Guest column: High school view

On April 25, two very popular clubs at South Side High School — Best Buddies and Centre Stage — joined forces to host a fun and successful basketball shootout fundraiser.

Best Buddies is a global volunteer organization dedicated to establishing opportunities for one-to-one friendships between regular education students and those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Many students, myself included, have personal buddy relationships that bring us incredible amounts of joy when we see the happiness that such simple friendships bring children with disabilities in our school.

Centre Stage is a high school drama club focused on providing all students with an opportunity to experience theater. It fosters friendships and builds confidence for both special education and general education students, while everybody has fun. Last year, South Side’s Centre Stage performed ‘Slick,’ based on “Grease,” and this year everyone’s invited to see “The Wizard of South Side” on May 24 at South Side High School at 7 p.m.

To make this performance a reality, the “Wizards of Basketball” fundraiser took place in the high school’s main gym. Many students and parents turned out and everyone had a blast. Each person who participated in the shootout had been preparing for many weeks. Sponsor sheets were distributed and huge donations were made to each person playing in the games. Some participants were sponsored per shot scored, and some were sponsored with flat donations.

Once the doors opened, many smiling children had already arrived and were ready to compete. A DJ played music, taking requests for all to enjoy and dance to, and the shootout consisted of multiple rounds of different basketball games, including Around the World and Knockout. Generous parents and some local stores donated delicious treats. At the end of the night organizers announced a winner, whose prize was an autographed basketball signed by all of the fundraiser’s participants.