Nuxhall Foundation to Break Ground on Hope Center
FAIRFIELD, OH (October 30, 2026)—Thanks to a community of supporters who believe in a brighter future for athletes with special needs, Joe Nuxhall’s dream for them is “rounding third and heading for home.”
On November 7, 2026 at 11am at the Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields, The Nuxhall Foundation will ceremonially break ground on The Hope Center: a 32,000 square foot indoor recreational facility built for athletes with physical and developmental disabilities. The event is open to the public. RSVP’s are encouraged at www.nuxhallmiracleleague.org/dighope
“Our community of supporters and changemakers have stepped up to the plate in a big way to tell us they are ready to see my dad’s dream come to life,” says Kim Nuxhall, president and board chairman of The Nuxhall Foundation. “We are ready to show them how appreciative we are by joining with them, shovels in hand, to take this major step forward.
To date, The Nuxhall Foundation has raised more than $7.2 million towards a total goal of $12 million to fund the project. The Nuxhall Foundation will continue to raise the remaining $4.8 million to complete the “Heading for Hope” capital campaign as construction commences. The campaign saw incredible growth over the past year, particularly as a result of a $1 million matching gift offered by The Hatton Foundation.
The project fulfills an important need for the Greater Cincinnati region: an inclusive, safe, and dedicated recreational space to enhance the physical, social, and emotional well-being of children and adults with disabilities on a year-round basis. Features of The Hope Center will include:
An arena for new sports, group fitness, and special 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 a wheelchair trampoline,
A community room with seating for more than 150 guests to host health and wellness programming, with home to the to-be-established Greater Cincinnati Special Abilities Hall of Fame,
Therapy suites for individualized treatment options for athletes and families,
A fully-equipped concession stand with workforce development opportunities for the special needs community,
An accessible arcade and game room outfitted by The Pinball Garage,
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.
A virtual tour of the facility is available at www.nuxhallmiracleleague.org/tourhope.
“This will be a groundbreaking unlike any other,” says Nuxhall Foundation executive director Tyler Bradshaw. “Our all-stars and donors are the true MVP’s and we want them to shine front and center. So, we are inviting everyone who has been or will be a part of this project to join us with a shovel in the field to experience the excitement and joy of this moment.”
To help mark this important moment in the history of The Nuxhall Foundation, The Home Depot has generously donated 500 shovels to be used at the groundbreaking. Officials from The Nuxhall Foundation and celebrities, including Joe’s hall of fame broadcast partner Marty Brennaman, will offer remarks in a “pre-dig” ceremony.
“If you think you’ve seen Kim Nuxhall cry before,” says Bradshaw, “you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!”
After breaking ground on the project, The Nuxhall Foundation will continue to develop final construction plans, while continuing to raise the remaining funds needed to complete the project.
“The reality is that our job isn’t done yet,” says Bradshaw. “We still have $4.8 million left to raise to complete this project, and now that construction has started, we enter a critical phase—a phase that requires us to be all-in on a dream that Joe knew could change our community for the better.”
Donors who are interested in supporting the project can give online at www.nuxhallmiracleleague.org/donate or by contacting The Nuxhall Foundation at info@nuxhallmiracleleague.org to discuss giving opportunities. Lifetime naming rights to the building and specific areas are available for major gifts.
“We’ve just been stunned and in awe of everyone who has helped us get The Hope Center to the point we’re at today,” says Nuxhall. “Dad loved this community so much. And when you watch what they’re still doing to honor his legacy, it’s easy to see why. When we open The Hope Center, it will be a permanent reminder of something Dad believed to his core: that ordinary Joes can do extraordinary things.”
Event Details:
· Saturday, November 7, 2026
· 11am
· The Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields (4850 Groh Lane, Fairfield, OH 45014)
· Tickets are Free; RSVP Required at www.nuxhallmiracleleague.org/dighope
· Can’t attend? Give towards the campaign at www.nuxhallmiracleleague.org/donate
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
Executive Director, The Nuxhall Foundation
(513) 839-6164
###
I love the vision behind the Hope Center! It's exciting to see community-oriented projects like this. As a fan of "dordle ," I appreciate how games bring people together, much like this initiative will do for families. Keep up the great work!