Julia Kadel I listened and found my purpose - I couldn’t be happier with who I am and where I am going. 88 | january <strong>2019</strong> | www.<strong>Atlantic</strong><strong>Ave</strong><strong>Magazine</strong>.com
egulars | city people by diane feen | Photo by melissa korman A Ray Of Sunshine In A Field Of Dreams Julia Kadel listened intently to her father when he told her, “When you’re no longer on this earth the only thing you leave behind is your name. You better make it good.” Karl Reiman did not realize his daughter was such a good listener. He also did not foresee that she would change the lives of so many people. As for the good name – Julia is so beloved that she has achieved halo status in Delray Beach. But she would never tell you that. Instead she will tell you about the Miracle League she started in Delray Beach with her husband Jeff. She will tell you how many volunteers they have (300) and how many special needs ball players they have (125). She will also count the ways that blessings have been bestowed upon her like a meteorite shower. “Jeff and I know we are blessed. We have a happy marriage and three healthy children – it’s a sin not to share that blessing.” You bet it is. That’s why Julia and Jeff started a movement and a miracle that was born out of passion and created by a need. The need was buried in the fine print of existence and the creation was the answer to the prayer of special needs families. Called Miracle League of Palm Beach County, it is a baseball league for special needs children and teens. Unlike traditional baseball leagues, this one is sacrosanct for its compassion and generosity of spirit. It may not sync well with the flurry of societies competitive obsessions, but it’s far more biblical in nature. “I started the Delray Miracle League to give children with physical and mental disabilities the ability to achieve the same dream as their healthy peers - to play ball,” said Julia, a Board-Certified Health Coach with a moniker that reads: CPT, CHHC, AADP. The rules lay testament to her goal. Every player gets to bat once an inning, all base runners are safe, every player scores a run each inning and every team and player wins every game. It’s a win-win for a group of young people who have been taught they can’t play sports. It’s also a win for their families who get to cheer them on the baseball diamond rather than see them alone in a wheelchair or walker And it’s a life altering experience for the “Buddies” who get the thrill of selfless giving. The act of giving is the foundation of the Kadel family. Both Jeff and Julia are driven to look beyond their own needs. When someone is in need Julia throws out the anchor and pulls them in. When the Miracle League needed funding in its infancy (13 years ago) she started fundraising efforts that began modestly yet soared to $600,000. Julia and Jeff made sure that Miracle League players are within their comfort zone and safety net. The field is cushioned with synthetic turf, wheelchair accessible dugouts and a flat surface to help those in a wheelchair (or with visual impairment). Not only does Julia foster camaraderie and compassion for everyone on her team (and beyond) she and Jeff raise money when the need arises. Last year it was a barrier free playground, this year it’s to resurface the field. To help fund those needs (and keep it free for everyone who plays), Julia and Jeff came up with an annual fundraiser called “Dinner on the Diamond.” This year 300 people attended the tented soiree and $100,000 was raised. The guests exuded benevolence for the league (and the Kadel’s) and were captivated by dazzling performance art, music and food. The reverie for this golden girl, who speeds around every event (and game) like a SEAL Team six leader, is awe inspiring. When it comes to the sum-total of this feminine force of nature, everyone is on the same page. “Julia is the kind of person every community needs to succeed. She has a heart bigger than her native New Jersey, but also the ability to get things done. Julia will always be one of my heroes,” said former mayor of Delray Beach, Jeff Perlman. Cary Glickstein (former mayor of Delray) is also impressed with the Miracle League and the Kadel’s. “It was gratifying, as mayor, to issue a Proclamation honoring Coach Julia and her family’s significant contributions to the betterment of our city. They walk the talk about service to others, and are not only heroes, but the glue that holds communities together. Coach Julia is one of those special people I always admired.” Julia’s is not only compassionate and kind, but she keeps all the moving parts together (the concession stand, the cheerleaders, fundraising, coach, registration and emcee). People marvel at her social and managerial dexterity. “Julia is one of the best executive directors in the non-profit world. She brings so much joy to families, donors, board members and the community – I am so impressed,” said Dan Paulus. There are a lot of people impressed with this can-do woman. She was the Bethesda Hospital Foundation Woman of Grace honoree in 2015, A Point of Light Honoree and Local Hero Nominee (by the Tropical Financial Credit Union) in 2016. She’s was also Volunteer Woman of the Year Nominee by the Junior League of Boca Raton and Executive Director of the Year Nominee for Non-Profits First. The awards are nice for a resume, but not the motivating force for this woman, whose parents both demonstrated a spirit of giving that transcended the ordinary. She was expected to go into the family’s mortgage business but found a different path in the dense forest of reality. “I listened and found my purpose - I couldn’t be happier with who I am and where I am going. When I quit my job two years ago to work fulltime for Miracle League, I wasn’t sure what to do. But I followed God’s lead, and this is where he wants me to be.” We couldn’t agree more. The Season Kickoff for the Miracle League is <strong>January</strong> 13th at 2pm. Julia and Jeff invite everyone to witness this miracle. www.<strong>Atlantic</strong><strong>Ave</strong><strong>Magazine</strong>.com | january <strong>2019</strong> | 89
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