Carmel Rotary Club members kicked off the annual Community Basketball Challenge fundraiser recently by erecting a sign outside George’s Restaurant on Gleneida Avenue in Carmel, displaying this year’s fundraising goal. Provided photo.
The Carmel Rotary Club and the Carmel High School Interact Club will host the 16th annual Community Basketball Challenge on Saturday, Feb. 25 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the CHS gymnasium, 30 Fair St.
This event offers non-profits and community groups an opportunity to raise funds to support their programs and services. Organizations, clubs, adults and youth, and businesses are invited to sign up and raise money for their favorite non-profits. You don’t have to be a basketball player or know how to play the game to participate.
Here’s how it works: Participants ask for pledges per basket and/or flat donations from as many supporters (clientele, friends and neighbors) as they can. Then, at the event, participants attempt to sink as many baskets as possible in 2 minutes.
Each basket will be tallied against per-basket pledges to equal the amount due from each of the participants’ supporters.
Businesses and community members are also invited to become event sponsors.
Trophies will awarded in the youth division, and prizes will be awarded in the adult division to the persons successfully completing the most baskets in various age groups.
“This year we have set a goal of $70,000,” said event Co- Chairpersons Sal Gambino and Mary Shanley. “Our local not-for-profits and community projects provide invaluable services to our Putnam County communities. We continue to see increased demand for the basic needs of food, shelter, health services and education, making the Community Basketball Challenge so important.”
Although the goal is aggressive, both Gambino and Shanley said they believe it is achievable.
Since 2008, the Community Basketball Challenge has raised more than $550,000, benefitting 91 different local and regional organizations.
For information on how to participate, or to become a sponsor, visit www.carmelrotary.org and click on the Basketball Challenge link at the top of the page, or call 845-225-2122.