
Carmel Rotary’s 18th annual Community Basketball Challenge fundraiser will return in March, and local organizations and individuals are encouraged to participate.
“This year we have set a goal of $70,000,” said event Co-Chairpersons Al Lotrecchiano 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 Lotrecchiano and Shanley say it is achievable with the support of the community.
The event is dedicated to the memory of Eileen Kane Barrett, who was a Rotarian for more than 32 years and was a past president and Rotarian of the Year. Barrett was a strong supporter of this event as a sponsor and committee member. She was a respected realtor who helped many in the community find their forever homes.
The Community Basketball Challenge will be held Saturday, March 1 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Carmel High School Gym, 30 Fair St., Carmel. Supported by the Carmel High School Interact Club and the CHS Mentor Club, it offers nonprofit organizations and community groups – as well as individuals – an opportunity to raise funds to support their programs and services.
Participants ask for pledges per basket and/or flat donations from as many supporters (clientele, family, friends and neighbors) as they can. At the event, participants attempt to complete as many baskets as possible during a 2-minute period. Each successful basket is tallied against per-basket pledges and added to flat donations to equal the amount due from each of the participants’ supporters.
Trophies are awarded in the youth division and prizes in the adult division to the persons successfully completing the most baskets in the various age groups.
Businesses and community members are also invited to become event sponsors.
Since 2006, the Community Basketball Challenge has raised more than $675,000, benefiting 96 local and regional organizations.
For information on how to participate, visit carmelrotary.org or email rotary.carmel.ny@gmail.com.
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