearance, please contact:

Tyler Bradshaw

(513) 839-6164

tyler@nuxhallmiracleleague.org 

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