CHESTNUT HILL — Wearing a red jumpsuit and green Converse shoes, and surrounded by the Boston College football team, Tiffany Fuller, a 35-year-old woman with developmental disabilities, attempted a field goal for the 10th time.
Huffing and puffing, Fuller ran, kicked, and finally scored, while cheers worthy of an NCAA championship exploded from the sidelines. She threw herself on the synthetic grass, arms extended in celebration.
Fuller, who got a green MVP bracelet at Wednesday’s event at Fish Field House at Boston College, was part of “Field of Dreams,” an event hosted by the nonprofit Beautiful Lives Project, which provides people of all ages and disabilities the opportunity to participate in activities or events previously not possible due to their physical or cognitive limitations.
Around 50 participants attended the fourth event held at Boston College, and Fuller secured her second field goal in a row.
“Guys helping guys that have special needs,” Fuller said. “It’s important just getting together and stuff. And all of them taking their time from school to help out with the event, put an event together and all of that. It’s just really fun!”
For the past eight years, Beautiful Lives has held events in the US Open, and with basketball, football, and baseball teams at the professional and college level across the country. Organizers hope to expand their national outreach and extend into women’s sports.
The organization was co-founded in 2017 by Bryce Weiler, 34, from Claremont, Ill. It all began after Weiler, who is blind, sat on the basketball bench for the University of Evansville.
“I want to allow individuals with disabilities their own opportunities with their dreams and life, and find people who want to help them to be successful,” Weiler said.
Weiler pitched his idea to pharmaceutical CEO Anthony Iacovone, who owned the New Britain Bees baseball team at the time. Iacovone helped fund the organization, and they held their first event with the Bees that same year.
While neither Weiler or Iacovone were able to attend Wednesday’s event, Tony Gionfriddo, 67, from New Britain, Conn., supervised with the help of representatives from Boston College. He was a sales director for the Bees when he joined Beautiful Lives. Although he is twice retired, his friendship with Weiler led him to his current position as executive director of the project.
“If you didn’t leave this event with goosebumps, then I didn’t do my job,” Gionfriddo said.
Gionfriddo, who was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia two years ago, said he is committed to continuing the organization’s mission of inclusion.
“People are going through a lot worse than I. So I have no complaints,” Gionfriddo said.
Gionfriddo was accompanied by his daughter Laura Vieira, a Boston College alumna,his son-in-law, and three granddaughters who got out of school to help their grandfather set up goodie bags and gold football trophies for the participants.
One of those participants, Dylan Pomarole of Norwood, is in the eighth grade and has autism. Dylan arrived early and was jumping with excitement at getting the chance to meet the players for the first time. He says he’s been to a football game, but doesn’t recognize the players without their helmets on.
Running back Alex Broome, who just returned to the field after a torn ACL, hyped up Dylan’s dance moves at the touchdown celebration station. He said events like these give him perspective on his own privilege.
“I think it’s always good to see how, no matter the day they are having, when they come to see us, they’re always happy and ready to participate in whatever we have lined up,” Broome said.
Cameron Massaro, 7, of Winchester, who is visually impaired, is a big Boston College football fan. He attended the event with his mom Jackie, who just finished her second year doctorate program at the nursing school.
“We like to come to things that give him opportunities to participate in ways that he normally wouldn’t have,” Massaro said.
Cameron couldn’t help but do the “Griddy” dance at the endzone, get his picture taken with the team, and pass the football around with a couple of players to boot.
“It means a lot to our school because our motto is ‘Men and Women for others,’ and this shows it,” said Ryan Mickow, a player for the team, who helped Cameron score at the target toss station.
Ricky Tiriel, 65, from Needham’s Charles River Center, which works with people with disabilities, briefly worked at Boston College 20 years ago. While he was able to participate by kicking the ball and tackling a punching bag, Tiriel, who wore a retro Boston College sweatshirt, tires easily and needed his shiny red wheelchair.
When asked to name his favorite part of the event, Tiriel, echoing the participants’ and players’ enthusiasm for the tradition, simply exclaimed, “Every year!”
Maria Probert can be reached at maria.probert@globe.com.