Inductees
Susan Miles
In the Volunteer Tent of the Ozarks’ most successful PGA-sanctioned tournament, you’ll find Susan Miles beaming with pride.
A task that seems mundane – serving hot dogs, chips and sodas – actually is a big deal, considering the kids and adults behind the counter are developmentally disabled.
And their shepherd is Miles, Director of Champion Athletes of the Ozarks, a charity of the PGA’s Korn Ferry Tour’s Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper, or PCCC.
Then again, that’s only one of many examples of why Miles’ leadership of Champion Athletes has been flat-out impressive. And it led the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame to proudly bestow the President’s Award on Miles during the 2022 Women’s Sports Luncheon presented by the Bee Payne-Stewart Foundation.
The award honors individuals who champion the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and sports across the state. And Miles has done just that for Champion Athletes, which is celebrating its 20th year and has been a big part of the PCCC, which is managed by the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.
“Champion Athletes loves the PCCC. It is a great opportunity for each individual to practice all our work and social skills: Arriving at work on time, following directions, completing tasks even if they are not fun, counting, packing, talking to new people and maintaining those conversations,” Miles said. “We have caddies come in the tent from year to year looking for their ‘friend’ who served their hot dogs the year before. If it was not for the PCCC, we would not have our good friend Rico (Pierson) from the PGA Tour!”
Miles is in her 48th year of working with individuals with disabilities. Springfield-based Champion Athletes of the Ozarks serves 450 individuals in eight counties at no charge and provides education, life skills and sports programs. That’s in addition to teaching basic life skills, creating job experiences and reinforcing good social skills – all in an effort to help individuals reach their full potential and become productive citizens.
“I was very young when knew I wanted to work with individuals with disabilities, I think about 7 or 8 years old,” Miles said. “I grew up with a cousin who had a disability. Her family is responsible for passing the first Senate bill that allowed individuals with disabilities to attend public school.”
As an 18-year-old college sophomore, Miles joined the Cerebral Palsy Center, now the Developmental Center of the Ozarks. There, she taught 10 students ages 2 to 4.
Then, in 2002, Miles and several others launched Champion Athletes of the Ozarks, which offers eight sports and a life skills program.
“We started Champion Athletes Graduate School; one component is our reading program,” Miles said. “If our individuals can expand their vocabulary and increase their reading level, it opens so many opportunities at work and in our community.”
Champion Athletes assists numerous organizations in the Ozarks. For the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame’s annual Enshrinement, the charity stuffs invitations into envelopes and also organizes hundreds of trading card sets into plastic cases.
“Our individuals are involved in every aspect of their program,” Miles said. “They are working every special event, interacting with hundreds of individuals in our community. Through clinics and sport programs, we work with several colleges and retired professional athletes in the area and across the United States. We also have several community partners that provide job opportunities for our individuals. We really enjoy working for the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.”
The Springfield community – and Champion Athletes of the Ozarks – is certainly fortunate that Miles makes her home here.
She grew up in New Jersey before she and family relocated to Crane, just southeast of Springfield, when she was a high school sophomore. While her siblings all eventually moved back to the East Coast, Miles stayed.
After all, her calling was working with developmentally disabled kids and adults.
“My first mentor would have to be my mother. She raised me to be strong, independent and self-reliant. All of those qualities have been necessary in the non-profit world,” Miles said. “I have had several strong mentors in the community and in my career. Currently, we have a strong board of directors. Many of those individuals have made an impact on me. I appreciate their dedication to our individuals.”
Miles also appreciates the support of her husband, Danny.
“My inspiration and drive comes from our individuals,” Miles said. “They never stop trying, and I want to be sure they have their programs, their opportunities to be successful.”