MANCHESTER, NH — Michael Cole doesn't let his disability interfere with his work – or play. Cole, a Webmaster at Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center in Greenfield , NH , has cerebral palsy, but he threw out the first pitch at the New Hampshire Fisher Cats Game on Thursday, June 27th thanks to a ball-throwing device installed by Dave Kontak, the director of the Assistive Technology Services department at Crotched Mountain.

But that's not the only honor he received on the field. Cole and Crotched Mountain School student Miles Forma was honored with the EP Maxwell J. Schleifer Distinguished Service Award, an award given to individuals who have made significant charitable contributions in the community. The awards was given at a pre-game ceremony at 5:30 pm at home plate on during the Disability Awareness Night. (Forma was unable to attend the ceremony, however Kontak accepted Forma's award on his behalf.)

"Both Mike and Miles have emerged as important leaders in their respective environments through projects and assignments they have taken on. They also both have cerebral palsy, which have created unique challenges that they surmount daily," said Donald Shumway, President of Crotched Mountain Foundation and Rehabilitation Center . "However, they each use their skills to help and support others in unique ways, and are each very deserving of this honor. We applaud them, as they are truly an extension of our mission, which is to support people with disabilities and their families in a lifelong alliance."

In addition to developing Crotched Mountain's website and the hundreds of pages that describe the organization's programs and services, Cole has also offered his expertise to other nonprofit organizations. Cole was appointed by New Hampshire's Governors to serve on the New Hampshire Statewide Independent Living Council and the New Hampshire State Rehabilitation Council. Forma, a New York native, has been a student at the Crotched Mountain School for five years. Although only 20, Forma is making his mark in philanthropy. Inspired by the film "Hotel Rwanda" and his religious beliefs, he has conducted a several benefits to raise money for orphans of Rwanda and the refugees of Darfur. To date, Forma has raised more than $2,500 for African relief efforts and was recently honored for his work by Governor John Lynch.

James J. Schaughnessy, General Agent of Shaughnessy Financial Group, and Mark J. Leonard, LUTCF, a Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) Special Care Planner presented the awards.

MassMutual, in cooperation with Exceptional Parent Magazine and the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, sponsored Disability Awareness Night at MerchantsAuto.com Stadium. Disability Awareness Night honored the contributions of 54 million Americans with disabilities, their families and caregivers. In addition to honoring local champions like Forma and Cole and bringing attention to Americans with disabilities and special needs, the event provided an opportunity for 250 clients and staff of local disability organizations to attend the ballgame, thanks to free tickets donated by Exceptional Parent and Shaughnessy Financial Group/MassMutual.

Crotched Mountain is a charitable organization employing more than 900 people. Its mission is to serve individuals with disabilities and their families, embracing personal choice and development, and building communities of mutual support. Crotched Mountain provides specialized education, rehabilitation, community, and residential support services for more than 2,000 people annually, at its rehabilitation center in Greenfield, New Hampshire and in communities throughout New Hampshire and in selected locations in Massachusetts, Maine and New York. For more information about Crotched Mountain please visit their web site: www.crotchedmountain.org.