3-on-3 committee, volunteers celebrate

After the 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament’s record-breaking turnout of more than 4,500 on July 16, the Elmont community couldn’t have been prouder. The tournament is held annually for fifth-grade to college students.

On Aug. 3, members of the 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament Committee, as well as the event’s more than 170 volunteers, attended an appreciation dinner to celebrate the success of the event. The dinner, held at the Villa Umberto Restaurant in Elmont and sponsored by Sen. Jack Martins (R-Mineola), included awards; presentations; a screening of Cablevision’s piece on the tournament, “Neighborhood Journal”; and a 45-minute documentary film about the tournament.

“The 3-on-3 tournament is a big, family event,” said Marvin Lee, 21, and Elmont native who volunteered during the tournament. Lee played football at Elmont Memorial High School, and now attends Hofstra University.

“… I couldn’t have been more proud of the effort the community made to make this event so much fun for everyone who attended,” Martins said. During the appreciation dinner, the Elmont Memorial basketball team presented Martins and Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) with basketballs autographed by the team, in recognition of their community support.

Additionally, photos, tickets, awards and other honors were given to volunteers, including Qusarn Caldwell, Patrick LaRoque, Brandon Brown, Wedly Saintil, Jonathan Peck, Goldie Harrison, Darian Bryan, Franklin Thomas, Marvin Lee, Sandra Smith and Donald Pierre-Louis.

The “Neighborhood Journal” episode featuring the 3-on-3 tournament will be aired throughout August, on Cablevision’s channel 118. Visit www.cablevision.com for more information.